Toyota Turns to the Dark Side with Special Nightshade Editions

Toyota is showcasing three of its top trucks and SUVs in special Nightshade Edition at this year’s Chicago Auto Show.

The Toyota Tacoma, Tundra, and Sequoia have been imbued with black exterior trim along with black leather-trim seating, including a darkened chrome grille, black mirror caps and black door handles, for a truly darkened look that oozes sexiness and mystery in equal measures.

All three of the Toyota Nightshade Special Edition units offer the choice of two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. From there, the details vary with each vehicle—unique to the Tacoma Nightshade is its 18-inch alloy wheels, black exhaust tip and fog light bezels, and a new grille insert design.

Meanwhile, the Tundra Nightshade boasts black wheels and exhaust tip.

As for the Sequoia Nightshade, it owns a sensational darkened chrome ‘Sequoia’ badging, body moldings, and lower grille and fog light surrounds.

Buyers of a Nightshade Edition truck or SUV can choose between Midnight Black Metallic and Magnetic Gray Metallic paint finishes.  Toyota also offers further customization for the Tacoma and Tundra via additional Windchill Pearl and Super White exterior. The Sequoia Nightshade offers Blizzard Pearl as an additional choice.

Toyota is planning to build 12,500 Nightshade Special Editions in all—5,000 each for the Tacoma and Tundra, and 2,500 for the Sequoia. This probably means that none of these vehicles will be made available locally—perhaps in the future, as a secondhand unit.

This is the second batch of Nightshade Editions, as Toyota already offers the same for the Corolla Sedan, Corolla Hatchback, Camry, 4Runner, and Sienna van.

Aside from the three new Nightshade Editions, Toyota is also bringing along four other vehicles for the famed Windy City event—a sportied-up Highlander XSE, and new Trail Special Editions of the Tacoma, Tundra, and 4Runner.

The XSE badging is synonymous with sportiness, and the Highlander is given the full XSE treatment inside and out, and from the ground up. Powertrain and suspension receives performance tweaks, beginning with the added Multi-Terrain Select feature that allows for ride customization to suit the terrain, and the Dynamic Torque Vectoring All-Wheel Drive that boosts torque to the rear wheels up to 50 percent while controlling left/right torque distribution for a more engaged driving experience.

Other updates include the addition of exclusive machined-faced 20-inch wheels with black accents to the exterior, and black Softex-trimmed seats with fabric inserts, ambient lighting and carbon-fiber finish on the instrument panel to the interior.

As for the three Trail Special Editions, these units have been fully optimized for camping and fishing lovers and other outdoorsy types who enjoy similar activities. Each Trail Special Edition vehicle gets its own set of unique packages, but they all have enhanced practicality and storage in common. New equipment imbued to the models include outdoor necessities such as a 115-volt power outlet in the bed, rooftop cargo basket, and a lockable bed storage.

The Chicago Auto Show is held annually in February at Chicago's McCormick Place convention center. This year's edition will open to the public Saturday, Feb. 8, and run through Monday, Feb. 17.

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