We're unwrapping one of the boldest concept campers Toyota has ever envisioned.
Ready to meet Tacozilla? Let's get to it.
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With minimalist living and downsizing trends still popular in 2021,
Toyota decided to combine rugged off-road adventure with a tiny home
in their monstrously ambitious concept camper, the Tacozilla Tacoma Camper.
Unveiling this commanding concept at the 2021 SEMA show in Las Vegas,
the Tacozilla represents months of engineering and architectural collaboration. With a team
working tirelessly to solve space and design issues encountered along the way.
While the Tacozilla may look impressive both inside and out,
special mention must go to the Lyseo Gallery Motorhome from Burstner we covered in a
previous video. You can check our full recap by clicking the card in the top right corner.
The wows only really start when you step inside this
over-the-top camper. Burstner believes in a "home-away-from-home" mentality.
Their interior design shows that it's equal parts modern sheik and a homely aesthetic.
There's warm lighting, wood laminate finishes, and luxury appliances that make the Lyseo Galley
feel like a five-star hotel on the road. A novel inflatable overhead pop-up roof gives height and
elegance to an otherwise perfect interior. There's even a pop-up coffee machine for
your early morning caffeination. Look for the link to this in the description.
Built on the back of a Tacoma TRD Sport pickup, Toyota kept most of the same base model specs,
including a 278-hp 3.5-liter V6 engine and six-speed manual transmission.
Upgrades, however, have come in the way of a TRD snorkel,
2-inch suspension life, all-terrain tires, and rigid auxiliary lighting.
Tacozilla does away with sharp boxy lines for the camper's body. Instead, they opt
for rounded edges and smooth aluminum surfaces to make the camper section look more integrated.
Retro decals on the side give it a distinct 70's and 80's camper vibe,
but the modern inclusions tell another story.
An odd, angled door provides access from the rear, swinging open on a unique hinge. The design might
look simple enough, but the truth is that door represented a challenge that took over 100 hours
to solve. While manufacturers like Chinook RV dealt with angled doors using a split, two-piece
door system, Toyota created a single-piece door that fits precisely inside the frame.
Clearance was also a big concern in the design phase.
The high roof allows just over six feet in headroom,
meaning even your tall friends can come camping without having to stoop over.
And while we are on the topic of over-the-top campervans, we cannot forget a model we covered
earlier this year, the V90 Life Home Villa Edition from SAIC Maxus. The V90 features
a dramatically opulent glass-enclosed second story that pops up at the touch of a button.
It is one of the only campers ever to have a fully functional balcony.
Access is via an internal elevator. Yes, that is right, this campervan has its own elevator.
The bottom floor feels like a fully stocked condo, with a lounge room,
big screen TV, and entertainment center.
Upstairs can be customized to your heart's desire, anything from the gorgeous sunroom to
sleeping quarters or campsite lookout. For a full recap, click the card in the top right corner.
You can also find the link in the description.
Once inside, Toyota squeezed in as much functionality as possible into a compact
space, installing a fully enclosed wet bathroom with a toilet and hot/cold shower.
The modern kitchen block comes complete with a stove, sink, and combination fridge-freezer.
A dual bench dining area with a 3D-printed table sits centrally inside the camper.
What is cool about this table is that when you are done eating,
it can then double as a piece of backlit wall art.
Any future production models would undoubtedly have the option for
that table to convert into a sleeping surface for a third and fourth camper.
Further back still and the Tacozilla features a raised alcove with a double mattress where campers
can watch the wall-mounted TV or gaze through the 4x4foot skylight centered in the ceiling above.
As for power, dual batteries mean there is enough to not only power the internal appliances
but enough to start the engine the following day.
Unfortunately for us, the Tacozilla Tacoma Camper is a concept
created as a one-off for promotion. But, in saying that,
it is not unheard of for concept cars to move to production if there is enough buzz and demand!
Fingers crossed!