What was the design intent of the 2GR-FE?

I'm curious about what Toyota engineers intended to accomplish with the 2GR-FE in terms of an evolution beyond the 1GR-FE.

From what I understand, displacement dropped from 4.0L to 3.5L. On paper, power and torque increased slightly. In talking to people and having driven a couple as rentals, power and torque remained the same. Fuel economy remained unchanged.

Yes, I have a 1GR-FE in my 2009. This is not a loaded question. I've been curious about this topic for a while. I'm ready to be educated on the subject. Thanks!

 

It was due to cafe standards. The 3.5 on paper gets 1mpg better than the 4.0 might sound miniscule but that's millions of gallons of fuel not polluting on a wide scale

 

Toyota engineers had a very clear cut plan with the 2GR-FE. Better fuel economy, power like an old tired sedan, and confusing gear hunting to remind everyone that there is indeed one more gear than 2nd gens.

 

Lol … when I drive my 22 OR, although the low end torque isn’t great, it’s not that bad. I’d probably never have thought about it being bad unless I read about how everyone hates it. I don’t have gear hunting ever and in ECT it’s downright tolerable. I don’t really get it. I mean I’ve driven a Raptor for a week and I understand it’s night and day with a real power plant but it’s just not that bad.

 

My '06 TRD OR AC manual had 6 gears ...

 

Probably?
I am an engineer but not for Toyota.
I would say they were going for economy of scale offering the 3.5 as it is in many other Toyotas.
This allowed Toyota to either A) Keep pricing competitive with others or B) Make more per vehicle sold.
My guess is a little of both as that is how our company operates.
I think (I know) next gen Tacoma will be different and offer more efficiency using turbo.
Hey...my guess

 

Toyota could have kept the 4.0 and the 3.5, and gotten rid of the 2.7. They got rid of the 2.7 manual, and the 4.0 remained for the 4Runner. Having two V6, engines don't really make sense but there are two V6s in two different vehicles
3.5 could have been the standard Tacoma engine, and the 4.0 could have been reserved for the Pro.

 

4.0not made in US. Japan.

 

That makes sense. My wife's 2018 Highlander has the same Engine with the 4ds. It's much smoother and feels more responsive though.

From what I've read the 3.5 is a solid engine. It has forged crank and rods. Mine sounds like a diesel which is the result of the direct injection.

 

That explains why it's in the 4Runner. Toyota could have built Pro Tacomas in Japan, nobody would have complained.

 

Yep. It is much easier and more economical to make 10K of something than 9K of something and 1K of something else.

 

I have been to the plant in Tahara. There is no place for a Tacoma there

 

In my opinion, it was not meant as an evolution, per se. 1GRFE came out in '03; 2GRFE came out in '05. 1GRFE is a longitudinal design; 2GRFE is transverse mounted. As far as I'm concerned, it made it into the Tacoma because of 'penny punching. As an aside, when the 2GRFKS was originally presented as the new engine for Tacoma, it had a 7GRFKS designation as used abroad. The 7GRFKS is purported to be the longitudinal mounted version of the 2GRFKS.

 

Build it at a Hino or Isuzu plant. Then it would be a proper truck built at a truck manufacturing facility with a truck motor.

I'm not looking for reasonable explanation.

 

@Bandido

 

Toyota doesn't typically make engine changes until at least what's known as a "major minor" model change, but more frequently at a "major" model change. It's not cost effective to design, engineer, test and certify a different engine in an existing model.

This is why the current 4Runner still has the 4.0....though not the same 1GR that was in the Tacoma. Rest assured the next 4Runner will not have the 4.0.

The 4.0 in the Tundra was dropped during a major minor model change a few years ago and was replaced by the 4.6 V8 which, on paper, returned about the same MPG. Plus the 4.6 and 5.7 V8s were modular. Stroke was the difference in displacement. So it was cost effective to offer them over the 4.0.

For the '16 Taco the 1GR was dropped as it was a major model change.

The 1GR was a pig on paper and lowered Toyotas CAFE. The 2GR is a bit better overall, even if just on paper. CAFE matters. Plus, having a single engine (even with several variants) is cost effective.

And FYI: Tacoma 2GRs come from Alabama or Kentucky....most from Alabama.

 

I thought the 3rd gen V6 was a 2GR-FKS?

 

Everyone would complained as the cost would have increased by $12k instantly for being Japan built due to 25% tariff on import trucks.

 

+1

The 1GR also needs a smog pump just to meet emission standards from ten years ago.

 

I've noticed all the manufacturers have moved to a small selection of multi-purpose global engines. Even more so with turbos - so many combinations can be made from the same base engine, with and without a turbo or two and varying levels of boost to suit the vehicle.