The 2021 Chicago Auto Show is officially over after its special summer edition. There were many automotive debuts including five from Toyota. The all-new 2022 Corolla Cross, GR 86, Tacoma TRD Pro 3.0 and Tacoma Trail Edition and 4Runner TRD Sport all made their first auto-show appearances.
Corolla Cross
The all-new 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross is a compact crossover based on the Corolla compact sedan. It's available in three trims that all share a 2-liter engine that delivers 169-horsepower and it's available in front-wheel and all-wheel drive and every Corolla cross can tow up to 1,500 pounds. Exterior features include a black grille flanked by LED lighting with black body accents. In back, designers integrated a rear spoiler and also equipped it with LED taillights. Wheel options range from 17-inch steel on L to 18-inch alloy on XLE. In the cabin, SofTex-trimmed seating is available, as is a 10-way, power-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar and heated front seats.
GR 86
We're fans of the fun to drive Toyota 86 and we can only imagine how engaging the all-new 2022 GR 86 will be to drive. GR stands for Gazoo Racing. The badging means enhanced handling and exterior aerodynamics, as well as more power and an upgraded interior.
With its wide stance and low center of gravity, the 2+2 rear-wheel drive coupe’s handling changes come in the form of front- and rear-frame reinforcements that increase rigidity. Toyota says Functional exterior air vents were also added to further support steering stability. Under the hood you find a 2.4L naturally aspirated, horizontally opposed four-cylinder boxer engine. Horsepower increases from 205-hp to 228 hp and from 156 to 184 lb.-ft. of torque on the manual version.
There are two trims available, the GR 86 and GR 86 Premium. An 8-inch Multimedia Touchscreen with six speakers comes on the standard grade, while an eight-speaker system comes standard on the Premium grade, and available Connected Services, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility with NFC pairing, and a Sirius-XM three-Month All Access trial.
Tacoma TRD Pro and Trail Edition
The next-generation 2022 Tacoma TRD Pro 3.0 takes off-road performance up a notch thanks to a heightened suspension lift that provides a 1.5-inch Front Lift and 0.5-inch Rear Lift. Other new off-road oriented features include new forged aluminum TRD Upper Control Arms that complement increased rebound stroke. It will also be equipped with TRD-tuned Fox internal bypass shocks designed to deliver exceptional on- and off-road performance the new TRD Pro also features new wheels,
The 2022 Tacoma Trail Edition also returns in a 4×4-only package that is built around the Tacoma 4×4 Double Cab short-bed model. Its V6 delivers 278-horsepower and 265 lb.-ft of peak torque. It's still available with a 6-speed manual or automatic. A TRD Pro aluminum front skid plate with red TRD lettering provides additional trail protection. The Trail Edition also features unique LED headlights with sequential turn signals featuring TRD Pro inserts.
4Runner TRD Sport
Also new for 2022, the 4Runner adds a TRD Sport grade to complement TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro. The TRD Off-Road and Pro add trail-ready features designed for tackling the toughest terrain, while the TRD Sport looks to add style, flair and some road-worthy upgrades. They include sport-tuned X-REAS suspension for enhanced on-road driving dynamics, along with new machine-faced 20-inch wheels with dark gray accents. The TRD Sport is available in 2WD or part-time 4WD with a 2-speed transfer case.
The 2022 4Runner TRD Sport features color-keyed accents on the grille, rocker panels and body molding. The signature TRD-style hood scoop is added to TRD Sport, as is a front spoiler, and black roof rails complement the color scheme. The entire 4Runner lineup features LED high beams for 2022, in addition to low beams and fog lamps
Inside, the TRD sport ditches cloth for heated SofTex-trimmed seats.