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Toyota wants to nail the competition with its off-road performance pick-up, aimed at rivals like the F-150 Raptor and Ram TRX.
Performance pick-up trucks need a name with impact, and that’s exactly what Toyota appears to have in store for the latest version of the Tundra.
Set to become a rival to US pick-ups like the Ford F-150 Raptor and Ram 1500 TRX, the Toyota TRD Hammer could be the next race-truck-inspired heavy-hitter.
The Toyota Tundra line-up in the USA already includes the Tundra TRD Pro, which shares its 326kW/790Nm 3.4-litre hybrid-assisted V6 with other Tundra models, but comes factory-equipped with heavy-duty suspension upgrades and all-terrain tyres.
The Tundra TRD Hammer aims to go further.
Although full details of the model are yet to be revealed, a Toyota USA survey to existing owners in 2022 asked them to choose from a list of names for a "high-performance truck [...] designed for off-road enthusiasts."
The listed specifications described included 37-inch all-terrain tyres, unique wide fenders, long-travel suspension, high-clearance bumpers, and a “powerful engine.”
Among the proposed names were TRD Baja, TRD Bizurk, TRD Hammer, TRD Iron, TRD Pro-S and TRD Quake.
The list of potential names is not without controversy, with ‘Bizurk’, the name of a hip hop track released by Jenn Carter in 2023 (after the customer survey was first conducted), that contains explicit references to gun violence.
A trademark filing suggests that TRD Hammer could be the frontrunner, with an application made in March 2026, reserving the name for use on a vehicle.
While no details about the TRD Hammer’s mechanical package have yet been revealed, spy photos of the upgraded ute in development reveal that it appears to retain the ‘i-Force MAX’ badging of other Tundra hybrids.
If that’s the case, Toyota could have a more potent version of the twin-turbo 3.4-litre hybrid V6 in development, rather than a V8 replacement to match the Ram TRX and F-150 Raptor R.
To match its rivals, the Tundra would need to step up significantly from its current 326kW output to more closely match the 559kW F-150 Raptor R and 579kW Ram TRX, both of which are powered by supercharged V8s.
The regular F-150 Raptor’s EcoBoost V6, however, could be the target, with a 336kW rating that aligns more closely with the current Toyota powertrain.
The filing isn’t an explicit confirmation of a new model, but with none of the other names filed for the same trademark protection, could be a strong pointer to a new version of the Tundra.
Kez Casey migrated from behind spare parts counters to writing about cars over ten years ago. Raised by a family of automotive workers, Kez grew up in workshops and panel shops before making the switch to reviews and road tests for The Motor Report, Drive and CarAdvice.
