2024 GX/Prado Release and Discussion (1 Viewer)

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There will be a "Private Event" at the Land Cruiser Heritage Museum in Salt Lake City from July 29th to August 2nd.

Since Toyota showed their FJ40 in the teaser photos it seems likely this will be the LC250 Reveal. It also lines up with several articles about the reveal being in August.


So who is going to camp outside the museum and take spy photos for us?
 
I can't imagine why they chose to mix a French modern faux Airbus vibe with understated British icon stuff. In real life, it is not as bad as what you see in videos, but it was not an optimum selection. Otherwise, the interior is very nice and it screams to be driven. No idea how agricultural the drive and handling will be but the mphs should be right up there with the worst and on a par with LCs. If it hits the right nerve, I suspect they will sell lots of them.
I'm not optimistic that they will have decent reliability from the start. Then there is the lack of a dealer network. I certainly won't get on a waiting list for one.
 
I can't imagine why they chose to mix a French modern faux Airbus vibe with understated British icon stuff. In real life, it is not as bad as what you see in videos, but it was not an optimum selection. Otherwise, the interior is very nice and it screams to be driven. No idea how agricultural the drive and handling will be but the mphs should be right up there with the worst and on a par with LCs. If it hits the right nerve, I suspect they will sell lots of them.

Its got a BMW drive train

Chances are you could leave off the turn signals too cuz the assholes that drive it wont use them anyway.....
 
It’s one thing to have a similar GX and 4R live in the same universe, served by different dealers catering to a different customer base but the new LC and next 4R will need to be significantly different for them to coexist in the same dealer’s showroom. And it can’t be just different engine options. Logic and basic marketing says that the next 4R and new LC won’t be just reskinned versions of each other with a different engines
 
It’s one thing to have a similar GX and 4R live in the same universe, served by different dealers catering to a different customer base but the new LC and next 4R will need to be significantly different for them to coexist in the same dealer’s showroom. And it can’t be just different engine options. Logic and basic marketing says that the next 4R and new LC won’t be just reskinned versions of each other with a different engines
All logic seems to be on your side.
But then: 🤷$35,840 - $47,489 vs $34,378 - $45,441
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It’s one thing to have a similar GX and 4R live in the same universe, served by different dealers catering to a different customer base but the new LC and next 4R will need to be significantly different for them to coexist in the same dealer’s showroom. And it can’t be just different engine options. Logic and basic marketing says that the next 4R and new LC won’t be just reskinned versions of each other with a different engines
In my head, I keep going back to the notion the 4R will end up as a retro design taking back to its gen 1 roots. They have to stand the 4R apart from the LC in their lineup. The LC as we know it is already confirmed as a GX look alike and based on that, the logic tells me the gen 6 4R will not just be a 90% LC. It will be a waste of a strong brand name in their lineup if it ends up as that.
 
What would actually work very well, but unlikely Toyota would do it:

Keep the 5th gen 4Runner nearly as-is, but make it an off-road budget friendly model. The body still works as it is. Styling is spot on with current trends. GA-F platform goes underneath and moves to 112 wheel base by moving front axle forward 2 inches, rear stays as it is. Base model moves up to 33's, TRD OR and higher all get 35's. With the relocate in front it would clear 37's with minor trimming. New Turbo4 engine and 10 speed trans. KDSS becomes eKDSS. The rest - leave it as-is.

It would be smaller than the LC. Keep true to its core. Styling works. Body in white could remain nearly unchanged. Interior is the best functional layout in the Toyota fleet already IMO. Keep pricing inline with current prices.
 
What would actually work very well, but unlikely Toyota would do it:

Keep the 5th gen 4Runner nearly as-is, but make it an off-road budget friendly model. The body still works as it is. Styling is spot on with current trends. GA-F platform goes underneath and moves to 112 wheel base by moving front axle forward 2 inches, rear stays as it is. Base model moves up to 33's, TRD OR and higher all get 35's. With the relocate in front it would clear 37's with minor trimming. New Turbo4 engine and 10 speed trans. KDSS becomes eKDSS. The rest - leave it as-is.

It would be smaller than the LC. Keep true to its core. Styling works. Body in white could remain nearly unchanged. Interior is the best functional layout in the Toyota fleet already IMO. Keep pricing inline with current prices.

…..and in so doing, Toyota does not risk their Goose laying golden eggs, can milk it for another ten years, keep the base smiling and not interfere with LC250 sales at all. At the same time Toyota can then release a numbered limited edition 10K units of the new upgraded FJ70 and literally everyone is happy and all the bases, from extreme offroad through to Suburban people movers, are covered. Perfect!
 
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What would actually work very well, but unlikely Toyota would do it:

Keep the 5th gen 4Runner nearly as-is, but make it an off-road budget friendly model. The body still works as it is. Styling is spot on with current trends. GA-F platform goes underneath and moves to 112 wheel base by moving front axle forward 2 inches, rear stays as it is. Base model moves up to 33's, TRD OR and higher all get 35's. With the relocate in front it would clear 37's with minor trimming. New Turbo4 engine and 10 speed trans. KDSS becomes eKDSS. The rest - leave it as-is.

It would be smaller than the LC. Keep true to its core. Styling works. Body in white could remain nearly unchanged. Interior is the best functional layout in the Toyota fleet already IMO. Keep pricing inline with current prices.
I have an even better idea. They should take the RAM Classic approach with it and just keep cranking them out as is. They sell well and have a loyal following. All of their R&D in the current gen amortized a long time ago. No telling how much they make on them now but I bet it's a lot. My only stipulation with this approach would be that they really should cap the price on them at $50k. I cannot believe a '23 TRD Pro has a MSRP of $56-$58k! I paid a few dollars over $50k for mine in 2021 and even at that time I felt that was a lot of money for a, lets be honest, really old vehicle.
 
