Last year, Toyota finally rolled out the first all-new Tacoma in nearly a decade. Fine thing. Burly, tough little guy, with a new V6 engine, manual transmission option and stripped-out four-cylinder “Work Truck” model. We like that. But there was one glaring omission from the lineup: TRD Pro off-road version. Now, Toyota has rectified the issue. The 2017 Tacoma TRD Pro has debuted at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show.
Suspension upgrades headline the package. Onto the regular shortbed TRD Double Cab 4×4 goes a set of 2.5-inch internal bypass FOX shocks, with new front springs and custom-tuned rear leaf springs. The result is a 1-inch lift, leaving plenty of clearance for the 16-inch black alloys and Goodyear Wrangler Kevlar-reinforced tires. Aluminum skid plates, LED fog lamps, and a few body accents—blackout grille, hood scoop, etcetera—round out the underbody and exterior.
The rest of the truck is familiar. The 3.5-liter V6 is still here, still making 278 horsepower and 265 pound-feet. The transmission is a six-speed, your choice of auto or manual. All Tacoma TRD Pros get the Tow Package, which includes a receiver hitch, oil cooler, power steering cooler, and a more powerful alternator. Also, a windshield GoPro mount. Good stuff.
No word on pricing yet, but expect Tacoma TRD Pro sales to start this fall.