Why doesn't Toyota base the 4runner off the Tacoma?

[Saker]

To BlackWorksInc:

First, you have posted good info to to clearify the dimensions of the tacos and 4R's
The only thing I saw that wasn't 100% this, and in no means discounting your info....just adding to it:

Toyota is dropping the FJ Cruiser because it messes with their CAFE standards...

This is more than likely a true statement/reason.

They are only dropping them here in the US.
Back in April, Toyota released the fleet data for all of their vehicles, the FJ's are still being made but they are not going to be distributed here in the US after 2014. They are still being made for the overseas market. OZ & Africa being places they are definitely going to be shipped to.

Just some info from earlier postings on the fjcruiserforums site.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

To BlackWorksInc:

First, you have posted good info to to clearify the dimensions of the tacos and 4R's
The only thing I saw that wasn't 100% this, and in no means discounting your info....just adding to it:


This is more than likely a true statement/reason.

They are only dropping them here in the US.
Back in April, Toyota released the fleet data for all of their vehicles, the FJ's are still being made but they are not going to be distributed here in the US after 2014. They are still being made for the overseas market. OZ & Africa being places they are definitely going to be shipped to.

Just some info from earlier postings on the fjcruiserforums site.

I too was skeptical of the Fleet Sales chart and maintained that it had nothing to do with them canceling the entire line. But someone actually posted a link where Toyota had mentioned it was being dropped as a model line with most speculation point to CAFE standards. I will see if I can find this article again as it was a week or two back.

 

[Ducmonsta]

What exactly are you talking about? a 2nd Gen 4WD Tacoma is 74.7" wide, while a 5th Gen 4Runner is 75.8" wide, that's roughly an inch wider on the 5th Gen, while a 4th gen was 73.8" '03-05 and 75.2" '06-09. Length is 190.4" for regular cab, 208.1" access cab, and 221.3" for double cab, full bed; the 5th gen 4Runner is 189.9" for the 5th gen, 189" for '03-05 and 189.2" for '06-'09. The wheelbase for the 4th gen and 5th Gen 4Runners is 109.8" and for the Tacoma it is 110" fo the regular cab 4WD, PreRunner, 127.2" for Access Cab, and 140.9" for Double Cab w/ Extended bed.
The vehicles have the same frame construction, its just stretched or shortened depending on the vehicle (FJs having the shortest version, while the Tacomas have an extended one with Coil Spring mounts rather than spring perches). Like I said they are all built on the same Toyota 120 & 150 (for 2010+ models).

Toyota is dropping the FJ Cruiser because it messes with their CAFE standards, they're more than likely going to be paring down their SUVs for CUVS (Lexus is discontinuing the 4Runner based GX in favour of a crossover pile of crap in 2016) to better meet CAFE standards, maybe then they'd go for a smaller pick-up? But the reality is that a full sized 2nd Gen Tacoma is almost the size of a full sized first Gen Tundra; I doubt the market wants to go back to what is going to be perceived as "mini trucks."

To BlackWorksInc:

First, you have posted good info to to clearify the dimensions of the tacos and 4R's
The only thing I saw that wasn't 100% this, and in no means discounting your info....just adding to it:


This is more than likely a true statement/reason.

They are only dropping them here in the US.
Back in April, Toyota released the fleet data for all of their vehicles, the FJ's are still being made but they are not going to be distributed here in the US after 2014. They are still being made for the overseas market. OZ & Africa being places they are definitely going to be shipped to.

Just some info from earlier postings on the fjcruiserforums site.

Not sure what you're adding other than info about the overseas market. I assumed the information given from [MENTION=66389]BlackWorksInc[/MENTION] since CAFE standards only apply to the US. The Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards are regulated by US bodies of government (EPA and NHTSA).

 

[BlackWorksInc]

He was just correcting me on a statement I made regarding the FJ Cruiser.

 

[JBecker]

I'll be sad to see the FJ go. I would have gotten a 6mt FJ over my 05 4Runner had I not needed the back seat room for a kid, possibly a second in the near future.

