I heard that the Chevy Colorado and the Tacoma are going to be on the same platform. There was a few threads about it on TTORA. If you look at the pics of the Colorado, they are almost identicle even down to the door handles. Anyone else have further info on this?
Say it ain't so! That's my worst fear of all. If I wanted an American truck, I'd buy a goshdamn American truck. I bought and love my Toyotas over the years because they were very good Japanese engineered cars and trucks. The problem here is, the TAcoma started going down hill because Toyota let Americans design it and let Domestic companies design and build parts for it. The whole reason it doesn't have a fully boxed frame is because Dana builds it, for example.
Oh sure, maybe the Colorado chassis is a decent design, I don't know, but I don't want a "decent" design, I want a Toyota design.
We still have hope. The 4Runner uses an entirely Toyota designed frame and suspension. I'm hoping that new Tacoma frame/suspension will be based on the 4Runner, complete with the 4Runner's 8" front IFS suspension and probably a rear axle/suspension similier to the Tundra.
What is about to get really interesting is what Toyota plans to do for the Hilux. It's due for a model change as well and it will be interesting to see if Toyota decides to continue to build the Hilux as a completely independent model from the TAcoma or make them one and the same. If the latter, I think we have hope of getting a more off road capable vehicle. If not, we will continue to get a watered down truck that is very highway capable and that much more appealing to yuppies, while overseas they'll continue to get a rugged no-nonsense piece of Japanese engineering that can hold it's own off road.
