In image (L-R) Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) First Vice President for Vehicle Sales Operations Danny Cruz, TMP Senior Vice President Masahiro Haoka, TMP President Masando Hashimoto, TMP Vice Chairman Dr. David Go, Toyota Motor Asia Regional Executive Chief Engineer Jurachart Jongusuk, and TMP Executive Vice President Jing Atienza
After months of build up, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has finally officially launched the next-generation Tamaraw in the Philippines. The comeback of the iconic name into the Philippine automotive scene is really special that they held a simultaneous launch of the Tamaraw in no less than eight locations nationwide – Makati, Quezon City, Pasay City, Pampanga, Laguna, Cebu, Davao, Cagayan De Oro, and online via livestream.
The Tamaraw name has cemented itself in Philippine automotive history not only as a family car but as a people mover. It was among the first, along with the first generation Toyota Revo (which is its successor) to be small, air-conditioned PUVs that added key routes in and between major cities in the country. Its variant name – FX – became its category name in PUVs. Its return will only add more to its story as it’s now geared for businesses, leisure, and more depending on the owner’s demands and imagination. It also helps more Filipinos as it will be made in TMP’s Santa Rosa production facility.
At the core of the new Tamaraw is the IMV platform which is the same as the Hilux. It has already been tried, tested, and proven to be reliable, durable, and of superior quality from different owners all over the world. What separates the Tamaraw from the Hilux is the versatility of the rear bed. It features a flat bed with no bump from the chassis and a flexible fuel hose, allowing for an anything-goes build at the rear.
Before going into the specs, the Tamaraw has obvious advantages over other small commercial vehicles. First and most crucial of all is that its engine bay isn’t inside the cabin. This means the occupant’s butt won’t have to experience additional heat coming from the engine and you have a whole front section to protect the occupants. It also gives mechanics a lot of room and options when repairs are needed in the engine bay. The design of the cabin will also give the driver superior forward visibility and it’s easier to get in and out from either side.
There are two main iterations of the next-generation Tamaraw. The Short-Wheelbase (SWB) with 2,750mm distance between the front and rear wheels, and Long-Wheelbase (LWB) with 3,085mm of space. They also come with exclusive powertrains. The SWB will be powered by a 2.0L 1TR-FE gasoline engine that makes 139 ps and 183 Nm of torque, mated to a 5-speed manual. Meanwhile, the LWB has a 2.4L 2GD-FTV turbo-diesel engine with a 5-speed manual that makes 150 ps and 343 Nm of torque. The top-of-the-line trim of the LWB comes exclusively with a 2.4L 2GD-FTV (High) turbo-diesel engine, the same one used in the Fortuner and Hilux, paired to a 6-speed automatic and has 150 ps and 400 Nm of torque.
Standard amenities for the SWB and LWB trims include power steering, 2-DIN radio, USB port, aircon, and two cupholders. The range-topping LWB with 2GD-FTV (High) engine will have additional bells and whistles. These include 16-inch alloy wheels, LED lighting, separate driver and passenger seats, 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, keyless entry system, and power adjustable side mirrors. It also has front airbags, ABS, and EBD.
As for the body options, both lengths of the Tamaraw are available immediately as a Utility Van, Aluminum Van, Dropside, or the higher GL Dropside. Toyota has also partnered up with local automotive body builders so you can have more possibilities with your new Tamaraw. It’s available as a Food Truck, Freezer Van, Patrol Van, Ambulance, or even as a Camper RV vehicle. If you’d like a more bare bones but stylized approach, Toyota also offers some Original Equipment items for it like front bumper garnish, roof rails, assist grip, bedliners, seat cover, and more.
Getting your next-generation Tamaraw is also made easier. You can trade in any car for it through Toyota’s T-Sure program where they accept all brands. There are also affordable financing packages that include Low Downpayment or Low Monthly Payment, among others. Affordable insurance packages are also available.
Maintenance is also easier and cheaper for the next-gen Tamaraw. TMP estimates PHP 3,800 average cost per PMS of the diesel variant, or PHP 3,100 for the gas variant.
The prices of the next-generation Tamaraw are PHP 937,000 for the Dropside DSL MT, PHP 1,041,000 for the Aluminum Cargo DSL MT, PHP 1,142,000 for Utility Van DSL MT, and the top of the line Dropside DSL AT is at PHP 1,075,000. There’s no price yet for the gas variants but Toyota previously said that there will be a gas variant priced below PHP 800k. The next-generation Tamaraw Diesel will be available starting January 2025 in all Toyota dealerships nationwide.
