The Toyota Tacoma is a truck whose grasp has far exceeded its original reach. Launched in America in America in 1995, Tacoma was marketed as a compact pick-up until its second generation began in 2005, when it became classified as a mid-size. Following a full third-generation redesign for 2016, the 2019 Tacoma remains the best-selling mid-size pickup as it has for 12 years running. Those consistent sales have also made Tacoma the 4th top-selling truck in America and No. 13 best-selling vehicle in the U.S., and sales are up nearly 8 percent so far this year.

Along the way, Tacoma has gained a rep for ruggedness in look and in function, and Toyota has offered its mid-size truck for a wide array of tastes -- available in 32 models based on two cab types, the extended Access Cab and four-door Double Cab, each available in 4×2 or 4×4 configurations. Tacoma is available in six model grades, each with its own purpose and unique appearance, including the work-ready SR; the high-style, high-value SR5; the athletic TRD Sport; the adventurous TRD Off-Road; the top-of-the-line Limited; and the ultimate off-road TRD Pro.

Uptweaking the rugged factor for 2019 Tacoma revises the TRD Pro trim with more off-road ready equipment, and offers an available TRD Pro high-mounted "snorkel" air intake and makes the JBL Audio and moonroof standard. Also new for 2019, Toyota Safety Sense is now standard on all grades and includes a precollision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, sway control, auto high beams and adaptive cruise control; two additional USB ports are now in the center console, and Toyota offers a wide variety of optional packages to personalize the 2019 Tacoma.

Designed in Newport Beach, California, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, Tacoma employs extensive use of high-strength steel in the frame and hot-stamped ultra-high strength steel in the body for a strong foundation for hard work, hard play, and durability. While Tacoma does not offer a regular cab, it does come in Access Cab (an extended cab with rear-hinged rear doors) and Double Cab (crew cab with conventional rear doors) configurations. Tacoma Access Cab and Double Cab models are built on a 127.4-inch wheelbase with a 60.5-inch bed, or a 73.7-inch long bed on a 140.6-inch wheelbase. My test Tacoma was the base 4x4 with an Access Cab, and it measured 212.3 inches long, 74.4 inches wide and 70.6 inches high with 9.4 inches of ground clearance. My test truck weighed in at 4325 lbs. and had a tow rating of 3500 lbs. (an optional tow package is rated at 6,500 lbs.).

From a power perspective, Tacoma is available with two engine options. The more economical engine is the 2.7-liter inline 4-cylinder, DOHC 16-valve cast iron block system with aluminum alloy head and VVT-i. With the 2WD 6-speed manual, it is EPA rated at 19mg/city and 23mpg/highway, and the 4WD manual is estimated at 19/22 (the 6-speed automatic gets an 19/23 estimate). The inline-4 provides 159 hp and 180 lbs-ft of torque. The 5-speed manual transmission was discontinued in 2018, and you can choose from between a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic trans.

My test Tacoma 4x4 automatic was powered by the larger and more powerful aluminum block 3.5-liter Direct and Port Injection, Atkinson Cycle V-6 engine with Variable Valve Timing-Intelligent Wider Intake and Variable Valve Timing-Intelligent Exhaust. EPA rated at 18/23 for 4WD automatic, I averaged 21.1mpg around town, on the interstate and even some soft-road treks. The electronic fuel-injected system provides 278 hp and 265 lbs-ft of torque. In tests, the Tacoma was able to haul some heavy loads, and with an empty bed, was quick and responsive to the tune a sprint from zero to 60mph in 7.9 seconds (hand-timed) during a 16.2-second quarter-mile.

Tacoma’s suspension is tight and creates a good pavement feel, while being generous for soft-road activities, while its rack-and-pinion power steering is attentive at slow speeds, but a but vague in quick high-speed maneuvers.

With seating capacity for four (2/front and 2/cab), Tacoma provides 39.7 inches of headroom in row one and 34.9 in the Access Cab (the Double Cab affords 38.3 inches) and 42.9 inches of first row legroom, with a childlike cramped 24.6 inches in the Access Cab (32.6 in the Double Cab). Shoulder room measures 58.3 inches in front with 56.5 for the rear passengers (58.9 in the Double). 

Toyota offers six basic trims in 32 configurations, including 2x4 or 4x4 setups, multiple bed sizes, cab designs and engines with each trim. Tacoma trims for 2019 include SR, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited and TRD Pro. The base Tacoma SR with the Access Cab starts at $25,850 and the line-up runs through the TRD Pro at $42,960. My test Tacoma in SR5 trim (second on the list) started at $30,770 with Access Cab and 6-foot bed, 3.5-liter engine, 6-speed automatic transmission and 2WD. A step up to 4WD (I always prefer 4WD), raised the ante by $3340.

