--- title: "6 Things We Do Know About Toyota’s Raptor-Fighter, “TRD Hammer.”" url: "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/03/6-things-we-do-know-about-toyotas-raptor-fighter-trd-hammer/" publisher: "Pickup Truck + SUV Talk" content_signal: "search=yes, ai-input=yes, ai-train=no" author: "Cory Fourniquet" published: "2026-03-18T21:50:33+00:00" modified: "2026-03-18T21:50:38+00:00" image: "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Tundra.widebody.test01.KGP_-1.webp" --- # 6 Things We Do Know About Toyota’s Raptor-Fighter, “TRD Hammer.” By Cory Fourniquet Published: 2026-03-18T21:50:33+00:00 Updated: 2026-03-18T21:50:38+00:00 ![Featured image]() Toyota is about to throw the hammer down on off-road pickup trucks. Just last month, [we confirmed]() that Toyota was indeed working on a Baja-style variant of the Tundra to slot above the TRD Pro in the model lineup and serve as the brand’s off-road halo vehicle. Now, thanks to a report from [The Drive](), we know the name: TRD Hammer. ## The Name Is Real, and It Sets the Tone ![2027 Toyota Tundra Raptor fighter 3]() Another oddity is the colorful camouflage on the truck breaking with Toyota’s traditional black and white design. (Photo courtesy KGP) While not as dino-themed as the Ram TRX and the Ford F-150 Raptor, or even the [rumored ZR2 Meteo]()r from Chevy, TRD Hammer sends a message to other manufacturers and consumers that Toyota plans to end the conversation with its pickup. ## It’s Rolling on 37s From the Factory ![2027 Toyota Tundra Raptor fighter 7]() This prototype is making use of a lift kit to fit these larger tires. (Photo courtesy KGP) The Drive has been told straight up: it will “have 37s and be badass.” That alone puts it in elite company. Not many 2026 vehicles can be fitted with 37-inch tires straight from the factory; those that do wear a Blue Oval badge. Factory 37-inch tires signal serious intent, not just desert styling, and real high-speed off-road capability. ## The Mint 400 Truck Wasn’t Just a Race Entry ![]() Toyota R&D Mint 400 Entry Vehicle (Photo Courtesy of Mint 400) Earlier this month, Toyota showed up to the 2026 Mint 400 with a mystery Tundra on 37s and walked away with a win. That truck, likely wearing KO3s, wasn’t just competing. It was validating something much bigger. In the [Instagram pos]()t announcing Toyota’s participation, “The Mint 400 has always been where innovation gets proven — and this is exactly how future vehicles and components are designed, validated, and pushed to market.” ## That “Mystery Tundra” Is Almost Certainly the TRD Hammer ![2027 Toyota Tundra Raptor fighter 6]() The two images show the prototype on the left and the traditional Tundra TRD Pro on the right. (Photo courtesy KGP) Toyota hasn’t confirmed it, but the signs are obvious. A 37-inch-tire Tundra, racing in public, powered by a hybrid V6, lines up perfectly with what we’re hearing. This looks like final-stage testing hiding in plain sight. ## Power Will Come From a Massaged Hybrid V6 ![Toyota Plug-In Hybrid Truck 3]() Toyota has been using hybrid powertrains in trucks for some time now. (Photo courtesy Toyota) Instead of chasing supercharged V8 madness, Toyota is sticking with its i-Force Max hybrid V6. Expect tweaks, not a complete overhaul, pushing output beyond the current 437 hp and 583 lb-ft baseline. ## It’s Aiming Squarely at EcoBoost Raptors and RHOs, Not V8 Monsters ![2027 Toyota Tundra Raptor fighter 4]() The bulging fenders are a trademark of the Ford Raptor and Ram RHO and not something Toyota has for the Tundra. (Photo courtesy KGP) Don’t expect TRX or Raptor R levels of insanity. The target is clear: high-output twin-turbo V6 trucks. That likely means something in the 450 to 500 horsepower range, enough to stay competitive without abandoning efficiency. ## Structured page information ~~~json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Article", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/03/6-things-we-do-know-about-toyotas-raptor-fighter-trd-hammer/#article", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/03/6-things-we-do-know-about-toyotas-raptor-fighter-trd-hammer/" }, "author": { "name": "Cory Fourniquet", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#/schema/person/1d50641f3e46681f22b3c356a478d2da" }, "headline": "6 Things We Do Know About Toyota’s Raptor-Fighter, “TRD Hammer.”", "datePublished": "2026-03-18T21:50:33+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-03-18T21:50:38+00:00", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/03/6-things-we-do-know-about-toyotas-raptor-fighter-trd-hammer/" }, "wordCount": 507, "commentCount": 0, "publisher": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#organization" }, "image": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/03/6-things-we-do-know-about-toyotas-raptor-fighter-trd-hammer/#primaryimage" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Tundra.widebody.test01.KGP_-1.webp", "keywords": [ "f-150", "ram 