The 2022 Tundra's Twin-Turbo V-6 Hybrid Is All About Torque

Well, my prediction was wrong. Toyota isn't using the multi-stage hybrid system from the Lexus LS/LC in this Tundra hybrid; it is a parallel system like used by Hyundai and Ford for the F150 and Explorer.

From the article, ""I think the priority was definitely performance," Sackett said. "We did see some improvements of efficiency and that was absolutely one of the things on our list. But one of the things we really wanted to focus on was the performance, and it was really centered around torque. We wanted to ensure we provided the torque numbers that full-size pickup truck customers want.""

So maybe it will match the F150 hybrid in fuel economy. On another note, there won't be a V8 option.

 

I believe that this might be Toyota's first turbocharged vehicle. I will NEVER buy a turbocharged vehicle.

Except for commercial and industrial diesels, they just don't have the longevity of naturally aspirated engines.

The worst thing one can do is to neglect oil changes with turbocharged vehicles. Most manufacturers specify 5k oil changes. 3k changes should be the norm for these vehicles, if longer life is wanted.

 

I’m sad it’s a parallel hybrid system. Unfortunately with a parallel single motor system like this; when the battery is low the electric motor can no longer help. It can either charge or assist not both like a typical hybrid synergy drive Toyota.

Like in a Toyota RX V6 hybrid even with a very low battery you still get electric torque driving up hill without drawing from the battery. One motor makes electricity, the drive motor simultaneously ”burns” it

 

A power split system that can handle real work truck duties doesn't seem possible. Every Toyota hybrid SUV has to be AWD to have a tow rating, and still is rated lower than the ICE model. The Adventure and TRD trims of the Rav4 are rated 3500 pounds.

GM's two-mode system probably was the most capable one that was available, but it was expensive. The Lexus multi-stage system may have been designed for a truck, but a parallel system is going to likely beat it on cost. Power-splits were successful in the beginning because a full parallel hybrid system that had smooth enough operation for customer was possible in the beginning.

IIRC, this parallel system likely originated with Hino. They have a couple hybrid trucks.

As for the battery going dry in a parallel system, hybrids out with it now have a larger battery than power splits. In practice, the system probably never lets the battery get low enough to go flat. Besides, a power-split with a low battery can't fully power the traction motor. M/G1 is simply too small to fully power M/G2. So even a power-split has limited operation when the battery is low.

 

Yes I was hoping for something similar to GM’s two mode system.

as for battery size, the f-150 has a hybrid battery pack that is the size of the Prius battery, actually smaller than my Ford C-Max hybrid. From what I’ve seen it does go low and stops assisting fairly quickly especially during towing. The good thing is that it doesn’t really matter since the turbo v6 has a ton of power.

 

The official specs are out: 2022 Toyota Tundra i-FORCE MAX - Toyota USA Newsroom and https://toyota-cms-media.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2022_Toyota_Tundra_Product_Information_FINAL.pdf

Take these with a grain of salt because some of the specs don’t make sense. For instance, they list the battery as “288V (240 cells – 40 modules) Ex: 259.0 V (70 cells, 3.7V/cells)”. The first part is easy and is actually the same battery as in the RXh, RXhL, HiHy, and Sienna (1.87 kWh). The second part, following “Ex:”, is a battery describing a Lithium Ion battery like in the 2022 NX 350h and Venza. They actually list the amount of battery power available to the system as 48 hp (36 kW) via the DC/AC inverter which I typically have to calculate. This is really close to the RXh and RXhL output. Pretty sure the motor is heavily derated as they list that as providing 184 lb-ft of torque. The only motors that can match the torque are the MG2 from the HiHy, Sienna, 2022 NX 350h, RAV4 Prime and NX 450h+ (rated at 180 hp/199 lb-ft). Of course they could also be using the MG2 from the RXh and RXhL (rated at 165 hp/247 lb-ft) which at first glance may seem overkill but may match better because the RX is a heavier vehicle. Missing is EPA MPG ratings.


iPad ? Pro

 

You've never heard of the Supra, Celica, or MR2?

 

I was disappointed that the base Tundra SR isn't available with the hybrid. However, that model, with its quirky detuned engine, is actually matching (or slightly exceeding depending on trim) the HWY MPG of the hybrid, and it's only 2 MPG lower overall.

But what also disappoints is the 400 watt inverter as compared with Ford's 7200 watt system. Toyota clearly doesn't want owners doing any serious mobile generator usage with the Tundra hybrid.