Built as a SEMA 2010 project, Toyota has been prepping their Tacoma X-Runner RTR and did some baseline test runs out at Pomona this past Tuesday. For those unaware of this project, Toyota was basically looking at producing a “ready to race” Toyota Tacoma X-Runner with the Tundra’s 5.7-liter V8 powerplant. But the fun doesn’t stop there – because a Tundra motor alone isn’t ready to race – TRD steps in with their supercharger and intake kit, pushing the V8 to 504-hp with 550 ft-lbs of torque.
Toyota’s early estimations were that the RTR would be able to hit 11-second quarter mile times. Their first outing (mostly to gather data and get a baseline run) netted a 12.01 @ 116.57 mph pass with NHRA pilot Antron Brown behind the wheel. And for those local to Southern California, you’re well aware that Tuesday didn’t exactly have the best weather to be out testing at the strip.
For the tech-heads wondering what all is really going on with the Tacoma, Toyota has confessed that an enthusiast could build this project on their own. The Tundra powerplant fits snugly under the hood along with its rear axle. Modifications were done to narrow its wide track by 5.7-inches to match the Tacoma’s natural stance. The most complex part of the conversion? You guessed it, the wiring.
Converted namely for the track, the front wheels were narrowed to 4.5-inches wide while the rears are 10-inches wide in order to incorporate Goodyear’s Eagle Dragway slicks. The stance of the truck was also lowered by 4.5-inches along with a new steel driveshaft and the RTR currently sports a prototype mechanical LSD.
We’ll be sure to stop by at SEMA 2010 to check this Tacoma out in person.
