Toyota's New Tundra TRD Hammer Is Worth Waiting ForIllustration by Avarvarii - Car and Driver (Illustration by Avarvarii - Car and Driver)What It IsHearst Owned (Hearst Owned)While Toyota has offered its largest pickup truck, the Tundra, with a capable TRD Pro model since 2015, the company has never fielded a true high-performance off-road variant to compete with the likes of the Ford F-150 Raptor. But that's about to change with the new Tundra TRD Hammer, which turns the full-size truck's off-road chops up to 11 with a wider waistline, an upgraded suspension, and a more potent powertrain. Toyota trademarked the TRD Hammer name in March, and prototypes wearing brawnier bodywork have been spied testing, suggesting Toyota's top-dog Tundra is near.Why It MattersOff-roading has grown increasingly popular in post-pandemic America, or at least owning a vehicle that looks like it can traverse any terrain has. While the TRD Pro already has more aggressive styling, the TRD Hammer will elevate the Tundra's look even further. Truck owners care about bragging rights, and a burlier version of the Tundra that's on par with the Raptor could help Toyota steal customers away from the American automakers who dominate the full-size segment.PlatformThe Tundra TRD Hammer will still ride on the TNGA-F platform, but it will gain substantial upgrades. Significantly wider front and rear fenders will house a more sophisticated suspension, with spy shots revealing more robust lower control arms up front and a revised panhard rod at the rear. Although the TRD Pro already features Fox 2.5-inch-diameter internal-bypass front dampers and rear shocks with remote reservoirs, Toyota will likely upgrade the springs and dampers even further for longer travel, allowing for high-speed desert driving.Illustration by Avarvarii (Illustration by Avarvarii)Toyota will also fit the TRD Hammer with new steel bumpers at both ends, providing improved approach and departure angles that will make the truck more agile when navigating rocky, undulating terrain. The other key upgrade will be more serious off-road tires. Spy shots show BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 rubber, likely standing 37 inches tall, versus the smaller Falken Wildpeak A/T AT3W tires currently found on the TRD Pro. Between the tires and suspension changes, expect the ground clearance to increase by at least an inch.PowertrainThe ultimate versions of Ford and Ram's full-size trucks pack V-8s, but we don't expect Toyota to stuff an eight-cylinder engine into the Tundra to challenge the F-150 Raptor R and the Ram 1500 SRT TRX. Instead, we think Toyota will upgrade the Tundra's i-Force Max V-6 hybrid setup, probably squeezing a bit more oomph from the twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter gas engine and perhaps fitting a more potent electric motor. The powertrain currently produces a combined 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque, and we expect that to increase to at least 450 hp, although we wouldn't be shocked to see it exceed 500 ponies. A stouter version of the current 10-speed automatic transmission will likely route that muscle to all four wheels.CompetitionWithout a V-8, the Tundra TRD Hammer will compete with the 450-hp V-6-powered Raptor and 540-hp inline-six-powered 1500 RHO. We're still waiting on Chevy to join this fight, and we hope a more extreme Silverado comes when the next-generation model launches later this year.What Might Go WrongTruck buyers in the full-size segment have historically preferred American brands: the Tundra sold a respectable 147,610 units last year, but that was still a far cry from the 828,832 Ford F-series trucks, 588,709 Chevy Silverados, and 374,059 Ram pickups. Toyota will have to make sure the Tundra TRD Hammer is appropriately capable, but even still, customers may gravitate more towards the Raptor and Ram badges.Estimated Arrival and PriceWe expect the Tundra TRD Hammer to be revealed this year and arrive for the 2027 model year. The TRD Pro already starts at $74,600, so we think pricing for the TRD Hammer will likely start over $80,000.AdvertisementAdvertisementSee All of the Cars Worth Waiting For➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.Shop New Cars Shop Used CarsYou Might Also LikeGift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for KidsFuture Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029