2024 GX/Prado Release and Discussion (1 Viewer)

[malden]

@malden, thank you for the link post, I will say, not everything is based on "unfounded rumors". Here is the text from the Google Translate page, it is much more understandable reading the full text. Note "Rankle" and "Nanamaru" are Japanese model names for their 70 series. Also note, when listening or reading Asian language translations, they often do not use the plural "s" so their "fender" is our "fenders". Of course, the diesel will never make it to the US and likewise, I doubt the 6AT transmission is what we will see, more likely the 8 or 10 speed.

@TexasFunRunner Yes, thanks for the translation refinements. All indications are pointing now in the direction of a true "Heritage" rlease as you have surmised. Very exciting.

 

[TheRealDeal124]

Why do the Japanese refer to this and an 80 as "Rankle"?

 

[Phillyd2]

The very first LC. as in the most Heritage LC. was an offroad beast built for off roaders. Today Toyota has the SUV market for soccer moms, Costco shoppers, commuters, campers, cyclists, bird watchers, fishermen, hunters, interstate travelers, movers etc etc, they have that market covered seven times over to sunset. Be open minded now, and tune out all the self assured fake “insider info.” Does Toyota need to release another poseur SUV right now? Will another poseur SUV challenge Bronco, Rubicon, Grenadier, faux Defender? Or might a real “Heritage” release LC (it is coming) be something that will track right over those four and leave them piles of smoldering metal and plastic? My instincts tell me we are in for a surprise, a “low volume”, as Heritage as you can get, and maybe limited edition surprise. A surprise for the one class of driver that has been left by the side of the road all these years, Offroaders!

In other words, Toyota makes SUVs for over 99% of the market. The rest of us just want a good foundation to build on. But thanks for mentioning Bronco and Jeep – it’s been a few posts without it LOL

 

[Specialeyes]

In other words, Toyota makes SUVs for over 99% of the market. The rest of us just want a good foundation to build on. But thanks for mentioning Bronco and Jeep – it’s been a few posts without it LOL

Better mention a manual again for good measure!

 

[jayp2]

Better mention a manual again for good measure!

If you look carefully at one of the Japanese linked announcements you'll see that their public road test vehicle had a MT....clear as day in the pic showing the MT and xfer case shifters.

And for those mocking the foresight of Ford and Jeep.....those two brands sell 250,000 bronco's and jeeps every year here in the US....and they did so in the year that LC sales were so abysmal that Toyota pulled the vehicle from the US market entirely because they struggled to sell 3000 units.

 

[Toys n Dux]

My biggest beef with my 200 series is the small gas tank lack of range. Always having to stop and fill up is inconvenient for such great rigs. To me, the perfect North American LC would be a Toyota TRD Pro styled GX 550 with all off-road features of the overtrail, but with a removable 3rd row and 450 miles range. Build that and just take my money.

 

[Phillyd2]

If you look carefully at one of the Japanese linked announcements you'll see that their public road test vehicle had a MT....clear as day in the pic showing the MT and xfer case shifters.

And for those mocking the foresight of Ford and Jeep.....those two brands sell 250,000 bronco's and jeeps every year here in the US....and they did so in the year that LC sales were so abysmal that Toyota pulled the vehicle from the US market entirely because they struggled to sell 3000 units.

The good natured mocking is about the nonstop obsession / repetition as if the rest of us have not seen the other vehicles. Ten times ago was already enough already to get the point.

 

[jayp2]

The good natured mocking is about the nonstop obsession / repetition as if the rest of us have not seen the other vehicles. Ten times ago was already enough already to get the point.

Stop pretending that there's anything good natured about the so called mocking.

The only thing comical is the cheerleading of some family school bus designs with a ton of expensive plastic and an automatic cheerio roomba sweeper with round lites that they try to channel the "LC Heritage" over.

If Toyota wanted to get back to their roots/land cruiser heritage then they would be looking to do a reboot on the vehicles that opened the door to the US market

Specifically the 40 and 60 series.

Not only that, but american buyers have made it clear what they want to buy.......to the order of 250,000 bronco's and jeeps every year.

Guaranteed win would be to bring a 73 with removeable top and a 76 style 4 door to the US.

