What will Toyota do to follow?

JayBe

JayBe

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2013 Ford Explorer Sport Photos and Info – Car News – Car and Driver

This was just posted on Car and Drivers website. Seems as ford is following suit with dodge/ jeep and adding a high HP engine to their line up. Off road ability and tow rating stay the same due to, one would assume, the chassis design. They claim a 1 MPG loss to go along with the large power jump, which to me doesn't seem like a bad trade off. Now I wonder if and what Toyota would do for the mid life refresh to stay in the game. Bring back the V8? Uprate the current V6? Turbo direct injected V6? I'm sure it's safe to say everyone on this board has wanted more power
 
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All I can say is if a diesel or v8 model comes with a better tow rating, my baby is getting traded in. Hopefully all the accessories would transfer over, but not a deal breaker.
 
eh.....nothing?

There's not relation between the new unibody explorers and the 4runner. One is a unibody AWD minivan and the other is a BOF 4WD off road vehicule.

The fact that they make a sport model just confirm that, there's no off road capability in that model. Honestly if I was going to put 50k in a unibody I would get a WV Touareg at least it's sporty AND fuel efficient.
 
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I really am surprised Toyota don't add a Turbo Diesel option, they make plenty of diesel options in Europe and Australia etc...
 
The word "follow" is a misnomer in this instance. First, I doubt anyone that is involved with the 4Runner really cares what the Ford Explorer is doing but the Highlander project managers are watching with keen interest I assume. Second, what will be coming new on our 4Runner was thought of and designed 5-7 years ago, with options on direction to be dictated by the economy at time of introduction. All of those cool items (LED Taillights HID Headlights, Memory Seats, etc), that people are "adamant" should be on a "40K" SUV? They will come sometime during the life of the 5th Gen model. If you really want to try to influence the Toyota Engineers there should be a "6th Gen" section started because maybe, if you start now, you can add something to the mid life refresh as the initial design is already in the box by now...that is if it is in Toyota's best interest to build it. Regardless if they do build a 6th Gen or not the design is complete and ready if Toyota operates like every other off and on road vehicle manufacturer does.
 
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1engineer said:
The word "follow" is a misnomer in this instance. First, I doubt anyone that is involved with the 4Runner really cares what the Ford Explorer is doing but the Highlander project managers are watching with keen interest I assume. Second, what will be coming new on our 4Runner was thought of and designed 5-7 years ago, with options on direction to be dictated by the economy at time of introduction. All of those cool items (LED Taillights HID Headlights, Memory Seats, etc), that people are "adamant" should be on a "40K" SUV? They will come sometime during the life of the 5th Gen model. If you really want to try to influence the Toyota Engineers there should be a "6th Gen" section started because maybe, if you start now, you can add something to the mid life refresh as the initial design is already in the box by now...that is if it is in Toyota's best interest to build it. Regardless if they do build a 6th Gen or not the design is complete and ready if Toyota operates like every other off and on road vehicle manufacturer does.
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You are correct on this. The 6th gen is already designed and prototypes probably built already. It takes around 3 years from design to production. They have to guess what fuel prices and interest is in a vehicle is and hope for the best when they design it. I think Toyota is more intersted in selling Camrys and Priuses as they sell many more of those than 4runners.
 
they're going to release a twin turbo 4 cylinder diesel with an optional 6 speed manual transmission, front rear and center lockers plus a factory snorkel.




:D
 
The engine and suspension upgrades on the new "sport" version of the Explorer are straight out of the Police Interceptor Explorer, which has been available since 2011. Nothing really new, just a civilian version of the cop SUV with a bunch of luxury stuff added. Same concept as the old Mercury Marauder.
 
I can care less about the explorer's "sport" aesthetic options and am very intrigued by the engine and direction to increase the power to v8 levels. I hope Toyota offers the tundra engine as part of the refresh in 2013 if nothing else. Also, to say that Toyota would not do any perceived reactive changes and all of the next two years worth of updates are set are not historically true.

Remember the initial 4th gen sport and the plastic molding? Gone in 2004. The initial 4th gen v8 with 238hp was bumped a few years later...I believe as part of the refresh or even before.

I'm hoping the offer the v8 even if it's ad hoc request...one can dream, right?
 
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