I have an even better idea. They should take the RAM Classic approach with it and just keep cranking them out as is. They sell well and have a loyal following. All of their R&D in the current gen amortized a long time ago. No telling how much they make on them now but I bet it's a lot. My only stipulation with this approach would be that they really should cap the price on them at $50k. I cannot believe a '23 TRD Pro has a MSRP of $56-$58k! I paid a few dollars over $50k for mine in 2021 and even at that time I felt that was a lot of money for a, lets be honest, really old vehicle.
I like it generally. Just fix the engine/trans combo and the rest can stay as-is as far as I'm concerned. I'd buy another with a better powertrain. I can fix the rest of the shortcomings. But I'm not willing to live with the 1GR/5AT combo again unless it's only a weekend toy and not a daily driver or primary road trip vehicle. Especially not when a Ram Powerwagon and an Armada can be had for the same price as a high trim 4Runner. It's been a few years, but I was $38k out the door for a TRD OR Premium with KDSS. Back when invoice was the starting point for price setting not MSRP. At that price it was a pretty good value. I think we're headed back there. Car sales are slowing and inventory is growing.

I'm not sure if it would work with Toyota's production system not being a GA-F model. Unifying allows all the BOF models to be built in basically any order at any BOF factory if it has the right tooling and parts on hand. The flexibility of production for the GA-F is a big benefit and the current 4Runner wouldn't really fit that future. That's why i think it'll have to move the platform up to the GA-F. Not sure if it's flexible enough of a design to fit under the current 4Runner or to make some version that works.
 
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I like it generally. Just fix the engine/trans combo and the rest can stay as-is as far as I'm concerned. I'd buy another with a better powertrain. I can fix the rest of the shortcomings. But I'm not willing to live with the 1GR/5AT combo again unless it's only a weekend toy and not a daily driver or primary road trip vehicle. Especially not when a Ram Powerwagon and an Armada can be had for the same price as a high trim 4Runner. It's been a few years, but I was $38k out the door for a TRD OR Premium with KDSS. Back when invoice was the starting point for price setting not MSRP. At that price it was a pretty good value. I think we're headed back there. Car sales are slowing and inventory is growing.

I'm not sure if it would work with Toyota's production system not being a GA-F model. Unifying allows all the BOF models to be built in basically any order at any BOF factory if it has the right tooling and parts on hand. The flexibility of production for the GA-F is a big benefit and the current 4Runner wouldn't really fit that future. That's why i think it'll have to move the platform up to the GA-F. Not sure if it's flexible enough of a design to fit under the current 4Runner or to make some version that works.
Ya, both fun hypotheticals , neither of which are happening. I’m 99.9% certain there is going to be an all new 4R revealed sometime between now and spring ‘24 but that’s all the speculating I want to do right now after being led astray on the new LC. I really thought we were going to end up getting some sort of FJ revival project, not a Prado based wagon.
 
I have an even better idea. They should take the RAM Classic approach with it and just keep cranking them out as is. They sell well and have a loyal following. All of their R&D in the current gen amortized a long time ago. No telling how much they make on them now but I bet it's a lot. My only stipulation with this approach would be that they really should cap the price on them at $50k. I cannot believe a '23 TRD Pro has a MSRP of $56-$58k! I paid a few dollars over $50k for mine in 2021 and even at that time I felt that was a lot of money for a, lets be honest, really old vehicle.

With stricter CAFE rules coming, they can't keep selling the existing 4Runner due to it being a midsize vehicle with bad fuel economy.
 
My Plano contact verified the Land Cruiser Heritage Museum "Private Event" is in fact the Land Cruiser 250 Reveal. Several journalists and aftermarket parts people have already taken early test drives. Since we know the Tacoma people worked with the aftermarket parts people for the 2024 Tacoma Trailhunter, perhaps we have a LC250 Trailhunter to look forward to, hopefully we see more teasers soon.

The embargo period may be short, similar to the GX reveal in Austin, so hopefully we will see reviews and videos either during or soon after the July 29th to August 2nd event.

As far as the 6th gen 4Runner reveal, keep your eyes peeled for Q1 2024.
 
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My Plano contact verified the Land Cruiser Heritage Museum "Private Event" is in fact the Land Cruiser 250 Reveal. Several journalists and aftermarket parts people have already taken early test drives. Since we know the Tacoma people worked with the aftermarket parts people for the 2024 Tacoma Trailhunter, perhaps we have a LC250 Trailhunter to look forward to, hopefully we see more teasers soon.

The embargo period may be short, similar to the GX reveal in Austin, so hopefully we will see reviews and videos either during or soon after the July 29th to August 2nd event.

As far as the 6th gen 4Runner reveal, keep your eyes peeled for Q1 2024.
Now I’m getting excited.
 
My Plano contact verified the Land Cruiser Heritage Museum "Private Event" is in fact the Land Cruiser 250 Reveal. Several journalists and aftermarket parts people have already taken early test drives. Since we know the Tacoma people worked with the aftermarket parts people for the 2024 Tacoma Trailhunter, perhaps we have a LC250 Trailhunter to look forward to, hopefully we see more teasers soon.

The embargo period may be short, similar to the GX reveal in Austin, so hopefully we will see reviews and videos either during or soon after the July 29th to August 2nd event.

As far as the 6th gen 4Runner reveal, keep your eyes peeled for Q1 2024.
A short embargo would be great!
 
Over an ever so slightly modified over appointed lexus school bus like the one just announced?

Wake me up when they learn a new trick and stop using the same formula that resulted in dismal sales and the exit from the US market
Looking at your forum signature and the fact that you don't seem to want to buy anything Toyota has built in the last 30 years I guess they are just going to have to learn to live without you as a customer.
 
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