I hope the 4Runner stays around, but I fear it's days are numbered too. (for US sales anyway)

 

[BlackWorksInc]

I'll be sad to see the FJ go. I would have gotten a 6mt FJ over my 05 4Runner had I not needed the back seat room for a kid, possibly a second in the near future.

I hope the 4Runner stays around, but I fear it's days are numbered too. (for US sales anyway)

Yeah, I have a feeling the CAFE standards are going to pretty much ruin what's left of the Body on Frame SUVs. They'll more than likely give only the biggest ones Government exclusions to protect their contracts for Private Security and Government Security Contracts I would assume, possibly also municipal, fire, and law enforcement contracts also.

 

[Saker]

He was just correcting me on a statement I made regarding the FJ Cruiser.

I tried to pull up the document but Toyota has removed it from the link I had...

Yes I am aware of the CAFE standards for the US as you stated.
My statement was not to take anything away from your statement or any other here.

I sure hope the T4R does not go the way of the FJ....abroad!

 

[JBecker]

Yeah, I have a feeling the CAFE standards are going to pretty much ruin what's left of the Body on Frame SUVs. They'll more than likely give only the biggest ones Government exclusions to protect their contracts for Private Security and Government Security Contracts I would assume, possibly also municipal, fire, and law enforcement contracts also.

Yeah, pretty much every government SUV, or police/fire/ems is a Tahoe or a Suburban around here. Lots of police departments are using them for their K-9 teams as well. (makes sense)

 

[Whiplash Willy]

The 4Runner IS based off the Tacoma, they share the same platform.

You're confusing the Hilux Truck and the Tacoma which diverged into two separate platforms before the current generation of Tacomas (around 2004/2005). The Hilux Surf (re-branded 4Runner) is still built off of the Tacoma platform, actually in reality they are both built off of the Land Cruiser Prado Platform; the "120" & "150" platforms respectively (the 120 was what the second generation Tacomas, 4th Generation 4Runners, and FJ cruisers were built on, while the 150 platform is roughly 2010+ and has little to no dimensional difference from the 120 platform, but does have some reinforced sections of thicker steel.)

The Highlander isn't a newer 3rd gen at all, the platforms aren't even close, the Highlander is of UniBody construction, while the Tacomas are still Body on Frame. I would urge you to do some more research both on the forum and the internet to see the progression and commonality of the 4Runner, Tacoma, and FJ Cruiser lines.

Is the 2nd Gen Tacoma really based off the 120 and or the 150 Platform? The 150 Frame (Prado, GX, 4runner FJ) is fully boxed, where the Tacoma Frame is Boxed in the front and C-Channel in the rear. I always thought the 2nd gen Tacoma was it's own platform designed for US & Canada (Lucky us ) The 2nd gen Tacoma does share some similarities with the 120 and 150 platforms, but it also shares some similarities with the hilux as well.

On a side note, my 5th Gen isn't any more difficult to maneuver or park then my 3rd gen was, and with the backup camera and sonar, it is even easier to park in some cases.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Is the 2nd Gen Tacoma really based off the 120 and or the 150 Platform? The 150 Frame (Prado, GX, 4runner FJ) is fully boxed, where the Tacoma Frame is Boxed in the front and C-Channel in the rear. I always thought the 2nd gen Tacoma was it's own platform designed for US & Canada (Lucky us ) The 2nd gen Tacoma does share some similarities with the 120 and 150 platforms, but it also shares some similarities with the hilux as well.

On a side note, my 5th Gen isn't any more difficult to maneuver or park then my 3rd gen was, and with the backup camera and sonar, it is even easier to park in some cases.

That's what the consensus seems to be? I don't have anything from Toyota (I don't think they even bothered to name or explain platforms in TIS) in terms of writing anymore (I vaguely remember a small article or something a while back on the history of some of their vehicles).

But you are right in that the 2nd Gen Tacoma has a partially boxed frame even though its similar to the 120/150 platform. I'm not entirely sure why they modified the frame so much on the Tacoma?