Toyota Gets Serious With 2016 Tacoma at Detroit Auto Show

Why is it called a Taco?

Toyota unveiled this week a revamped version of their Tacoma pickup for 2016 at the Detroit Auto Show. Almost two in three compact pickups sold last year in the U.S. was a Tacoma, so it’s apparent why Toyota wants to keep the people happy. What isn’t as clear is why auto journalists like to call it a taco.

But we digress. The interior will be more fun, like the FJ Cruiser. The exterior’s bulldog front is being tweaked. The body and frame get hot-stamped ultra high strength steel to shed weight, improve safety and tighten handling. A dedicated GoPro camera mount sits next to the rearview mirror.

A new six-speed automatic transmission is standard, and six-speed manual is available with the V6. The new V6 will be more powerful and efficient than last year’s, Toyota says. The V6 uses port injection at low revs and switches to direct injection at higher revs.

Better sound-cancelling materials are being implemented, and believe it or not, there are even more details over at Car & Driver’s article. Expect the new Tacoma toward the second half of 2015.