My test Tacoma in Silver Sky (Gray) Metallic paint with Cement Gray (Dark Gray) fabric seats added Chrome, 5-inch oval tube steps (running board) for $535; and delivery and processing added $1095, for a price-as-tested of $35,740.

You can see Toyota Tacomas and more than 2,000 trucks that span decades, in a celebration of trucks featuring Big Rigs, Mini Trucks, Half-tons, Antiques, Custom Vans, 4x4s, Jeeps, SUVs, Vintage Fire Trucks, Monster trucks and more, at the Carlisle Truck Nationals, August 2-4 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. This event and has been the epicenter for all things truck since 1991.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

Since 1982 Corvettes at Carlisle has been hosting the hottest cars and coolest guests associated with America’s Sports Car, the Corvette. In some cases, event weekend coincides with the pending release of the next generation of Corvette as was the case in 2013 when the C7 Stingray helped usher in a then Fun Field record of 2,823. That number was surpassed last year with 2,842 Corvettes in attendance and both are in serious jeopardy as part of the 2019.  Why?  Because Team Chevrolet announced that the all-new 2020 C8 mid-engine Corvette will be in Carlisle.

This year’s show, presented by Corvette America, runs August 22-25 at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds and will not only host the C8...it’ll host another C8...and another...and another.  That’s right, not one, not two, but 14 C8s will be on hand.  Five will be within the Team Chevrolet tent on the midway for product walk arounds with Team Chevrolet engineers.  Two more will be right across the aisle, including one C8 that will be showcased within an impressive 30 x 30 foot glass display with info monitors, tech sessions and more. This set up will also include a second Corvette on a display platform.  The other seven cars will be positioned randomly on grounds, offering a thrill of the hunt type experience for car lovers.

Team Chevrolet always brings a solid core of engineers and product specialists to Carlisle and 2019 is no different.  Corvette Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter is expected to be on hand, while Harlan Charles is confirmed to appear.  Additional Team Chevrolet members will be on hand too, in fact, 33 of them are scheduled to appear.  They’ll all be at Carlisle to join the over 60,000 guests for this annual summer Corvette celebration.  Bringing these minds behind the machines to Carlisle helps further their relationship with its core enthusiast base. In addition, positioning the C8 at Corvettes at Carlisle solidifies the show’s place in automotive circles.

With such fanfare surrounding the car, the Team Chevrolet members and the show itself, Corvette owners and lovers are encouraged to make plans for the weekend fun. In addition to the amazing C8 debut, Corvettes at Carlisle welcomes a Challenge Car reunion, race prepared Corvette display, Modified Corvettes as part of Chips Choice, a special 50th display of 1969 Corvettes, autocross backed by Lingenfelter Performance, the downtown Corvette parade, annual Chip Miller Amyloidosis Foundation dinner and more.

“The new generation Corvette is the biggest transformation Corvette in history,” noted Lance Miller, co-owner of Carlisle Events and host of Corvettes at Carlisle.  “I’m a huge advocate of mid-engine sports cars and I’m thrilled Chevrolet ran with it!  I drove my C7 daily and truly cherished each drive I took in the car.  I’m eager to get behind the wheel of the new mid-engine C8,” continued Miller.  “The Corvette team shares a sincere passion about the car and this passion spills over to the lucky owners/drivers of the Corvette.  I often hear people talk about how great the 60’s era sports cars were, but today is simply mind boggling. It’s a great time to be alive! The best American made sports car just got better,” added Miller.  “Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better it has and I applaud the Corvette team for looking outside the box and running with what they feel is the best product for the enthusiasts to enjoy.” 

Complete details about the event, include links to register for the Fun Field and buy tickets can be found at www.carlisleevents.com or by calling 717-243-7855.

The most popular roadster/two-seat convertible sports car in the world, with more than a million vehicles sold since its launch, Mazda’s MX-5 Miata enters the fifth year of its fourth generation, by adding more power and a higher redline, courtesy of a thoroughly reworked engine. The 2019 MX-5 also adds a standard telescoping steering wheel, standard rear view camera, expanded safety features including traffic sign recognition, Smart City Brake Support, Lane-Departure Warning and Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert; new cosmetics and some minor interior enhancements.

I tested the RF (Retractable Fastback) convertible version that lives up to Mazda’s marketing mantra of Jinba Ittai – “horse and rider as one” – and plays into the MX-5 mission to “innovate in order to preserve.” The RF is not just a convertible, not just a hardtop, it is an innovative fastback that slips its retractable roof away in about 13 seconds and keeps its fastback profile. Then in another 13 seconds, the roof and true fastback can resume function. Upon opening, the roof section immediately above the passengers folds and stows below the buttresses, which lift temporarily out of the way. The glass rear window between the buttresses rolls down to give a more open-air feel and the entire power-folding roof mechanism occupies the same space as the standard manual-folding soft-top, so there’s no loss of trunk space.

