2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro Hybrid Is Officially Coming

It could be the same electrified 2.4-liter turbo that makes 340 horsepower elsewhere in Toyota’s lineup.

byCaleb Jacobs|
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The 2024 Toyota Tacoma might be the most anticipated new truck coming down the pipe. We have a pretty good idea of what it'll look like thanks to past concepts and trademark applications, and after seeing Toyota's latest teaser, we know it'll be offered as a hybrid as well. The electrified i-Force Max powertrain is a shoo-in for the range-topping TRD Pro model, and it may be optional on other trims as well.

A photo showing the 2024 Tacoma's angular tailgate and tail light design dropped early Tuesday morning, giving us a few hints about the fresh midsize rig. Everything we can see in the tightly cropped shot is clearly Tundra-inspired, giving credence to previous rumors that the next-gen Tacoma will more closely resemble its bigger brother. It's also believed to ride on the same TNGA-F platform as the Tundra. There's an i-Force Max badge on the bottom right, and because Toyota reserves that branding for its electrified power plants, we know it'll be battery-assisted in some way.

There's a good chance the new Tacoma makes use of the 2.4-liter turbo four that's in the new Highlander, which produces 265 horsepower in that application without a hybrid system. My guess is Toyota will increase the engine's output for the Tacoma, which currently caps out at 278 horsepower with its 3.5-liter V6. The automaker will want to beat that number with its upcoming truck, and by the time you wire up a high-voltage battery, it should be seriously impressive—the same engine makes 340 horsepower in the hybrid Toyota Crown sedan. The Chevy Colorado ZR2 is the benchmark at present with its 2.7-liter turbo making 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque in its highest state of tune.

While the Tundra and Sequoia hybrids are more focused on performance than fuel mileage, we'll likely see improved mpg out of the electrified Tacoma. In 4x4 spec with the six-speed automatic, the V6-powered 2023 model nets 20 mpg combined—not exactly a tough number to beat. Factor in that the 2024 truck may also get the Highlander's eight-speed transmission and better fuel economy seems almost like a sure thing.

We don't know when the 2024 Tacoma will be revealed in full, but it will likely be in the next few months. In the meantime, we'll be turning over every rock to find out more details. This seems like one you won't want to miss, especially if you care about pickups.

Got a tip or question for the author? Contact them directly: caleb@thedrive.com

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