1500", "raptor", "RHO", "silverado", "Trx", "tundra", "ZR2" ], "articleSection": [ "Featured on Home Page", "News" ], "inLanguage": "en-US", "potentialAction": [ { "@type": "CommentAction", "name": "Comment", "target": [ "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/03/6-things-we-do-know-about-toyotas-raptor-fighter-trd-hammer/#respond" ] } ] }, { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/03/6-things-we-do-know-about-toyotas-raptor-fighter-trd-hammer/", "url": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/03/6-things-we-do-know-about-toyotas-raptor-fighter-trd-hammer/", "name": "6 Things We Do Know About Toyota’s Raptor-Fighter, “TRD Hammer.”", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#website" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/03/6-things-we-do-know-about-toyotas-raptor-fighter-trd-hammer/#primaryimage" }, "image": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/03/6-things-we-do-know-about-toyotas-raptor-fighter-trd-hammer/#primaryimage" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Tundra.widebody.test01.KGP_-1.webp", "datePublished": "2026-03-18T21:50:33+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-03-18T21:50:38+00:00", "description": "Toyota is about to throw the hammer down on off-road pickup trucks. We have seen spy shots, now we know the name: TRD Hammer.", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/03/6-things-we-do-know-about-toyotas-raptor-fighter-trd-hammer/#breadcrumb" }, "inLanguage": "en-US", "potentialAction": [ { "@type": "ReadAction", "target": [ "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/03/6-things-we-do-know-about-toyotas-raptor-fighter-trd-hammer/" ] } ] }, { "@type": "ImageObject", "inLanguage": "en-US", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/03/6-things-we-do-know-about-toyotas-raptor-fighter-trd-hammer/#primaryimage", "url": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Tundra.widebody.test01.KGP_-1.webp", "contentUrl": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Tundra.widebody.test01.KGP_-1.webp", "width": 1200, "height": 800, "caption": "Toyota TRD Hammer Spotted Testing (Photo courtesy KGP)" }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/03/6-things-we-do-know-about-toyotas-raptor-fighter-trd-hammer/#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "6 Things We Do Know About Toyota’s Raptor-Fighter, “TRD Hammer.”" } ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#website", "url": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/", "name": "Pickup Truck +SUV Talk", "description": "Latest News, Reviews and Stories", "publisher": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#organization" }, "potentialAction": [ { "@type": "SearchAction", "target": { "@type": "EntryPoint", "urlTemplate": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/?s={search_term_string}" }, "query-input": { "@type": "PropertyValueSpecification", "valueRequired": true, "valueName": "search_term_string" } } ], "inLanguage": "en-US" }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#organization", "name": "Pickup Truck + SUV Talk", "url": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "inLanguage": "en-US", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#/schema/logo/image/", "url": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/PUTC-Only-Shield.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/PUTC-Only-Shield.jpg", "width": 613, "height": 379, "caption": "Pickup Truck + SUV Talk" }, "image": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#/schema/logo/image/" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.facebook.com/pickuptrucktalk/", "https://x.com/PickupTruckTalk", "https://instagram.com/PickupTruckTalk", "https://www.pinterest.com/PickupTruckTalk/", "https://www.youtube.com/pickuptrucktalk" ] }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#/schema/person/1d50641f3e46681f22b3c356a478d2da", "name": "Cory Fourniquet", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "inLanguage": "en-US", "@id": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/02ea176ae73a0a288cd5d980dac0347f5eed2caec9bcc3ba60fa511d19714341?s=96&d=mm&r=g", "url": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/02ea176ae73a0a288cd5d980dac0347f5eed2caec9bcc3ba60fa511d19714341?s=96&d=mm&r=g", "contentUrl": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/02ea176ae73a0a288cd5d980dac0347f5eed2caec9bcc3ba60fa511d19714341?s=96&d=mm&r=g", "caption": "Cory Fourniquet" }, "description": "Host of the GT: Garage Talk podcast and vehicle reviews, as well as the 21st President of the Texas Auto Writers Association, Cory knows a thing or two about cars and trucks. As a lifelong Texan, Cory enjoys off-roading trucks and SUVs at nearby Barnwell Mountain Recreation Area, but credits the Chevy Camaro with his lifelong obsession with all things automotive.", "url": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/author/coryfourniquet/" } ] } ] ~~~