Nov 19, 2024 by admin

Walkinshaw Automotive Group has poured cold water on the prospects of a beefed-up Toyota Tundra for the Australian market.

As Toyota’s Australian production partner for the US-built Tundra pickup, Walkinshaw has taken on the task of converting local-market examples to right-hand drive at its facility in Dandenong, Melbourne.

Walkinshaw also handles left- to right-hand drive conversions for the Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500, as well as the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Silverado HD. The only full-sized American pickup it doesn’t convert locally is the Ford F-150. 

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In addition to converting left-hand drive vehicles for Australian roads, Walkinshaw also manufactures aftermarket performance parts, serves as a tuning house for carmakers, and is heavily involved in motorsport.

In recent years, Walkinshaw has had a hand in several Australian-market utes such as the Isuzu D-Max Blade, Volkswagen Amarok W580, WAU Ford Ranger, and Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme.

However, at this point we’re unlikely to see a Walkinshaw-tuned version of the Tundra.

“There are no plans to put Walkinshaw badges on a Tundra at the moment,” said Chris Smith, general manager of Walkinshaw Automotive Group.

Most previous Walkinshaw ute projects have centred around off-road upgrades including suspension kits, wheels, underbody protection, and cosmetic enhancements.

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On the other hand, the street-focused Amarok W580 featured a sail plane, a tuned exhaust, and unique bonnet decals.

While it won’t wear Walkinshaw badges, a second variant of the Tundra is due to arrive next year.

The Tundra launched today in Australia in a single variant, the Limited, but Toyota is planning to launch a new top-of-the-range premium version during the second quarter of 2025.

“It’ll be another exciting addition to what we have,” said Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia vice president of sales, marketing and franchise operations.

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This will bring additional luxury features such as a panoramic sunroof and massaging front seats, pointing to it being based on the US-market Tundra Platinum.

In other markets, Toyota does offer more rugged versions of the Tundra.

The TRD Pro brings a standard electronic locking rear differential, front anti-roll bar, greater underbody protection, a 1.1-inch (28mm) front lift, and Fox Internal Bypass coilovers and rear remote-reservoir dampers.

For 2025, Toyota in the US has also launched a TRD Rally Package that brings 18-inch TRD off-road wheels wrapped in all-terrain tyres, as well as skid plates and Bilstein dampers.

MORE: Everything Toyota Tundra