Toyota Tundra being studied for Oz: next-gen jumbo truck could arrive in right-hand drive to rattle Ranger

The Toyota Tundra is on the cards for an Australian launch, with the next-generation of the American-born jumbo truck being considered for more global markets.

Speaking at the New York Motor Show, Toyota's North American group vice-president and general manager, Jack Hollis, said a new-generation Tundra was about to be revealed - though he wouldn't be drawn on timing - and told CarsGuide he wanted the USA-born pick-up to "go global".

"We’re working on our next-generation Tundra, and I can’t wait to show it to you," he said.

"I would love to see that car go global. We have a great relationship with Australia - the company there does fantastic work.

"As of right now, I’m not aware of any plans. But would I like to see it? Absolutely. Because the more we can share these products with other parts of the globe is a good thing."

The current-gen Tundra is Toyota's biggest American truck.

It is understood the Tundra full-size pick-up has been studied for our market since 2018. The problem is, the current vehicle was approaching the end of its lifecycle, ruling out the expense of engineering a right-hand-drive version.

With recent reports suggesting a new global truck platform could underpin all of Toyota's pick-up products - including the Tundra, Tacoma and, potentially, the HiLux - a right-hand drive version could appear more likely.

And with a new-generation Tundra around the corner, the pick-up is back in the Australian conversation.

"It’s definitely something we haven’t ruled out. And we know it’s a growing segment, the full-size pick-up space in the Australian market," a Toyota Australia spokesperson told CarsGuide.

"We wouldn’t rule out a Tundra coming to Australia in the future, but at the moment we have no solid plans. But if there’s a global business case put together that Australia could be put into, then there’s no reason we wouldn’t seriously consider the Tundra for Australia."

The Tundra's is available with either a 4.6-litre or 5.7-litre V8 engine.

The current-gen Tundra is Toyota's biggest American truck, measuring a whopping 5814mm in length, 1961mm in height and 2029mm in width in its TRD Pro guise. In comparison, the 2019 Toyota HiLux Rugged X Double Cab measures 5350mm in length, 1815mm in height and 1885mm in width.

Helping shift the Tundra's considerable bulk is a choice of two whopping V8 engines; a 4.6-litre unit good for 231kW and 443Nm, or a bigger 5.7-litre engine that delivers 284kW and 543Nm. Toyota claims a maximum 753kg payload, and a maximum 4.5-tonne towing capacity.

And if you are keen to see the the next-generation Tundra touchdown in Australia, then we have more good news for you, with Hollis promising he would "figure out a way" to make it happen.

"It’s about listening to the customer. If customers are demanding it out of Australia, we’ll figure out a way. That’s just how it works," he said.

"There has to be a need for us to be able to do it... I’m open to working with Australia to make it happen."

Would the Toyota Tundra work in Australia? Tell us in the comments below.