Toyota's Alleged F-150 Raptor-Fighter Has A Name: Hammer

Rumors of Toyota's high-performance Ford Raptor-fighting Tundra have circulated for a while now, bolstered by a SEMA concept (pictured) a while back. Now, some new rumors and an interesting new patent filing have helped tip the scales a bit more, making the high-performance Tundra seem all the more likely.

Speaking to The Drive, one source alleges the truck is happening, saying it'll have 37-inch tires and will be "badass." Another crumb comes from the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s website. A filing for the name "TRD Hammer" has appeared at the patent office, with the owner listed as Toyota Motor Corporation. The same report from The Drive also points to a recent Toyota owner survey, which polled owners on a few potential names for the following description of a vehicle: "This high-performance truck package is designed for off-road enthusiasts, featuring an engineered long-travel suspension and 37” all-terrain tires. With the truck’s unique wide fenders, high-clearance bumpers, and a powerful engine, it achieves exceptional off-road capability and performance." Potential names included a few real duds, like TRD Bizurk and TRD Iron, but notably, the TRD Hammer name that Toyota now holds a patent on was also featured in the survey.

Of course, the usual disclaimers apply here. "Sources" are just people who maybe know something about that cool new thing. Patent filings, in a similar vein, are sometimes just manufacturers kicking around names they like and hedging their bets, applying for the patent without any real idea what this cool new name could be for. In this case, the filing lends a little more credibility to the report, but as they say, don't go counting your chickens before they hatch.

Toyota will have its work cut out for it competing with Ford's F-150 Raptor, which offers a turbocharged V6 or a 720-horsepower supercharged V8. Toyota will likely target the lesser of the two, most probably using a version of its Hybrid Max powertrains. Already, the Tundra's Hybrid Max powertrain makes a healthy 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. Meanwhile, the Raptor's V6 makes 450 horsepower. Toyota will also need to compete with the Raptor's famed capability at high speeds off-road, and its hilariously fun driving dynamics. A big, fast Tonka truck is hard to get right.