Filming the antics and accidents of the outdoors was hardly an easy affair until GoPro came along. The concept of having a tiny, waterproof, digital camcorder suction-cupped to the sheet metal or glass of a 4×4 changed everyone’s views on what could be filmed while out exploring Mother Nature.
Fast forward to 2015 (or 2016, depending on who you’re asking) and the brand has established itself as one of the leading manufacturers of these so-called “action cameras.” Proving that point is an announcement from Toyota which came out last week, showing renewed vigor in the midsize truck market segment. The next-generation Tacoma, due to land later this year, will have special hardware to accommodate GoPro‘s line of cameras.
Comparisons have been drawn to the Performance Data Recorder of the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette or collision avoidance cameras in Ford and Chevy pickups, but where those serve a more practical purpose, the Tacoma’s focus will be more or less recreational. Specifically, the mount and camera will be positioned next to the rearview mirror inside the cabin and aim out toward the front.
The GoPro mount would be placed next to the rearview mirror (right) inside the cabin (left).
“These true off-roaders are out there, and they all have GoPros on their trucks,” said Michael Sweers, Tacoma’s chief engineer and a GoPro camera owner. “Whether they’re fishing, off-roading, camping and so on, they’re all recording their adventures.”
Given the prevalence of action camera usage in the off-road world and the brand recognition that GoPro carries, it will be interesting to see how truck buyers react to the package and its price (the latter of which has yet to be announced). What do you think of this move by Toyota and GoPro? Are you more interested in the new Tacoma now, or would you still rather drive something else? Let us know in the comments below.