Toyota Upcoming Redesign Timeline
- Thread starter NoDak
- Start date
Jetboy
New member
It would be very surprising to me of the landcruiser went away. It's not just a toyota it's *the* toyota.
To me there's no way to do a unibody 4 runner. It's a highlander. They wouldn't keep both. They could easily just go with a 150 as the landcruiser and have no 4 runner. Unibody is slightly lighter but not by much. A highlander is only 300 lbs lighter. The rear axle, tires, transfer case, and skid plates probably make up almost all of the difference. A unibody with the same stuff will be just as heavy if not more. For example a jeep GC weighs more and is significantly smaller. A ford explorer weighs more. Chevy traverse weighs more. Theres just not much weight to be shed.
All kidding aside, I think you may have missed my point and thought I was in some way seeking help finding a suitable replacement for my 4Runners. I really was just re-posting something from a year ago so I could have some "i told you so" ammo when the ball drops. LOL :cheers:
Rocky5000100
New member
I'm looking forward to a Tundra redesign. Hopefully in 2-4 years. My 3rd gen will have cracked 200k miles by then, and I'll be looking to tow larger things and gain more utility. While I would still choose a Tundra right now over the competition, they are lagging behind in gas mileage and some features. Also, they need a crew cab 6.5 ft bed. The 5.5 is short.
jwkilgore
New member
Toyota's Current and near-future mid-sized BOF vehicles
IMV Platform:
Tacoma (mid pickup)
Hilux (mid pickup)
Fortuna (mid SUV)
Innova (mid MPV)
J150 Platform:
Land Cruiser Prado (mid SUV)
4Runner (mid SUV)
With global sales and demand where they are (4Runner and Prado) there is no way Toyota has any plans to end production of robust off-road-capable mid-sized SUVs.
However, it is a fact that the J150-based FJ and GX(??) are being discontinued and the Prado and 4Runner re-designs are due next year (or the next). My bet is that the J150 platform will be discontinued and everything will shift to the IMV, or "Innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicle" platform. Either way (keep independent frame or go to the multipurpose frame), the 4Runner and Prado will continue as BOF for at least one more generation.
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Since you said "no way" I guess you must be right. I'm sure all the people that said the exact same thing about the Durango, Explorer, Blazer, Grand Cherokee and Pathfinder will be happy to have a new member in their club. It does not matter what the global market does with the 120 or 150 platform, US regulation is forcing huge change with deadlines in place.
I never said the 150 platform was going away, however I did say the 4Runner as we know it was going away. The North American market seldom (if ever) reflects the same trends as most other markets. Fact is, I wish I could think you are correct, and I hope you are. But BOF is not long for this world as it pertains to the mid sized SUV market. Again, I DID NOT say the 4Runner was going away, just like the Jeep GC, Nissan Pathfinder, Ford Explorer and so on, I'm sure the 4Runner will live on, but not as a BOF vehicle.
I'm willing to bet 3000 circuit city reward points on it.
jwkilgore
New member
Exactly. Once someone on the internet says "no way" it's set in stone. :biggrin1:
Chrysler: Should anyone point to any recent Chrysler decision and use it as an example of a good decision? Anyway, the Grand Cherokee was reintroduced as a CUV in the 1990's because that was the "new technology" at the time. The full-sized Durango was discontinued during the recession because 1) gas-hog vehicle sales were down and 2) no one trusted Chrysler anymore. It came back in as 3rd gen using the same frame as the Grand Cherokee to save money. For what it's worth, these vehicles left the Wrangler intact as BOF, and the introduction of the Wrangler Unlimited brought back a BOF SUV to the Chrysler fold. Jeep sales are still going strong and climbing.
Nissan Pathfinder: It went from BOF to CUV back to BOF. But the last conversion left the XTerra alone as Nissan's off-road SUV. I compare the Pathfinder to the Highlander and the XTerra to the 4Runner. The XTerra was cancelled because of poor sales, not because of fuel economy.
Chevy Blazer: The full-sized K5 Blazer was simply renamed the Tahoe, Yukon, and Suburban (extended length). All are still in production and still BOF. Chevy basically abandoned the mid-size off-road SUV market in the early 2000's with the demise of the S-10 Blazer. They decided to concentrate on the full-size and compact markets.
The Ford Explorer is your most valid argument. They switched to CUV in 2010 and sales took off. The primary difference between Ford and Toyota is that Ford only has one mid-sized SUV marketed to all buyers; off-road and mall crawlers. They switched to more closely target the bigger market.
Toyota has two mid-sized SUVs marketed to different demographics, both with very good sales figures. With the very successful 4Runner sharing a platform with the very successful Prado, there is no manufacturing savings to switching to the Highlander frame so the Cherokee/Durango argument is out. Toyota already has the Highlander, so the Pathfinder argument is out, and the 4Runner sales are strong so no reason to cancel like the FJ or XTerra. The 4Runner will continue as BOF to compete with the Wrangler, with the Wrangler being the dedicated off-road version and the 4Runner as the more refined option. With the demise of the FJ, XTerra, and GX, sales of the 4Runner will increase significantly.
