The era of the sport truck has long been over. We all remember the Ford F-150 SVT Lightning–Not the EV one, the one that was in The Fast and The Furious–but there were some left-field sport trucks that have been long forgotten. One of the coolest ones came from Toyota, home of the off-roader, and it was called the Tacoma X-Runner. Toyota is reviving the name for a hot-rodded 2024 Tacoma concept (one of many) being shown at the SEMA show next week.

While no official images have been released, Toyota released part one of its build process on its YouTube channel. It’s no mere concept, either. It’s a collaboration between Toyota’s Calty Design Center and Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Calty undertook the design of the lowered street truck while the Technical Center figured out how to slam the lifted 2024 Tacoma to the ground. But the real kicker is that the truck uses the 389-horsepower 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 from the Tundra, making this X-Runner ultra spicy.

According to Toyota, the truck was originally drafted by a member of the Calty Ann Arbor team as a production-intent truck, but it got shelved in the design process. It was recently revived and put forward for a SEMA build showcasing what it could look like. It uses TRD Pro flares for extra width, and is slammed on 21-inch wheels with carbon fiber barrels. Helping to add extra width are Tundra control arms, while the truck sits on air suspension for height adjustability.

Of course, the history of the X-Runner is short but glorious. It was sold from 2005 to 2015 as part of the second-generation Tacoma. It was named X-Runner for its X-shaped chassis bracing, used lowered suspension with Bilstein dampers, came standard with a six-speed manual, and only came in rear-wheel drive. It was a bizarre truck that is now a bizarre cult classic.

While trucks have definitely gone in the direction of ruggedness and off-road capability since the Ford F-150 Raptor made its debut, there’s still love for the sport truck. More details will be released in the run-up to SEMA, but this X-Runner concept is definitely a sick truck.

The Toyota Tacoma X-Runner Street Truck Is Coming Back as a SEMA Concept (msn.com)

 

I do like that Toyota is bringing back a street sport truck, while it seems like most of the others have killed it off. I will be looking for the unveiling of this one.

 

I’ve never heard of the X-Runner before I’ll have to look into it

 

only care if it's still got a manual trans.

 

In the early 2000s when Dodge had the v10 reg cab with a manual, ford had the 5.4L supercharged lightning, about when Chevy realized they needed something and made the SS, Toyota made an extended cab pickup with a supercharged 4.0L and a 6spd manual. X-Runner was the name because (I hope Im remembering this right), it was an X braced frame. I think it was available in black, red, and blue. It had sports car rating on the skid plate. This was THEE import sport truck of the early 2000s. Been gone for what I thought was about 15 years.



YES IT'S A CONCEPT TRUCK
but this one they unveiled at SEMA ha s
a 421hp 470 lb ft twin turbo v6 (tundra engine in a midsize)
airbag suspension
2.5" bilstein shocks with remote reservoirs
13.9" brakes up front
(Sounds like they took the full size performance and put into a midsize).
Slammed Toyota Tacoma X-Runner Concept With Twin-Turbo V6 Is One We'll Remember (msn.com)

 

I don't actually hate it at alllllll

I wouldn't buy it. But it looks cool AF

 

Same. Wouldn't be bad for a daily that does occasional truck things. If it were mine, I would have to change the wheel/tire package and red interior. Not really digging the hood scoop but at least it is functional per Toyota. https://pressroom.toyota.com/toyotas...ck-resurgence/ Surprisingly, I like the styling of the truck otherwise, considering the stylish abomination of the new Tundra.

 

CarBuzz spoke with Sheldon Brown, Chief Engineer of Toyota USA, about the concept, and he let us know if there's enough interest, the company wants to see it through. "If we can get a ground swell, it's something we want to do," he said. "We can mobilize development thanks to the flexibility of the platform."


Toyota Wants To Put Twin-Turbo Tacoma X-Runner Into Production (msn.com)