UPDATE As pointed out by tx 4runner in post #24 of this thread, Car & Driver now says there will be no V8 for the 2010 4runner.

http://blog.caranddriver.com/2010-to...ylinder-option



Per the updated C&D post:

"Yet another loyal reader supplied us with some pretty concrete information concerning the next 4Runner, including a preliminary dealer order guide. It shows new options like water-repellent seats, a sliding cargo-area tray, an optional “Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System,” and 20-inch wheels. Those features notwithstanding, we expect base prices to drop from their current levels (the 2009 4Runner starts at $29,440), as the 4Runner will also be leaner and more stripped down than before.

The biggest changes for the 2010 4Runner will happen in the engine room. Whereas the current model offers a V-6 and V-8, the next-generation will eschew the V-8 and move to a choice of either an updated V-6 or a four-cylinder. The 4.0-liter V-6 will now make 268 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque—increases of 32 and 7, respectively—thanks to variable valve timing for the intake and exhaust. The four-cylinder is a 2.7-liter unit, producing 161 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque."




The original Car and Driver post said:

"A 4.0-liter V-6 with 258 hp or so will be the base engine, and a new 4.6-liter V-8 that is shared with the Tundra, will also be offered. The V-8 will hook to a six-speed automatic and promises to deliver better fuel economy and more power than the 260-hp, 4.7-liter V-8 it replaces. We expect prices to drop from their current levels (the 2009 4Runner starts at $29,440), as the 4Runner will also be leaner and more stripped down than before."

There are also some new spy pics with camo.

http://www.caranddriver.com/news/spi..._4runner-spied

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Good Post. Going to be interesting why they switched out the tried and true 6.

The V6 engine isn't really changing; other rumors indicate that it's getting what Toyota calls "Dual VVT-i", which will alter the HP and MPG ratings.

So bottom line, we have no idea what is coming out. I guess we know they will have a V6, but after that, well we will just have to wait and see.

"We expect prices to drop from their current levels (the 2009 4Runner starts at $29,440), as the 4Runner will also be leaner and more stripped down than before."


What do they mean by leaner and stripped down? Does anybody know what they are going to take out/change?

Clearly they are cutting cost. Look at the mast antenna. I thought those were gone for good years ago among Toyota's lineup. This reminds me of when Toyota introduced the 7th gen. Celica....they vehicle was clearly cheaper all around than the 94-99 model. Such as, return of the mast antenna, cheaper interior materials such as vinyl rear seats when the leather pkg. is chosen, cheaper plastic like headliner, ect...

Another example is with the second gen. Tundra and Sequoia. Now they have hard plastic interior door panels...which were soft before. Just little things like this really cheapen a vehicle.

I truly cannot wait for the new model to be introduced, but I don't like how Toyota continues to cheapen their vehicles materials. Either way, our new vehicle will more than likely end up being between a 2010 Camry SE V6 or a 2010 4Runner 4WD. After all I am a Toyota guy.

How much money would a mast antenna really save? I am glad to hear there is still hope for a V8 yet!

Yeah, I'm hoping for a V-8 as well, and if they continue with one I just might have to trade the old '06 for one......:bowdown:.......but if it towes the same I just might hold on to what I got....

Looking at the car and driver spy photos there is no mast antenna visible. I was at my dealer a few days ago and asked the service manager about the antenna. None of the higher end Toyotas have a mast antenna. As a matter of fact the platinum Tundra no longer has a mast antenna. Instead they have replaced the antenna with what the manager called "shark" fin on the roof. Look at this link and then look at the pic of the Tundra's roof.

http://wot.motortrend.com/6446728/au.../photo_01.html

From what I gathered, Toyota was having problems with the reception from the in glass diversity antennas. As quick fix they went back to the mast antenna temporary on several vehicles. The RAV4 now has the short stubby rubber antenna on the roof which has been great for reception. The manager said you will see either a short stubby antenna or the shark fin style antenna on all Toyota products depending on trim levels. The manager felt that Toyota may have been testing a lower end model 4runner using a mast antenna, but he did not feel that antenna would make it on the production 4Runner. Also, they had several tundras on the lot. Looking at a base tundra I saw the mast antenna. It was parked right next to a black platinum tundra which had the shark fin antenna on the roof. The platinum model still had the area where the mast antenna would go, but it was capped off. The base model did not have the shark fin antenna. I hope this trend follows the 2010 4Runner as I like many of you do not liked fixed mast style antennas.

