5th Gen. to get a six-speed auto?

[Skeezix]

While looking at the 4Runners at the dealer yesterday, the sales guy said that Toyota would be adding a six-speed auto to the 4Runner in the "near future" like they have in the Camery, Venza, Highlander, Sequoia, and Avalon.

Has anyone heard this? Does it sound like a real possibility?

He also said that features from the 4th generation 4Runner like LED brake lights would be added over time as updates for a new model year.

Does that jive with what everyone is hearing?

 

[SeattleMike]

While looking at the 4Runners at the dealer yesterday, the sales guy said that Toyota would be adding a six-speed auto to the 4Runner in the "near future" like they have in the Camery, Venza, Highlander, Sequoia, and Avalon.

Has anyone heard this? Does it sound like a real possibility?

He also said that features from the 4th generation 4Runner like LED brake lights would be added over time as updates for a new model year.

Does that jive with what everyone is hearing?

Yep, but first they are adding a supercharged V8 and burger trays just to shut the 4th gen owners up.

 

[Jed]

I think Toyota will really have no choice but to go with a 6-speed auto in the near future. Seriously, just look at the competition. 6- and even 7-speed automatics are becoming VERY common in many vehicles. If Toyota wants to keep up, they'll have to do it for sure.

As for LED tails....I'm actually surprised they didn't have them from the start. We all know they deleted the LEDs and projector headlights, probably to keep costs down on the new generation. Yet at the same time they added stuff like push-button start (on the Limited), which is something that I think will eventually trickle down to the other models some time during the 5th generation's production run.

 

[JB.]

....the sales guy said that Toyota would be adding a six-speed auto to the 4Runner in the "near future"....

I would expect it within a couple of years. The biggest upgrade years for the 4th gen came in the 3rd and 4th years with the big engine and transmission upgrades coming in the 3rd. Seems reasonable to expect a similar timeline for the 5th.