Truck enthusiasts got their first glimpse at the front of the much-anticipated 2016 Toyota Tacoma through a photo that was released by Toyota.
The photo is the second teaser image released by Toyota for the pickup truck, which will be unveiled on Jan. 12 at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show.
The hazy picture of the 2016 Tacoma's face features a grille with a trapezoid shape and narrower headlights infused with LEDs. The teaser picture also reveals a sculpted hood, extended fender flares and a chrome trim.
The first teaser photo showed the rear of the pickup truck, revealing that it will have vertical tail lights, a rear bumper with the same color as the vehicle's body and a uniquely-shaped tailgate adorned with the Tacoma lettering.
The design of the 2016 Tacoma appears to be inspired by the Toyota 4Runner SUV, but for the entire look of the pickup, consumers will just have to wait until it is officially revealed in January.
The price and technical specs of the vehicle have not yet been officially revealed, but Toyota has promised that the pickup truck will "once again set the benchmark for midsize pickup performance." Toyota added that the 2016 Tacoma will feature new and rugged technology that will give the vehicle much better off-road capabilities compared to previous models.
Previous rumors on the vehicle suggest that there will no longer be four-speed or five-speed automatic transmission options for the 2016 Tacoma, instead only offering either six-speed manual or six-speed automatic versions. The current 2.7-liter inline-four and 4.0-liter V6 engine of the Tacoma will also likely be upgraded for increased fuel efficiency.
Toyota has also been performing last-minute testing for the pickup truck, with Automobile Magazine getting a glimpse of a pair of camouflaged prototypes of the 2016 Tacoma during a video shoot in Michigan.
Spy shots taken by the magazine confirm that the 2016 Tacoma will have both double cab and access cab models, similar to previous years. Automobilemag had previously been able to take a closer look at the prototype in a past testing session, spotting a rerouted exhaust and some modifications to the vehicle's parts. However, it is clear that the 2016 Tacoma will not be undergoing a massive overhaul to its body, as most of the changes would be in the vehicle's interior to be able to better compete with rival trucks GM Chevrolet Colorado, Nissan Frontier and GMC Canyon.
Also to be unveiled at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show is another 2016 Tacoma rival, the 2016 Nissan Titan.