Sadly, many of us have watched Toyota snatch defeat from the jaws of victory numerous times in the US market.

If you want to see "good natured mocking" then wait and see what happens if Toyota brings another lexus lite with a LC badge to the market and it bombs just like the last iteration did or the FJ Cruiser with its visibility design flaw.

The comedy right now is how we went from one particularly vocal poster asserting that a 70 series wouldnt sell a single unit in the US to a large portion of posters drooling over the possibility of a 76 looking LC coming to the US.

 

[MeWantLC]

My biggest beef with my 200 series is the small gas tank lack of range. Always having to stop and fill up is inconvenient for such great rigs. To me, the perfect North American LC would be a Toyota TRD Pro styled GX 550 with all off-road features of the overtrail, but with a removable 3rd row and 450 miles range. Build that and just take my money.

I am with you, partially .

If the LC Prado is a disappointment of some sort (I doubt that), or if it was never gonna happen in the USA, then I am happy to get the new Lexus GX Overtrail, proving it is not back to $80k ish which was where the LC200 was when brand new. Yes, I can afford it, I just refuse to pay over $60k or so for a new truck .

But seeing the Lexus GX Overtrail , and seeing it was revealed before the rest of the world's Land Cruiser Prados, gives me a lot of hope we will finally get a "cheaper" LC here in the USA, this time based on the World's Prado (USA Lexus GX's), which had been very capable and cheaper alternatives than the big brother LC's. . I really don't see Toyota doing a vehicle "just" for the USA, they want to sell and make money... The LC200 was not selling , so the LC Prado makes sense, I think.

 

[Phillyd2]

Stop pretending that there's anything good natured about the so called mocking.

The only thing comical is the cheerleading of some family school bus designs with a ton of expensive plastic and an automatic cheerio roomba sweeper with round lites that they try to channel the "LC Heritage" over.

If Toyota wanted to get back to their roots/land cruiser heritage then they would be looking to do a reboot on the vehicles that opened the door to the US market

Specifically the 40 and 60 series.

Not only that, but american buyers have made it clear what they want to buy.......to the order of 250,000 bronco's and jeeps every year.

Guaranteed win would be to bring a 73 with removeable top and a 76 style 4 door to the US.

Sadly, many of us have watched Toyota snatch defeat from the jaws of victory numerous times in the US market.

If you want to see "good natured mocking" then wait and see what happens if Toyota brings another lexus lite with a LC badge to the market and it bombs just like the last iteration did or the FJ Cruiser with its visibility design flaw.

The comedy right now is how we went from one particularly vocal poster asserting that a 70 series wouldnt sell a single unit in the US to a large portion of posters drooling over the possibility of a 76 looking LC coming to the US.

“pretending”? LOL not sure why anyone would feel there’s a need to pretend anything to an anonymous person on a random forum, but do rest easy in the knowledge that if anyone wanted to say anything with malice, they were just do it. And they could just do it without cost.

One can be as obsessed as they want while repeating the very same point over and over and over and over again. What they can’t do is be surprised when that endless obsession is mocked (good natured or with malice). Lighten up Francis

 

[jayp2]

“pretending”? LOL not sure why anyone would feel there’s a need to pretend anything to an anonymous person on a random forum, but do rest easy in the knowledge that if anyone wanted to say anything with malice, they were just do it. And they could just do it without cost.

One can be as obsessed as they want while repeating the very same point over and over and over and over again. What they can’t do is be surprised when that endless obsession is mocked (good natured or with malice). Lighten up Francis

The "Tone" from a few folks that are incapable if ignoring posts they dont like is plain for all to see....and the reason for the "pretending" is so they dont create additional work for the mods who are forced to slap them around.

Its like the teeth gnashing poster who pitched a fit not long ago asserting "not a single 70 would sell if Toyota brought them to the US".

The facts are the facts.....US consumers have spoken about what they are willing to purchase to the order of 250,000 vehicles every year in this segment.

The only question that remains is whether or not Toyota will bring variants of LC models already created for non US markets here to the US to satisfy that demand....or will they continue to permit Ford and Jeep dominate.

