TRD Supercharged Toyota Tundra can hit 60 mph in 4.4 seconds

After reading that the latest supercharged Toyota just did 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds, you might think to yourself, "Toyota doesn't make the Supra anymore, and even when they did it was turbocharged, not supercharged." And then you'd think that somebody probably did some outrageous modifications to a Camry or Corolla, or possibly even a Yaris, but no.

The vehicle in question is a new Toyota, but it isn't one of those models. It's a relatively stock model in fact, with a factory warranty and factory-approved TRD parts. And it isn't a car. It's the TRD Supercharged Tundra pickup truck. Using the TRD supercharger and a few other tricks, the truck's 5.7L V8 has blossomed from 381 horsepower to 504, and torque has gone up from 401 lb-ft to 550. And MotorTrend claims they got it to run 0-60 in just just 4.4 seconds, half a second quicker than a Ram SRT-10 and faster than most high-end sports cars.

There's no doubt this is one quick vehicle, but we call BS on the time. Even with super-short gears, there's no way a truck that weighs over 5,000 lbs can do it in 4.4 seconds. Pickuptrucks.com ran the same truck through the 1/8th mile in Irwindale and managed 9.07 seconds at 81.16 mph. We'd guess the 0-60 should fall closer to 5 seconds at that pace, which is still mighty impressive. And yet, MT posted a full quarter-mile in 13 seconds flat at 106.3, so maybe TRD has done a little more work since the previous test. We're going to try and get our hands on one for an independent analysis. For now, we leave you with this point to ponder: Is it remotely possible for a 5,000+ pound Tundra, even one with Toyo Proxes S/T 285/45 R22 tires and TRD go-fast goodies, to do 0-60 in just 4.4 seconds?

© Source: autoblog
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2008 Toyota Tundra Review

Summary
Pros
A wide range of cab and bed styles, potent 5.7-liter V8, brawny tow ratings, spacious passenger quarters, numerous safety and convenience features.
Cons
Cabin has a lot of hard plastic and a few ergonomic flaws.
What's New for 2008
After being fully redesigned last year, the Toyota Tundra enters 2008 with only minor changes, such as the expansion of the base "Tundra Grade" trim to all body styles and additional standard features for the SR5 and Limited trim levels.

Introduction
When we first heard about the completely redesigned, second-generation Toyota Tundra -- the bigger, tougher successor that was going to give the big T something serious for the full-size pickup segment -- we could picture the scene. The old Wild West gunfight-about-to-happen music plays as the Tundra rolls to a stop somewhere in America's heartland. The dust settles, a tumbleweed rolls by. But instead of Gary Cooper or Clint Eastwood, a Ford F-150 appears opposite the Toyota and growls: "You're not from around here, are you?"

Driving Impressions
Equipped with the 5.7-liter V8, the 2008 Toyota Tundra is incredibly powerful and the engine's delivery is impressively smooth. Shifts from the six-speed automatic transmission are prompt, and the console shifter's precise action allows drivers to easily use the manual mode while tackling steep highway grades or rugged off-road situations.

© Source: edmunds

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Toyota Tundra Buyers Prefer Bigger V8

While early reports suggested that sales of the Toyota Tundra were lagging, the truck is not only gaining sales momentum, but those sales are skewing heavily in favor of the optional 5.7-liter V8 engine, reported Bob Carter, general manager of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.

Despite an environment where $3 gas is common and $4 gas is seen in Toyota regional strongholds like California and the Northeast, customers are choosing the bigger 5.7-liter engine over the truck's base V6 and optional 4.7-liter V8 engines, he said.

"All of the orders are for the 5.7-liter," Carter said. Toyota underestimated demand for the biggest available engine, which now represents 70 percent of Tundra production. The 5.7-liter engine is $950 more expensive than the 4.7-liter engine, and adds a $1,760 premium over the base V6 engine. Carter, who recently took over Toyota after heading Lexus in recent years, said that he replaced an LS 460 with a Tundra CrewMax as part of the switch. He said he loves the truck, but after getting accustomed to the LS's self-park feature, he's "having to learn how to drive again."

Carter attended a meeting with dealers in Kansas City this week, who reported strong turnout at local events designed to introduce the Tundra to Midwestern customers. In contrast to events where consumers avoid dealer representatives in an effort to check out the new hardware in peace, these shoppers were actually filling out information cards and seeking out dealer reps, Carter said.

The 5.7-liter engine provides a muscular 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque, which is a noticeable upgrade in performance and hauling capability from the 4.7's 271 hp and 313 lb-ft and the V6's 236 hp and 266 lb-ft.

EPA gas mileage is slightly worse than for the 4.7-liter V8 in 4x4 configuration, at 14 mpg city and 18 mpg highway, compared to 15/17 for the four-wheel-drive 5.7. But in 4x2 configuration, the 5.7's mileage rating rises to 16/20, while the 4.7's mileage is unchanged. Further, the V6's highway mileage rating is the same as the 2WD 5.7's, and the six-cylinder only beats the 5.7 by 1 mpg in city driving, with a 17 mpg rating.

© Source: insideline
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