Utilizing Mazda’s full range of SKYACTIV Technology and “KODO-Soul of Motion” design, Miata was designed with emotion and cues borrowed from the Lotus Elan. Development engineers created MX-5 to appeal, “to the senses and the sensations through which people enjoy cars.” This was achieved through a sculpted, elegant, refined, sleek and powerful personality on the outside, and upscale amenities inside.

For 2019, MX-5 remains 154.1 inches long, 68.3 inches wide and 48.6 inches high (my RF trim was 49 inches high), on a 90.9-inch wheelbase. And it continues to be light at 2432 pounds (for my test model, and some trims go as low as 2338 pounds). Minimum ground clearance for my RF trim was 5.32 inches – some trims are under 5 inches.

The cockpit adds a tilt and telescoping steering wheel that offers drivers the opportunity for a comfortable and precise fit. Interior design and enhancements are elegant, cozy, intuitive and tech-filled. Visibility is excellent even with the top up, but the cabin is a bit noisy even with the top in place. The infotainment screen is easy to read, and controls are easy to reach. If you want trunk space and a glove box, MX-5 won’t provide them, but if you want a fun ride, you are in the right left seat. Spacewise, headroom remains the same as last year, at 37.4 inches (36.8 for the RF), as does legroom at 43.1 inches. Shoulder continues to be 52.2 inches.

MX-5 power comes from a SKYACTIV 2.0.-liter DOHC 16-valve in-line 4 VVT multi-port electronic fuel injection engine, either manual or coupled to a 6-speed manual transmission. The system hums out 181-hp, an increase of 26 horses over previous engine setup, and 151 lb-ft of torque, up 3 lb-ft, which helped propel the lightweight Miata (with manual shift) complete a zero-to-60mph dash in 5.8 seconds during my track tests –a half-second faster than my tests two years ago. My quarter-mile was finished in 14.5 seconds, also about a half-second quicker than with the lower-hp engine.

The system is EPA rated at 26mpg in city driving and 35mpg on the highway (automatic), and my week of top-down, summer-weather tests, enabling off-the-line power whenever possible, finished with an average of 30.3mpg.

A fun drive, the MX-5 was balanced on the road, though quick auto-cross turns exhibited some exciting-to-compensate-for body roll. The suspension allows you feel the road beneath you for full driver engagement.

The 2019 Mazda MX-5 comes in three trims – Sport, Club and Grand Touring -- and a different classification that really is another trim subset – the RF. The Sport bases at $25,730 with a manual transmission and 181-hp 2.0-liter engine, and $27,080 for a 6-speed automatic. The Club starts at $29,590 for the stick and $30,190 for the automatic, and adds a rear spoiler, cosmetics and tech; and the Grand Touring trim bumps up to $30,780 for the manual and $31,855 for an automatic trans, and adds dark finish wheels, rain-sensing windshield wipers, auto-dimming driver's side mirror, automatic climate control, leather-trimmed seats, Mazda Navigation System and more. But I went with the RF, which comes in two trims, starting with the Club in manual at $32,345 (automatic at $32,945) and the Grand Touring at $33,335/manual ($34,410/automatic) with the same upgrades that Touring has over Club in the straight MX-5..

For me, a roadster’s destiny is to be a stick shift, so my test MX-5 Miata RF Grand Touring was set up with a manual transmission, saving more than $1000. The Snow White Mica Pearl exterior paint cost $200, but the look was clean and sexy, and was mated to a Black leather interior with Red stitching. Already packed with standard items, no other cosmetic or weather packages were in my build. With a destination fee of $920, my test MX-5 Miata RF stickered at $34,455.

<I> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

Annually the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals are a crowd pleaser, both with the diversity of its showfield and the depth of its automotive flea market.  Those aspects, combined with some stellar cooperation from Mother Nature helped power the 2019 event to an all-new showfield record.  In fact, this year’s record turnout was the second consecutive year that a record was broken and the fourth time since 2015 that the feat has been accomplished.  After all the cars came and went, the 2019 total reached 2,803.

By mid-day Thursday, the grounds were coming to life as patrons were trickling in, along with the cars and vendors.  Everyone onsite came looking to catch a glimpse of a bustling showfield in the making, plus beat the competition as it relates to parts shopping within the automotive flea market.  Speaking of the flea market, it was beyond sold out for 2019.  So much so that extra space was added on the east side of the grounds just to accommodate the demand from sellers.  This has never happened before during Chrysler weekend.

In addition, the featured vehicle displays took shape.  Building Y hosted a dedicated Summer of ’69 showcase, with a dozen or so of the best examples from 50 years ago.  This display welcomed a non-stop flock of enthusiasts.  Within Building T, a general snapshot of cars and trucks filled the floor and were anchored by some gems.  Themes included A12 cars, additional best of the best featured cars, Daytona & 500 cars and M-Codes.

