Elite Traveler Spring 2024

49 elite traveler SPRING 2024

Without question, this is the intersection of technolo gy and automobile manufacturing

When the third-generation Tundra debuted two years ago it made a splash, courtesy of its twin-turbo V6 powertrains, the most powerful of which was a hybrid. Named the i-FORCE MAX, the 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 hybrid with a 10-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission outputs 437 hp and remains a centerpoint of the Tundra TRD Pro, which received its fi rst refresh this year. Whether towing (up to 11,175 lbs) or traversing, Toyota masterfully balances its half-ton pickup truck — the reliability and durability of the powertrain outweighs the constantly shifting transmission, noticeable when climbing up a hill. Standard rear coil springs give the Tundra TRD Pro a settled, grounded ride, boosted by FOX internal bypass shocks, 18-inch all-terrain tires and aluminum skid plates. Toyota Tundra TRD Pro

At 81.6-inches wide (mirrors notwithstanding) and 78-inches high, the footprint of the truck is more cube than rectangle, a point of exaggeration when the driver of any vehicle glances in their rearview mirror after dark; is it a big rig or a Tundra TRD Pro they see? That boldness echoes throughout the cabin with the all-new multimedia system. An available 14-inch touchscreen features a pinch-and-zoom function that parrots most phones and tablets. A simple ‘Okay Toyota’ responds like Alexa or Siri — the AI assistant can turn down the audio volume of the JBL 12-speaker with subwoofer and ampli fi er, leaving the driver free for other more attention-worthy tasks, say, navigating up a frozen road or reversing down a boat ramp. Toyota Tundra TRD Pro from $72,130, toyota.com

RivianR 1 T Performance Dual-Motor AWD(with MaxPack)

It’s a bit of a ‘choose your own adventure’ — and that’s before wheels ever hit pavement. Rivian — RJ Scaringe’s Silicon Valley startup that was founded in 2009 (with manufacturing in Normal, Illinois) and went public in November 2021 — produces an all-electric pickup truck (R1T) and SUV (R1S). Focusing on the truck, there’s no less than 17 con fi gurations. Avoiding the minutiae, not every drive system pairs with each type of battery. The Performance Dual-Motor all-wheel drive (with a 0-60 in 3.5 seconds and 665 hp) integrates with the Max pack, which o ff ers 410 miles per charge. Whereas the Quad-Motor all-wheel drive (0-60 in 3 seconds fl at with 835 hp) only works with the large pack. But it has four additional drive modes: conserve, rock crawl, drift and rally. Choices. When adventure of the outdoor variety fi nally arrives, it’s delightful. Three feet of water feels like half that. The 14.9 inches of ground clearance makes it nearly impossible to bottom out — on anything. Towing capacity is 11,000 lbs. The company recently fi leda patent for a mobile movie projector. There’s a cargo tunnel running behind the cabin the width of the truck and a useful front trunk. Plus, the touchscreen isn’t a screen; it’s a fl at 15-inch monitor, akin to a medium-sized laptop. Without question, this is the intersection of technology and automobile manufacturing. Rivian R1T Performance Dual-Motor AWD (with Max Pack) from $94,000, rivian.com

Photos Stellantis, Elliot Ross