TRD Chase Tundra Concept Comes to SEMA
Toyota's been getting in the habit of making pretty freaking cool stuff lately. And this Tundra chase truck concept is the latest in a slew of intriguing concepts by the legendary Japanese manufacturer.
Mobile Pit Crew
SEMA is where all the good stuff comes out. Every year, auto manufacturers and aftermarket suppliers showcase the latest and greatest in automotive technology, accessories, and modifications for the consumer market. Thankfully, Toyota made sure to get in on the action this year and unveiled the TRD Chase Tundra. We're all familiar with desert races like the Baja 1000, but you may not be aware that just as important to the race truck, is the chase truck. You can infer what the chase truck does... Having a good chase truck on your team is crucial to making a top finish. And as told by Road Show, the desert won't be setting up any pit stops for you.
Photo - Toyota
Powering Through the Dunes
The interior features TRD badging and red upholstery throughout. You'll also find a large infotainment screen in the center stack, presumably for effortless navigation. But even more important than the niceties of the cabin is the beefy powertrain ahead of it. The Tundra Chase truck features an i-FORCE MAX twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 hybrid totaling 437 hp and 582 lb-ft of torque.
Photo - Toyota
>>Join the conversation about this Tundra Chase concept right here in the Club Lexus Forum!
Light 'em Up
Another neat feature of the TRD Chase Tundra is its multifunctional control panel. Here, you'll find a bevy of controls for the exterior lighting and the race radio. Outside you'll find Rigid LED lighting on the front, rear, and sides of the truck. Via the control panel, the roof lights can be raised and lowered to aid with the aerodynamics of the truck. Wherever you may be, you can be sure the TRD Chase Tundra will light the way.
Photo - Toyota
>>Join the conversation about this Tundra Chase concept right here in the Club Lexus Forum!
Primed for Problems
The bed of the truck houses all sorts of gear for the inevitable pit stops from spare wheel/tire setups and air jacks to a 15 lb CO2 bottle and recovery ramps. The tire package consists of 37" General Tire Grabber X3s mounted to 18" Method wheels. Other features of the truck include TRD long-travel suspension and Fox internal-bypass shocks to roll over the tumultuous terrain. Custom bumpers on the front and rear help with approach angles for getting in and out of sticky situations and work alongside a TRD skid plate that guards the underbelly of the truck.
Photo - Toyota
>>Join the conversation about this Tundra Chase concept right here in the Club Lexus Forum!
Is Toyota Getting Cool Again?
This truck has just about everything. Surprisingly though, it arrived at SEMA missing a winch and tow hooks, but it's still got mounting points in the bed for additional gear a race crew might need. Who knows if we'll ever see this thing out cruising the dunes of Baja or not. But we can dream. Maybe we'll even get a competitor to the Ford Raptor if this thing ever makes it onto a championship team. One can hope. Either way, it's nice to see Toyota building really cool vehicles again.
Photo - Toyota
>>Join the conversation about this Tundra Chase concept right here in the Club Lexus Forum!
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