 

[Specialeyes]

My biggest beef with my 200 series is the small gas tank lack of range. Always having to stop and fill up is inconvenient for such great rigs. To me, the perfect North American LC would be a Toyota TRD Pro styled GX 550 with all off-road features of the overtrail, but with a removable 3rd row and 450 miles range. Build that and just take my money.

You're not kidding! I knew going in the mileage was not great but I was expecting more or less the same as I was getting in my 4R. Instead my current reality has been averaging 11-12 MPG around town and being met with the fuel light around 240-250 miles later.

Hopefully for the 250 Series Toyota offers at least an option for a 36 gallon tank.

 

[McDuff123]

Recipe for a terrible thread…
1 part high school girls fighting
2 parts butthurt
A dash of craziness
Equal measures Keyboard Commando, and smartest person in the room
Add anger, paranoia and stubborness to taste

Voila…Popcorn

 

[Brown98LC]

Recipe for a terrible thread…
1 part high school girls fighting
2 parts butthurt
A dash of craziness
Equal measures Keyboard Commando, and smartest person in the room
Add anger, paranoia and stubborness to taste

Voila…Popcorn

All of this for a Prado....

 

[Phillyd2]

The "Tone" from a few folks that are incapable if ignoring posts they dont like is plain for all to see....and the reason for the "pretending" is so they dont create additional work for the mods who are forced to slap them around.

Its like the teeth gnashing poster who pitched a fit not long ago asserting "not a single 70 would sell if Toyota brought them to the US".

The facts are the facts.....US consumers have spoken about what they are willing to purchase to the order of 250,000 vehicles every year in this segment.

The only question that remains is whether or not Toyota will bring variants of LC models already created for non US markets here to the US to satisfy that demand....or will they continue to permit Ford and Jeep dominate.

When reading words the reader can project any “Tone” they wish but they also exclusively own that responsibility. Do you wish the new LC was like a Bronco?

 

[jayp2]

When reading words the reader can project any “Tone” they wish but they also exclusively own that responsibility. Do you wish the new LC was like a Bronco?

Allegedly I've already answered that question at least 10 times so you dont really want to hear it again

 

[ThRiLlGmYr]

Not only that, but american buyers have made it clear what they want to buy.......to the order of 250,000 bronco's and jeeps every year.

The "Tone" from a few folks that are incapable if ignoring posts they dont like is plain for all to see....and the reason for the "pretending" is so they dont create additional work for the mods who are forced to slap them around.

Its like the teeth gnashing poster who pitched a fit not long ago asserting "not a single 70 would sell if Toyota brought them to the US".

The facts are the facts.....US consumers have spoken about what they are willing to purchase to the order of 250,000 vehicles every year in this segment.

The only question that remains is whether or not Toyota will bring variants of LC models already created for non US markets here to the US to satisfy that demand....or will they continue to permit Ford and Jeep dominate.

Keyword is "Americans". Americans are nostalgic for iconic American SUV's. You vastly overestimate how nostalgic most Americans are for 70 series Landcruisers or even the 40.

 

[TexasFunRunner]

Keyword is "Americans". Americans are nostalgic for iconic American SUV's. You vastly overestimate how nostalgic most Americans are for 70 series Landcruisers or even the 40.

Interesting point. Counterpoint, I wonder what or how Ford estimated it was profitable to bring the Bronco back? Why not Toyota?

 

[jayp2]

Keyword is "Americans". Americans are nostalgic for iconic American SUV's. You vastly overestimate how nostalgic most Americans are for 70 series Landcruisers or even the 40.

Sales data from 70's and early 80's for Bronco and FJ40's was posted like 10 times previously too.

On average, for every 3 Bronco sales, Toyota was selling 2 FJ40's

 

[ThRiLlGmYr]

Sales data from 70's and early 80's for Bronco and FJ40's was posted like 10 times previously too.

On average, for every 3 Bronco sales, Toyota was selling 2 FJ40's

How about Jeep? Toyota also already sold a FJ40 revival, the FJ Cruiser. How were sales? If only the top came off.

Toyota must just have an epic inability to analyze markets. You guys would be better off buying Broncos and Jeeps from clearly better run companies.