The Toyota Tundra was treated to a much-needed and rather comprehensive redesign for the 2022 model year, breathing new life into the Ford F-150 rival. That debut included the addition of the all-new Tundra TRD Pro, a more off-road capable version of the pickup, albeit one that isn’t quite as hardcore as the Ford F-150 Raptor. Thus far, the new Toyota Tundra has carved out some market share in the hotly-contested full-size U.S. pickup market, and now, the Japanese automaker may be working on a proper Raptor rival as well.
This rather aggressively-styled Toyota Tundra prototype was recently spotted testing by Ford Authority near the automaker’s tech center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it’s clearly quite a lot different than any model in the existing lineup. For starters, it’s wearing wide bodywork covered in black and white patterned camo, a signature F-150 Raptor styling cue, along with some mismatched badging and other bits that signal we’re looking at more of a mule at this point than a polished product.
Other than those wider fenders, this Toyota Tundra prototype is equipped with a completely revamped front bumper, which looks to be designed to improve the truck’s approach angle for off-roading purposes. There are vents integrated into the front fenders as well, along with rather large BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A tires. It’s unclear how big those tires are, but they’re wrapped around Method 703 dead grip machined-finish wheels.
In the rear, we can see a panhard rod attached to the rear axle, but it’s unclear what other sorts of suspension mods might be present underneath. There’s also a brand new steel rear bumper, likely intended to improve the truck’s departure angle off-road.
If nothing else, this Toyota Tundra prototype certainly seems like a signal that the company is working on a more hardcore, off-road-focused version of its full-size pickup, perhaps one that will give the Ford F-150 Raptor a proper competitor. Whether or not it’s a one-off show truck, a simple engineering exercise, or something destined for production, well, that remains to be seen.
Not much of a looker, but it runs and drives.
The previous owner sunk $310k into the build.
Bronco and Bronco Sport moved more than 39K units.
With an estimated 400 miles of range and a $60k price tag.
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that has to be what it is