Chicago 2009: Toyota unveils new 4.6L V8, Platinum Package for Tundra

by John Neff on Feb 11th, 2009 at 2:41PM

Toyota doesn't have a press conference scheduled for the 2009 Chicago Auto Show, but it does have two noteworthy debuts. The first is an all-new 4.6L V8 engine that will replace the current 4.7L V8. The new eight-cylinder produces 310 hp and 327 lb-ft of torque while delivering an estimated 15 mpg city / 20 mpg highway. That puts the new 4.6L V8 near the head of the pack in terms of power and fuel economy for standard V8s in the segment. The engine will also be paired with a "new" six-speed automatic. Rather than simply use the six-speed auto that's paired with the larger 5.7L V8, Toyota engineers instead used the truck's five-speed auto, added an extra gear and respaced the ratios.

Toyota's second debut in Chicago was a new Platinum Package available on Tundra CrewMax Limited models with the 5.7L V8. Though it shares an adjective with the new Ford F-150 Platinum, Toyota's top shelf truck is more low key and the package adds $5,140 to the vehicle price. Included is a new grille with chrome bumpers, unique 20-inch wheels, daytime running lamps, branded door sill protectors and Platinum badging around the truck. The package also includes a number of upgrades for the interior like a power moonroof, nav system and wood trim on the shifter, steering wheel and door trim.

Follow the jump for Toyota's official press release and check out the high-res galleries below.

hmmmm... where have I heard of a Platinum trim level truck before... oh yeah...

By: Tex

hmmmm... where have I heard of a Platinum trim level truck before... oh yeah...

The F150. Oh wait, Cadillac had that first for the Escalade.

hahaha^^ Ford boys always thinkin there the first haha o well im just waiting for the all new 4 runner with the revamped 4.0, since they decided not to drop the FJ this year and wait another year before dropping it in 2011.

Well I apologize for assuming that when I say truck, people would know I meant a pickup. What was I thinking when I didn't throw SUV's into the mix?

I'm with Tex here .. except with Ford, platinum actually means you're getting a unique truck. Looks like a reg. Tundra for the most part.

After seeing the TRD at the Michigan auto show, I gotta say .. that was real sweet.

Actually, Ford had a Platinum edition F250 back in '01. so yeah.

By: SVTman

I'm with Tex here .. except with Ford, platinum actually means you're getting a unique truck. Looks like a reg. Tundra for the most part.



After seeing the TRD at the Michigan auto show, I gotta say .. that was real sweet.

They kept it low key but added a power sunroof, new grill, different tranny, different nav, and some other interior parts and added some badging....doesnt the f150 platinum have the same change between its xlt model and its platinum?

It has some other upgrades. Power running boards, different engine(Although I think you can get the 5.4L in the xlt) upgraded interior, Rims, paint, leather, maybe some tec upgrades but I'm not sure. The one thing is that you can tell the Platinum F150 from the XLT. But mostly a badge job with some luxuries.

yeah so is the tundra thou.....right? ahhh honestly im so sick of people wanting a full on luxury fullsize pick up, if you buy a full size fricken use it!!!! haha i bought my trucks with one thing in mind performance, and usefulness. both of which have made me happy...Iim not looking for stupid chrome grills that you get on either truck , or chrome tow hitches like you get on the f150, or a differnt nav like you get in the tundra, with wood accents....ugh its a truck, its meant to be useful in accomplishing daily dutys, its meant to get dirty this is meant towards both f150, tundra, silverado, ram owners.....ok rant over how is everyones day going? :)

lol. I get ya. The thing I love about these trucks(Tundra platinum, F150 platinum, Sierra denali) is the fact that they can serve as a dual purpose vehicle. You can use it to tow things for work and then as personal transportation when you need to go to meetings or something.

true but its really not the most efficient transport vehicle haha ahh o well people are strange haha i forgot about the sierra denali, anybody ever driven one ?

They definitely have their place. Having a luxury oriented full-size is more efficient than buy a luxury sedan AND a base model full-size. If you don't need both, then yeah, they're pointless. But for the loan officer who has to take clients out to lunch and have something to tow his boat on the weekend, they foot the bill better than anything else on the road IMO.

Yes i agree with that then tex haha im just hard on my trucks so to me i like getting them dirty :) No driving clients around in my trucks haha when it comes to that i take them in my dads 7 series, or my step moms aston martin

What's with who came up with Platinum first? It's a f'n metal, it's not like they said the SS Turnda, Boss, Tunrda-V, etc. Platinum is just like saying Black. I mean Platinum is thrown on a lot of things even outside of cars. It's just general. If Ford uses it it's a good idea probably for Toyota to use it the same, I mean ford is the top Truck seller isn't it? And Platinum isn't a trademark like SS is.

I'm with andrew with this kind of thing. I know there is a market for luxury trucks, but I have no interest in one as I want my truck/Van/SUV/baja to be utilitarian. Like I was pretty annoyed with the disgusting plastic smell in the Jeeps and all the carpet, I mean WTF? Isn't a person going to have some nasty mud on their shoes and step into their jeep. I would rather my off roader's interior to be completely water proof so when cleaning it I can just spray down the sucker with a hose.

I know there is a market for luxury trucks as most people around here just drive them on the road and never see any dirt. I think my van saw more off roading and dirt/water than most of the trucks in So Cal.