Tundra Chief Engineer Puts Truck Through Ultimate Test
TORRANCE, Calif. (August 5, 2014) – Toyota Racing Development (TRD) and Toyota Truck Chief Engineer, Mike Sweers, enter the new 2015 Tundra TRD Pro Series in the 47th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. The lightly modified Tundra Pro Series will compete in the Full Size Stock Class this November 12-16 in Ensenada, Mexico.
“My job is to ensure that the Tundra exceeds the expectations and demands of every single one of its owners,” said Sweers, Chief Engineer of Toyota Pickup Trucks. “With over 1,000 miles of harsh terrain, The Baja 1000 is the ultimate proving grounds for research and development that helps us to continuously improve our trucks.”
For 35 years and counting, TRD has been an integral component in Toyota’s success in the U.S., not only in numerous motorsports racing victories, but in the area of high quality performance parts and accessories. When TRD began developing the 2015 TRD Pro Series, they applied their many years of successful racing experience to make sure it was worthy of wearing the TRD Pro name.
“Competing in the Full Size Stock class allows our team to test the Tundra TRD Pro as close to stock as possible and showcase its strength and durability in the Mexican desert’s treacherous terrain,” said Andrew Franceschini, Toyota truck marketing and communications national manager. “Our goal is to finish this grueling race and to showcase just how awesome the new TRD Pro Series trucks are.”
TRD Pro Desert Race Team
Team Coach:
Andy Bell – Toyota Athlete / SCORE Baja 500 Champion / Guinness World Record holder Long Beach, CA
Jamie Bestwick – Toyota Athlete / Professional BMX Vert Rider / 9-time winner X-Games Winner / Port Matilda, PA
Ryan Millen – SCORE Baja 1000 and 500 Competitor / Son of off-road legend Rod Millen / San Juan Capistrano, CA
TRD Pro Series
The TRD Pro Series is the most-advanced yet in a long line of TRD packages for Toyota trucks that dates back to 1998 when the first Off-Road package was introduced for Tacoma. Already favorites among serious off-roaders, the 2015 Toyota Tundra, Tacoma and 4Runner will get even more capable with these new, aggressive off-road packages designed by the experts at Toyota Racing Development (TRD). For more details on the TRD Pro Series visit: http://www.toyota.com/upcoming-vehicles/trdpro.html
TRD Pro Desert Race Truck Specs | ||
2015 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro Crewmax 4×4 5.7L V8 | ||
Item | Manufacturer | Details |
Front Shocks | Bilstein | TRD tuned-Blackhawk Bypass |
Rear Shocks | Bilstein | TRD tuned-Blackhawk Bypass |
Front Springs | Eibach | Coil |
Rear Springs | Deaver | Leaf |
Tires | BFGoodrich® | 37" Baja T/A KR2 |
Wheels | TRD | 17" Forged |
Brakes | Toyota | TRD Performance Brake Pads |
Tube Roll Cage | Herbst/Smith Fabrication | 2" .120 Wall Chromoly |
Oil Accumulator | Accu-Sump | 3 Qt. Capacity |
Fuel Cell | Fuel Safe | Custom |
Batteries | Optima | Blue Top |
Race Seats (Qty. 3) | Mastercraft | 3G |
Seat Harnesses & Window Nets | Mastercraft | N/A |
Front Lights | Hella | HID |
A Pillar Lights | Hella | LED Rally 4000 |
Cold Air Intake | TRD | Custom Cold Air |
Exhaust | TRD | Custom Cat-back Exhaust |
Control Arms | Toyota | OEM component |
Uprights | Toyota | OEM component |
Tie Rods | Toyota | OEM component |
Wheel Bearings | Toyota | OEM component |
Hubs | Toyota | OEM component |
Driver GPS/Nav | Lowrance | 6" |
Navigator GPS/Nav | Lowrance | 10" |
Race Radio | Kenwood | TK-790H 110 Watts |
Intercom | PCI | Comlink 10 Elite |
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM), the world's top automaker and creator of the Prius, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota, Lexus and Scion brands. Over the past 50 years, we’ve built more than 25 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants and directly employ more than 40,000 people. Our 1,800 North American dealerships sold more than 2.5 million cars and trucks in 2013 – and about 80 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 20 years are still on the road today.
Toyota partners with philanthropic organizations across the country, with a focus on education, safety and the environment. As part of this commitment, we share the company’s extensive know-how garnered from building great cars and trucks to help community organizations and other nonprofits expand their ability to do good. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.
Media Contacts
Toyota Division Communications
Craig Taguchi (310) 468-3282 or [email protected]
Sam Butto (310) 468-7728 or [email protected]
Media Web site: http://www.toyotanewsroom.com
Public Web site: http://www.toyota.com
NOTE TO EDITORS: Photos and video to accompany this story are available and can be retrieved in digital form by media without charge at http://www.toyotanewsroom.com.