To my knowledge the 2006-2008 RAV4 only had a front fender mounted mast antenna in North America. Everywhere else it sold the 2006-2008 Rav4 had a small roof mounted antenna. For 2009 the North American Rav4 has the roof antenna.
Personally I think it was just Toyota being cheap on the 2006-2008 Rav that it shipped to North America. For the 2006-2008 model year Ravs, all of which were built in Japan, the production line would have had Ravs going down the line with fender mounted masts and roof mounted masts. If they did it for the Rav for 3 years they could certainly do it with the 2010 4R.

I once had a 1996 Honda Civic LX that was very well appointed inside. A friend bought a 1998 Civic LX and I was amazed to see how Honda had cheaped out on the interior materials over the course of 3 years production. The 1998 plastic was hard, not soft, the carpet was thinner, the seat cloth was thinner, the HVAC system controls were of a different design and were significantly cheaper, even the tires were a cheaper brand. Ironically even the antenna had switched from one that could retract into the A pillar to one that was fixed and could not retract.

Yeah I have this vision of Toyota engineers in Cali and Japan laughing their asses off reading some of the threads in this 5th gen sub-forum

But if true, this C&D article is great news. Probably won't happen but I think it would be great to have all 3 engines, a 4 banger economy "DX" type model stripped down for those folks who don't have a lot of extra money in this bad econiomy and/or value fuel economy but need the versatillity of an SUV like the T4R - remember the first few years of T4R all you could get was a 4banger - the V6 was viewed as a luxury back then.

But for folks (like me) who've gotten used to the silky torque of Toyota's 4.7 V8 it would be hard to go back to a V6 - but I suppose I would if that's all they offered, I really had no power complaints for my old '00 5spd V6 T4R.

I'd also like to see them come out with the diesel version like they've offered overseas for many years. I think lots of engine options would help keep the T4R a viable choice for consumers where sales are plummeting.

Yeah, Toyota may be laughing at us. I still put some value to the 4 cyl memo for only Toyota. If it is a fake, it is a very good fake. Your are right, it would be nice to see 3 engine options. In 2003 they changed in mid-year the plastic sides of the car. I would like to see a mid-year change and see all three options.

As for the "diesel version", I watch a English program on TV called "Auto Trader". The have the host "Mike" and the mechanic "Ed" talk about old and new cars. When they test some new cars, I am amazed at how many of them are diesel. Toyota has a ton of them as do all the other car compines. People seem to go out of there way to get a diesel. One person buying a car on the program talked about the tax breaks for having them. So the diesels are out there.

One more thing as a side note, there is another program on TV with Mike and Ed called "Wheeler Dealer". They get old classic cars and fix them up and sell them. I find it very interesting as to what they have overseas and some of the cars, I have never heard of.

nice to see they are keeping the v6 which is basically bullet and bomb proof

The 4.0 V6 is so much stronger than the 3.5 from 00 that it is a joy. I've noticed it seems a little breathless at the upper RPMs, which VVT-II will improve.

It is interesting, though, that Toyota rates the 4.6L V8 at 15/20mpg while the V6 gets 15/19 in the Tundra. The V8 ought to do better in the 4runner than it does in the much larger and heavier Tundra. If the V8 can get better fuell economy than the V6, it would seem to be a no brainer.

I am not so sure about that. To me the durablility issue is still out. A few members have had problems with the V6.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?t=51415

I would think in the next few years we will know more.

Are you talking about the 3.5 in the Toyota cars? If you meant the 3.4 that was in the 4Runner. I think the 3.4 is a jewel. I know it has less power, but it is smooth and gets the power early and in the truck it runs great. I think the cast iron block 3.4 with no VVT-I is known to last forever and is built for durability over power. I have no problem with the 3.4 and I think it has proven to be a great engine for the 3rd generation 4Runner.