Finally, for what it's worth, going CUV won't be the end of off-roading the 4Runner. You'll still be able to install lifts and tires and lights. The problem will be armor. Unless they provide reinforced connection points, installing upgraded skid plates, rocker sliders, and winch bumpers will be much more difficult.
Now going forward.... when are you saying the 4Runner will go CUV? 6th gen or 7th gen? I predict at least one more gen as BOF, so I say 7th Gen.
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I assumed they may have made modifications between vehicles such as lengthening or shortening the same frame, if that's not the case ignore. However the point of my thread was basically the same as yours... the vehicle has seen increased sales during the 5th Generation, it's not developed exclusively for our market so our sales alone don't determine if they will stop making it. So it will not be killed off globally any time soon, and with sales increasing it is unlikely it will exit the North American market.
It's so scary what people can get from that chart , The GX dicontinued ? It tells us right there its getting redesigned next year and the 4Runner after that. It lists a new model TX , It tells you the 4Runner will be redesigned for 2018 MY and some people think it will be the same or discontinued. Crazy . It does not say anything under 2016 4Runner that's what a carryover looks like on that chart. The introduction of the GX and 4Runner in late 2009 was split by a few months similar to this time. The new TX will be all the things you are worried about . The prado, landcruiser , 4Runner , GX, surf , all the 150 chassis vehicles will be ok for now just like the chart shows.
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JayceeP
New member
The CAFE standards are not a good excuse. The mpg for the highlander on EPA isn't significantly better than the 4Runner. The only facts we know is that 4Runner sales are strong and have been growing ever year the 5th Gen has existed and that fuel economy standards continue to increase.
How that plays out is just armchair speculation.
How that plays out is just armchair speculation.
The Waco Kid
New member
Is that a challenge? :fencing:
Toyota sells more than enough Prius, Carolla, and Hybrid models to offset the 4Runner...
BLACK-FL4RUNNER
Member
I'm just commenting so I can continue to receive updates to this very informative thread....
:rain:
:rain:
1engineer
Moderator
Because everyone cares much about this topic, I am willing to start a STICKY on this topic! Here's the deal: You must bring facts if you want it posted in the sticky. This means Toyota letterhead or some spy shot that can be confirmed. Once we actually have any piece of mythical information I will include it in the sticky. Just post all those facts in this thread....
Now for a reality check, once ANY real information (like specs, dates, pictures) comes out on the next generation 4Runner there will be a new 6th gen sub forum.
Right now, this comment:
"The 6th generation 4Runner will have a V8, manual 5 speed tranny, 37" tires stock and solid axles on both ends"
Is just as true as this comment:
"The 6th generation 4Runner will be a cross between the Nissan Pathfinder and the Toyota Rav4. Both a peppy 4 cylinder and a robust 5 cylinder engine will be offered. Available AWD from the Sienna will be offered in the Rocky and Appalachian mountain states. All colors will be offered as long as they rhyme with "lack" and sporty wire wheels will come standard."
So, does anyone have any actual truth?
Now for a reality check, once ANY real information (like specs, dates, pictures) comes out on the next generation 4Runner there will be a new 6th gen sub forum.
Right now, this comment:
"The 6th generation 4Runner will have a V8, manual 5 speed tranny, 37" tires stock and solid axles on both ends"
Is just as true as this comment:
"The 6th generation 4Runner will be a cross between the Nissan Pathfinder and the Toyota Rav4. Both a peppy 4 cylinder and a robust 5 cylinder engine will be offered. Available AWD from the Sienna will be offered in the Rocky and Appalachian mountain states. All colors will be offered as long as they rhyme with "lack" and sporty wire wheels will come standard."
So, does anyone have any actual truth?
BLACK-FL4RUNNER
Member
It's going to have a V8? Nice! :wave:
wfo9
New member
Can we start a pool to take guesses and award the person who is the closest.
Here is my bet.
The 6th gen will be very similar to the 5th. The motor will change over to the 3.5 DI and the transmission will be the auto 6 speed (all found in the new Tacoma). Power will remain about the same and MPG will improve slightly. More luxury and safety features will be added and the interior will become more refined. The body panels will also be modified to give it an updated look, but the basic underpinnings will remain about the same dimensions. Overall, the look will lean towards the current GX and be less rugged and more luxury.
Here is my bet.
The 6th gen will be very similar to the 5th. The motor will change over to the 3.5 DI and the transmission will be the auto 6 speed (all found in the new Tacoma). Power will remain about the same and MPG will improve slightly. More luxury and safety features will be added and the interior will become more refined. The body panels will also be modified to give it an updated look, but the basic underpinnings will remain about the same dimensions. Overall, the look will lean towards the current GX and be less rugged and more luxury.
