Since it's introduction to the North American market a few years ago, the Toyota Tundra has always had a difficult time beating it's major competitors. However, the Tundra possesses a number of qualities that should naturally attract a wide range of potential buyers. Nonetheless, it was very challenging to stand our from the RAM 1500, Ford F-150 or even the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and it's cousin, the GMC Sierra. For it's 2014 model, Toyota has decided to give a facelift to it's full-size pickup. Upon inspection, we discovered a new, more chiselled exterior design than we've seen in previous years.

Eschewing the prestigious auto show in Detroit, Toyota has opted to let Midwesterners have the first look at their newly redesigned 2014 Tundra pickup truck. Debuting for the first time, the world will get it's first look at the truck at the Chicago Auto Show which begins February 7. The Chicago Auto Show is traditionally heavy on trucks, which makes it the perfect venue for Toyota to launch the new Tundra as it seeks to find a place for itself with the big 3 in the crowded truck market. It's got heavy competition from the newly redesigned Ram 1500 which won North American Truck of the Year, and newly redesigned Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra models which will arrive this summer. Introduced in 2000, only 6.2% of the 2012 US truck market was captured by the Tundra. Still, it's sales climbed by over 22% which was more than any of the others.

Every car manufacturer hopes that their models will go down in history. Record sales, film or TV placements, technological innovations, all a pretext for a media slot. But what Toyota managed to do last week won’t be copied soon! An unmodified half-ton Toyota Tundra pick-up successfully towed the 150,000-lb Space Shuttle Endeavour last Friday. The Endeavour, which had transported Marc Garneau in 1996 and 2000, as well as Julie Payette in 2009, is taking a well-earned retirement in a museum in Los Angeles. After orbiting at over 27,000 km/h, this time it managed only 3.2 km/h. The 19-kilometer route to the California Science Center, where it will be permanently exhibited, included crossing Interstate 405 via the Manchester Boulevard Bridge.

Toyota Canada is simplifying the offering for its RAV4 SUV for 2023, with the LE FWD version going away, and possibly the TRD Off-Road package as well. The latter has not been confirmed by the automaker, however, so we’ll see.