Someone posted this from another thread posted April 2018, If you havent read this before from another thread READ:
"I apologize in advance for resurrecting this topic since it brings out a lot of emotional responses, but I am in a position to emphatically say that there will be a 6th Gen 4Runner. I was recently invited to participate in a couple of styling exercises with Toyota. I am under NDA so I will tiptoe around some details.
Timing: Direct quote, "we are three years out", so I anticipate a release in late 2020 as a 2021 model. This lines up with some of the speculation I've read on this forum based on known release dates of other models.
Mechanicals: All indications are that it will be based on the same 150 platform as the 5th Gen. Another direct quote, "it will be the exact same size as the current generation", which reinforces the speculation that it will be based on the 150 platform. Plus all the exterior styling artist renderings showed running gear that looked exactly like the 5th Gen. No discussion of engine.
Exterior Styling: Those who like the rugged appearance of the 5th Gen will not be disappointed. There were four different versions shown that ranged from mild to wild on my scale and all of them were what I would call "bold". Common themes of all of them were large front grill, very modern looking lighting (front and rear), much more aggressive flares (some versions more than others), very good front and rear approach and departure angles, barn door type rear hatch and rear hatch mounted spare tire. My feedback and that of others that I was privy to was 1) do not lose the retractable rear window, 2) keep the lift gate if you can, but keep the retractable rear window at all cost, and 3) if you must move the spare tire to the rear, use the space opened up underneath for additional fuel capacity. All of the styling studies reminded me of an updated 4 door FJ Cruiser.
Interior Styling: Much more car like, but also much more refined than the current interior. It appeared that many of the hard switches and buttons will become soft switches on the large center display screen. My feedback, and again that of those I was privy to, was there was a disconnect between the rugged exterior styling and the (too) refined interior styling. Recommended using large buttons and dials rather than soft buttons on a glass screen (have you ever tried to press a button on a screen when bouncing down a trail or dirt road?).
Again, I am under NDA, which I don't feel I have violated with what I have shared, but this is the extent of the information I am comfortable sharing at this time. What we see in three years may or may not be what I saw, but I'm confident it will be very close. I am also very confident there will be a 6th Gen 4Runner and it will be body on frame.
Since then I've learned a few more facts about the 6th Gen as well as some interesting info on other, companion models that most likely will be produced.
As for the 6th Gen it is confirmed October 2020 released as 2021 model, following the release of the 2020 Prado. It will be sitting on a new platform, but don't expect too many changes. The exact quote was "consider the differences between the 120 and 150 platforms; it will be along those lines". No new info on power plant or transmission. Also, no new info on styling which makes me feel that what I have already seen will make it to production, either as one of the versions I saw or a combination of two or more versions. I am not disappointed by any of them other than the barn door rear hatch and non-retractable rear window.
Now, here's the really interesting part - there are two additional models that are very likely to make production: a two door model based on the two door Prado platform that will be a "throwback to the FJ40". And there will is a four door model that is loosely based on the FJ55 and is being called internally the FJ5.
I have no idea if one or both of these will see the light of day, but Toyota is going after Jeep. We might even see a solid front axle in the line-up. I think we could see all three variations, one a follow-on of the 5th Gen, the two door as a more off-road oriented model and the four door as a more overlanding variation.
None of this info seems to be a big secret within the walls of Toyota HQ, but very little seems to get out. I am not a Toyota employee, I just know several who are in the right places."
