Sorry, I definitely did not see it. At the time was running around Costa Rica in a South Korean Peugeot lol. I responded to your PM but not sure if it went through as I can't see anything in my sent items. Thanks for the great info. You know you stuff!
Wow, hope it was a nice stay! Was it San Jose? Very understandable then, unlike some other posts that stay on "Read".
I'd be happy with a 2025 4Runner that comes in just a little bit wider and around the same length as the prev. gen; with 2-rows of seats (good-bye useless 3rd row); and the iFORCE Max powertrain.
Use essentially the same dash and infotainment setup as the Tacoma (I could do without a big "TOYOTA" or "4RUNNER" across the passenger side dash, though). Upgrade the safety package to Toyota Safety Sense 3.0.
Simplify the trim levels back to SR5, TRD Off Road, Limited and the halo TRD Pro. Start around $45k and, like you wrote, keep the top end under $60k.
I think you're absolutely right in that Toyota's packaging will push more of the folks who hang out here (on an enthusiasts site) up to the Land Cruiser or GX, and they'll keep the 4Runner as more of the "mass market" offering for someone like me.
I'm holding my breath on whether I'll see my bZ4X order (which, overall, has been a dumpster fire of a foray into full EVs for Toyota) or the launch of the new 4Runner first...
Yes, that seems to fit the puzzle much better. Will it be a challenge for them to stay under $60k? I guess we'll see, especially when loaded 2002 3rd Gens could reach $43k with every single thing tacked on.
Thanks for your continued great contributions!
Interesting point. The Tacoma seems far better than feared and it genuinely appeals to me in terms of features. I am starting to think in terms of midsize pickup anyway.
Now, Tahara-made vehicles have that special tibdit about them, but if the new 4R is not made there, then it loses the magic feel anyway
The LC to be interesting to me...I dunno. Aside from price potentially still being high-ish, Toyota overlanders are typically OZ-inspired whereas here in the US we make use of either crawlers or runners. Let's face it, most expedition vehicles here are just made to look good. Hard to find on trail.
Things like front wheel travel, variety of aftermarket suspension options + ease of work on suspension, and maximum damage resistance coupled with decent interstate manners are top of my list.
I find it hard to see either the LC or GX compete with a Tacoma in any of those areas except the interstate manners.
Cheers!
I honestly wouldn't be shocked if the LC wasn't taking luxury into account and more akin to the Tacoma. It's really going to be the name, styling, and capability that draws people to the Land Cruiser over the 4Runner.
They're making sure the GX is retro, but very modern inside-out to avoid them clashing. I am wondering if the new interior is reflective of the Tacoma? I am afraid to ask any of these people, because I should be thankful to get any answers at all.
I'm not a fan of most vloggers but Kirk Kreifels had a decent video showing the new Japanese automotive magazine
BestCarWeb layout of the new Land Cruiser Prado. The interesting thing about rendering, according to Kirk, is they have the rear window up swoop, between the B & C pillars, the same as the new GX. He also makes other comparisons in the video to the GX. Kirk is suggesting the render is close but Toyota would change out the front end / grill body work, depending if it is the International Prado or US Land Cruiser. To me, overall the rendering looks a little out of proportion and amateurish, like many renderings, especially the bad front and rear overhangs.
At 3:30 he has a table of dimensions and weight published by BestCarWeb.
Dimensions - 23 4Runner - New Prado/GX/Land Cruiser
Length - 190 - 192.9
Width - 76 - 75.6
Height - 72 - 74.8
Wheelbase - 109.8 - 112.2
Weight - 4,805 - 4,850
Ground Clearance 9-9.6"
I have GREAT news on New Toyota Land Cruiser (Lexus GX) Bigger, Badder, USA bound?! - YouTube
I greatly respect his technical contributions in terms of his charts and for getting down to the nitty gritty with that rendering he put forward.
It's some other things I took issue with and doubling down on it, instead of correcting course (not even asking for an apology).
I really, really needed the connection between Prado and GX to be well understood, for me to make sense of everything better.
This video of his helped me greatly. You can tell it's a reskinned GX, but our US version will be more FJ looking. The older renderings heavily based on the 150-Series made me so confused and lost, at how they'd copy the 150's design and then bring it over here as the Bronco-fighting Land Cruiser.
That MT rendering is more 4R meets FJ, but you need to take the 4R out of it to get 2024 LC. Yet, make the 4R rendering from CarBuzz more Tacoma, then you have the 2025 Tacoma. A messy puzzle.
I probably don't even care about the Prado for non-USA now, since it is not what we're even getting in full LOL.
Those renderings for the Land Cruiser are a bit ugly. For the 4Runner, I'd imagine like the Tacoma is a mash up of the 3rd gen and the new Tundra, the 4Runner will be a 5th gen mash up with the new Sequoia.
For the Land Cruiser, I could see Toyota investing in a unique front-end design for the USDM Land Cruiser vs the international Prado despite being the same vehicle.
When Carmaker1 has been saying think retro toyota, wrangler, the bronco. I am really hoping for round head lights. I know not everyone likes the FJ Cruiser looks but I would be very happy with something reminiscent of this. Especially if we get cool colors like Heritage Blue and Army Green. and wow, those teaser GX side mirrors really are straight up FJ mirrors haha.
There's a bit of Tacoma in the new 4Runner. When I was mentioning it months ago somewhere, I referred to it as "with a twist". I meant Tacoma SUV to a degree. There are differences between the two, but the similarities have grown quite a bit.
There are some of us who know on here who might even know way more than I do, but at their own time, they'll share more of course. Mike Sweers posts on a Tundra forum and I think he does it incognito like I do.
You'll be very surprised at who you are chatting with in these spaces, which is why many of us don't do YouTube. The job doesn't allow for you to be vlogging, in terms of privacy.
The Land Cruiser has round lighting units for USA allegedly and probably is a moderately reworked Prado from the renderings, that just need to be seen in lifesize as the real vehicle. The renderings will get better and more accurate, as Toyota Japan gets more comfortable with sharing details and requesting new sessions closer to reveal, to get better press coverage.
I don't believe American media will get any useful info until press embargo begins and ends close to reveal. They're in the dark pretty much, as seen by Motor Trend accidentally rendering the Land Cruiser instead of the 4Runner they thought they predicted.
I would be shocked if a totally redesigned 6th gen 4Runner, fully loaded, comes in at the same price point as the current, fully loaded 4Runner...which is $55K and can go to up to about $58K if you get really crazy with the factory and port options.
I understand Toyota wants to separate the LC and the 4R pricing but something is amiss here.
Bingo, I really was skeptical when hitting submit on that MSRP guess...
Our good sources at Toyota, suggest to "stop worrying about price and get what works for you."
It means that these vehicles are probably going to overlap in price and like with the Lex NX/Venza/RAV4, they don't give a damn.
There's a pattern they are following and you gotta live with it. Cover all bases, to keep the customer at Toyota/Lexus and not their competition
