New Prado 4cyl = new 4runner 4cyl? aka Diesel?

[03v8sport]

I was just reading the new Prado thread and saw a few other sites that were covering it and I just cant help but think that it would be fairly easy and would make the most sense for toyota to put this highly efficient, 171hp, 302ft-lbs tq motor in. I mean, would they really put a small gas engine in a body on frame suv? I'm sorry if someone else already suggested that this was probably the most logical choice for the new 4runner's 4-banger but it seems like everyone on the net is speculating that the 4 cyl would be the 2.7L taken from the highlander. I would find it hard to believe that the highlander 4cyl would really improve fuel economy that much since it would have to work so much harder. The Prado diesel is rated at over 30mpg COMBINED. That would equal or beat most midsized 4 cyl gas cars.

Does anyone have any concrete evidence that toyota will NOT use the 3.0L Diesel or is everyone just assuming that toyota wont give us a diesel because they havent before?

It sure would be great if they decided to now.

 

[pat161]

The I4 would be the 2tr from the Tacoma if they go that route. And sure they may gear it lower and it may always work harder, but it will still deliver better gas mileage. Going from a 2.7 equipped 00 Runner to my 02 3.4 I can say the 2.7 certainly did work much harder, but it still got 2-3 MPG better then the 3.4 driven exactly the same way.

 

[M1911]

Does anyone have any concrete evidence that toyota will NOT use the 3.0L Diesel or is everyone just assuming that toyota wont give us a diesel because they havent before?

Concrete evidence? Other than the ordering guides that people have posted showing the engine options being the 2.7l 4-cylinder and 4.0 6-cylinder gas engines?

1) US pollution regulations are stricter than EU regulations (though the gap is apparently closing). Diesel engines that are legal in Europe are not legal here. Toyota can't just stick the Euro engine in the 4Runner and ship it over.

2) The Japanese and Euro fuel mileage ratings are very overstated. They are far less realistic of what you would get in actual driving conditions than the US EPA ratings.

3) Toyota was working on a diesel engine for the Tundra pickup, but Toyota has publicly announced that they have canceled it. GM and Ford were also working on diesel engines for their 1/2-ton pickups, but they canceled theirs as well. Toyota sells more Tundras than 4Runners and pickup buyers are more likely to buy diesels than mid-size SUV buyers. If Toyota is not going to give us a diesel pickup, I can't see them giving us a 4Runner diesel.

4) The 4-cylinder, 2WD 4Runner is a low-cost model; one that allows Toyota to advertise a low starting sticker price, but no dealers stock and no one buys. A federalized 3.0 diesel engine would cost far more to produce than the naturally-aspirated gas 4-cylinder, thus defeating the marketing position.

It sure would be great if they decided to now.

I agree, but I just don't think it is going to happen, unfortunately.

 

[bobbarker]

As much as I'd love a 4 cylinder TD in the new 5th gen, you just know that Toyota is committed to hybrid technology in North America, so diesel won't ever be an option.

I'd like to see that change, and maybe that will happen once emissions regulations merge together and globalize, but one can only hope for now.

I spent some time in South America this summer and got to enjoy some really nice diesel Toyota trucks that I wished were available here, that have fantastic economy.

 

[Kmvreter]

I was just reading the new Prado thread and saw a few other sites that were covering it...

the most logical choice for the new 4runner's 4-banger but it seems like everyone on the net is speculating that the 4 cyl would be the 2.7L taken from the highlander...

The Prado diesel...

Does anyone have any concrete evidence that toyota will NOT use the 3.0L Diesel

The new Prado (GX sister) has the 2TR-FE I4 on a 4WD (no 2WD). No diesel either (but maybe in other LC models or Hilux T4R equivalent.) See this site: http://toyota.jp/landcruiserprado/concept/grade/index.html. As said, this is the most logical choice for the T4R I4. Not sure if that is the Highlander engine.

Toyota was planning to put a diesel in a 1+ ton Tundra dually. If the regular Tundra sales took off like they hoped (which didn't happen) then they would have launched it but they made a marketing decision and cancelled it. It would have been a bigger (Hino) diesel to compete with domestic duallies.