While Carlisle welcomed individuals as special guests, Dodge hosted the true stars of the weekend, the cars (and trucks) that make their brand so popular.  Within the Dodge garage were RAM trucks, Hellcat Challengers, the Durago and the biggest car star of them all, the ALL-NEW 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody.  This car was the featured attraction both in the Dodge Garage tent as well in front of the stage with two walk-arounds where Dodge product host John Hammer offered an exciting look at the latest Dodge offering.  Following the walk-arounds, Dodge thrill ride driver Mike Burris wowed the crowd with a meaty Hellcat Challenger burnout.

As far as special guests go, Dave Rea and Chris Jacobs, both with ties to MotorTrend TV (formerly Velocity) were the big names on the roster for event weekend.  In addition, the Ramchargers and Golden Commandos were represented, Mr. Norm returned to Carlisle and Herb McCandless offered an impressive display of cars just opposite the Dodge Garage.  In fact, McCandless was more than a little bit of a star during the weekend, as a production crew was on-site following him daily as part of a project that chronicles his life and success both on the track and off.  He even hosted seminars packed with standing room only crowds.

The sights and sounds of the event were palpable too, with engine revs, horn honks and tires squealing all weekend. Some of the best sensory moments came from Dodge via their wildly popular thrill ride program, while the Saturday afternoon burnout offered a little added fun, with Dodge putting a Hellcat into the pit, plus more than a half a dozen enthusiasts competed to be king of the hill.  In all, the weekend was truly amazing!

Day three of the event was also the last day of the 2019 Carlisle Chrysler Nationals.  The gates once again opened at 7 a.m. and like minded Mopar fans took one last pass on the showfield.  At 9 a.m. the Salvation Army hosted its non-denominational worship service, while the awards parade featured the best of the weekend, representing over 150 classes.  In all, it left guests wanting more and looking forward to next year.  Speaking of next year, the 2020 dates are July 10-12 and event registration is open now!

The Chip Miller Amyloidosis Foundation’s annual events schedule is nearing its halfway point.  Surf Fest, the Skate Park fun, Slide for Amyloidosis and Taste of OC are complete and with things up and running in 2019 for the CMAF, all eyes turn to Carlisle, Pennsylvania and Corvettes at Carlisle.  This year’s Corvette weekend is presented by Corvette America and on Friday, August 23, the Corvette world and those who support the CMAF come together for a big celebration and fund-raising benefit dinner.

The 5th Annual CMAF Benefit Dinner is held amid a backdrop of Corvettes, guests from the region over, VIP’s from Corvettes at Carlisle and more.  The CMAF dinner is also a great place for car clubs and large groups to spend an evening together instead of having to battle packed restaurants in the region for table space.  What makes it fun is that while there is a super casual sit-down dinner catered by Market Cross Pub and Brewery of Carlisle, it’s also a relaxed time to mix and mingle, plus raise awareness for Amyloidosis.  

Door prizes are up for grabs with items including a 2020 Corvettes at Carlisle VIP package that includes three nights hotel and Chip’s Circle access, Spring Mountain Motor Resort/Ron Fellows Driving school package valued at $2,500, special items from Team Chevrolet, a registration for New Jersey Track day in October and more.  

Just announced, producer/director Michael Brown is offering round trip coach airfare for two from your home base (within the U.S.A.) to Dallas, one night of lodging, a private tour of his Corvette and neon collection AND a personally signed copy of his wife's (author Sandra Brown) latest book, Outfox.  

Annually, thousands of dollars in donations are offered, with lifetime friendships forged too.  Last year, $15,000 was raised and with your support, that number can be topped in 2019 as we take another step closer to finding a cure for Amyloidosis. 
 
“The CMAF dinner is one not to miss! Not only is the food amazing, but the company is superb and the cause is even better,” noted CMAF president Lance Miller.  “We’re happy to host this fun-filled event on Friday evening as part of Corvettes at Carlisle,” continued Miller. “Expect to see many of the Chevrolet team sprinkled throughout the room along with many Corvette celebrities to mingle with.  The auction benefiting the CMAF will be sheer entertainment for everyone.  We do our best to have fun and make sure you and your guests want to return. The cars we’ll have on display will blow your mind this year, don’t miss it!”

Up next for the CMAF is the 4th Annual Hugh Claus 5K fun run and walk.  The race takes place Sunday, September 22 in South Seaside Park, New Jersey.  Registration is open now via www.ChipMiller.org (under the events tab).  Following the 5K event, the CMAF puts the pedal to the metal with a special track day at the New Jersey Motorsports Park.  That takes place October 10 and much like the 5K, details are available online under the events tab).