As someone from a journalistic background, I can relate to the concept of tailgating parties or ‘Car-o-bar,’ as we call it in India. It’s a common practice among media persons to unwind after work by enjoying drinks and snacks from the trunk of a common car. Aside from beers and bruvvers, one aspect that has been missing from tailgating parties, is entertainment. While many companies and DIYers have installed small to medium-sized televisions inside their vehicles, Toyota has gone a step further and capped its ‘Ultimate Tailgate Tundra’ – a full-size Toyota Tundra truck with five weatherproof screens to elevate the tailgating experience to new heights.
Considering how big a sports junkie and a wino I am, I absolutely love the ‘concept’. Yes, you read it right, the Ultimate Tailgate Tundra is a prototype for now and was unveiled by Toyota at the 2024 SEMA Show, an event famous for calling exhibitors to present nonsensical yet amusing concepts. The Ultimate Tailgate Tundra is custom-built to celebrate Toyota’s sponsor partnership with the NFL.
Anyways, whether it’s NFL, IPL, or UFC for that matter, I can’t afford to miss a single minute of action, when it comes to sports. And to watch a game on a small screen is something I despise. So for sports junkies like me, Toyota’s Ultimate Tailgate Tundra is an absolute boon. Not only is it an audio-visual powerhouse but also rugged and equally stylish.
“This build is more of an audio-visual experience than a typical tailgate setup. We wanted to create something that not only draws attention to the truck, but is also an activation that invites people to experience the Toyota Tundra as the ultimate sporting and adventure machine,” mentions Tyler Litchenberger, Toyota Vehicle Marketing and Communication manager.
But if you are thinking Toyota has simply accoutered the Pick-up’s tailgate with an array of screens, that’s not the case. These screens are mounted on a covered rack in the bed. At the press of a button, a custom-built staging shell rises from the truck bed on four electric actuators, revealing five 55-inch weatherproof outdoor screens. These screens fold out to provide a clear view of the action from any angle. If you are not standing at the back, does not matter, the displays can be flipped around to whatever angles you want.
To keep the scorching heat and the pinching glare of the sun at bay, Toyota has also outfitted a rack-mounted 180 Dual + R-Filler canopy to its custom-built vehicle in order to provide 185 square feet of shaded space and game-time ambiance. The design is so elegant that I am pretty sure if Colin Gibson has a look at it, he will consider replicating the same in his next Mad Max franchise.
There is more to it than just the aesthetics and the protruding screens. Toyota has also equipped the vehicle with a bespoke audio system based on the JBL Club Marine Series engineered to endure the elements and complement the visual experience. “A Club Marine A5055 amplifier provides a signal to four Club Marine tower speakers while a Club Marine 600 amplifier drives a pair of 10-inch subwoofers, providing rich, dynamic, and immersive audio,” the company points out.
Now the question arises, what provides power and network supply to the audio-visual equipment? Well, the company has an onboard satellite Wi-Fi system that provides the connection to the channels broadcasting the games while a generator delivers the power for this mobile entertainment vehicle, making the Ultimate Tailgate Tundra entirely self-sufficient.
Toyota mentions that it’s a ‘special project prototype that is modified with parts and/or accessories not available from Toyota that may void the vehicle’s warranty, may negatively impact vehicle performance and safety, and may not be street legal.’ Implying we are not getting this at CES 2025. Not a chance! So, let’s hold our horses and wait for a few years before Toyota may consider unveiling something as badass and funky as the Ultimate Tailgate Tundra.
Follow Homecrux on Google News!
