6th gen Speculation Thread

I love when people say no offense then proceed to say something offensive No offense

 

I sure hope the 6th gen doesn't end up looking like the FJ Cruiser. That design already failed once, so I doubt it's coming back.

 

Something about the round headlights on the FJ spoke to me. The new LC version is probably as close as I could expect but for whatever reason doesnt check the box for me.

 

I do like the look of round headlights.

I like the new LC, also. But, I'm indifferent about the round headlights on it.

 

And I'm not a particularly big fan of round headlights especially as part of retro styling. I think once we get someone with a vehement hatred for round headlights we've got all the potential opinions covered!

 

If you are into retro styling, round headlights are a requirement. I personally like them on the new LC.

 

Need some leaks......

 

There's probably a dozen or so 6th gens out there right now driving around the country right under our noses with 5th gen bodies on them.

 

I'm not sure about that. I think the real thing is out there testing with Michigan and Texas plates. One of these forums mentioned here that the next gen was here in the States, in early 2021. Matches up with inside reports.

I'm thinking from what you and the other insiders shared over time, the 6G probably was brought over in early 2021. Probably possible, because the midsize GA-F trucks were all designed until about sometime in 2020. Leaves time to build prototypes right? Usually I hear it takes 6-9 months to hand build first prototypes of the final design for testing.

In fact, our very own forum might've broken info on the first testers in USA per these posts I'm gonna link to:

@4Runner170V, you (nimby), and @TexasFunRunner (hopefully not forgetting anyone) are the real MVPs on this forum.

That info matches what a lot of insiders were saying. The 6th gen was developed as a 2022/23 model from the onset (according to A70 back in spring 2019 on MKV Supra forum) and CM1/AM1 (many forums), so it makes a lot of sense how they were already testing back then in full guise.

It's just been delayed so many times, which as you know is typical of Toyota in the TNGA era. Missing deadlines very often.

Another dude mentioned he tested it off-grid at a rural property somewhere on assignment, but can't find the post. It's also from 2021 I think.

I bet 4R170's insider saw some even built strictly for internal marketing purposes and shown off to need to know staff bodies, maybe doing early consumer research?

 

I'd have a hard time believing that a 6th gen 4Runner has been driving around for several years and not a single spy shot has surfaced. How would they disguise it, if not wrapping it in familiar sheet metal so that nobody notices?

 

Round headlights suck unless they are a in Jeep-like vehicle or a lil Mini Cooper kind of car. You would hate them on your 4Runner. They looked good on the FJ Cruiser because it gave you a Jeep/FJ feeling.

 

Back in 1989 I took part in a discreet (meaning invitation only) vehicle survey. The vehicles were stripped of all badges, trim and had very generic (meh) paint schemes. That was a good 2-3 years before Ford unveiled the first gen Explorer to the market. I’m doubtful, knowing that the 4Runner line has been in existence going on some 35 years now that the company would need to perform such surveys and thus any kind of public exposure for any prototype(s).

haha, my first thought was how this looks like a Mini Cooper!

 

Roll down rear window: I hope they keep it, but some are concerned that it's going away. Fingers crossed!

Better fuel economy is expected, but will definitely depend on driving habits.

Reliability is questionable at this point. The 2.4 is pretty new, so they're likely to have bugs. But, hopefully it ends up being solid.

HP looks like it will be similar, but it will have WAY more usable torque (317lb/ft @ 1700 RPM's in the Taco)

The other stuff I have no idea on.

 

I'm not so hopeful about the better fuel efficiency. It's going to become like the GX, more power just 1 MPG improvement. Expect 20 combined

 

The Taco's infotainment and HVAC are buttons so that's good! We'll probably get the same infotainment/HVAC.

 

But GX was a dinosaur with CD player and all. But I get what u r sayin

 

Agreed. I don't want to rely on a touchscreen for everything. Hopefully we at least get knobs for HVAC and a volume knob for the radio.

That number (317) is just the regular turbo 4. The hybrid version that's supposed to be offered in the Tacos (and I assume will be an option for us) is said to make 326hp and 465tq.

 

Hey, some people still listen to CD's

Side note: my '03 had a cassette deck!

 

I think it will come down to the individual driver.

~40 more lb/ft of torque, at 1700 RPM's compared to 4400, along with more gears to keep it in the sweet spot could provide a significant improvement for conservative drivers.

Those who drive aggressively, and/or tow frequently might not see an improvement at all.

 

Toyota may lose some folks to Jeep for 2 reasons. Jeep has V6 and V8. And 6th gen doesn't sound like it is a solid reply to Bronco.

 

How so? We barely know anything about it yet?

 

From Tacoma Trailhunter

 

Because no 35's? Or, what is the Taco lacking?

 

35s, angles, a front locker, better crawl ratio. Toyota should have improved at least two of those.

 

Plus now we cant boast we have a naturally breathing V6. Tons of people out there who say Toyota shouldnt do a thing and keep putting out 5th gens lol

 

We don't know the dimensions of the 6th gen yet.

The new Taco appears to have better approach and departure than the current 4Runner, and the 4Runner typically has had better approach and departure than the Taco, so no need to worry about that yet.

What is the crawl ratio of the 4th gen Taco?

Toyota is NEVER giving us a front locker, so we might as well get over it.

 

And those people don't live in the real world. We can dream, but we have to accept reality.

 

Not sure but the new Taco is no Gladiator. Better than the Ranger though as usual. The new 4Runner needs to improve the 26 degrees for heavens sakes.

 

Great point, but if it was 1989, then the Explorer was right around the corner. Leaks started spilling out in late 1989 as the "Bronco II/III" and it was officially revealed in Jan '90, before going on sale in March/April 1990 as an early 1991 model.

Ford probably had the 1991 Explorer looks dialed down around 1986-87, from reading the Firestone lawsuit testimonies from Ford engineers. Are you sure it wasn't around then instead?

From what I've stated, yep Toyota has been testing the new 4Runner for a long time, whether in Japan or here in North America. Design was probably created at the same time as the new Land Cruiser 250, but other aspects are behind in development.

Spy shots are a marketing thing in most cases, followed by a pressing need to do certain milestone daylight tests in the public atmosphere, before a point of no return. Most of the time, future stuff is cleverly tested at night and spy shotters don't see em.

How do I know that? They've said it in retrospect. All of em do it, especially Toyota and Honda. Test publicly at night, in low traffic areas.

Anyone who doesn't believe it, it's their own issue TBH. Toyota definitely tests these cars either on their own proving grounds, far off the grid in secured zones or rural area, or at night on certain public roads. There's a reason why we rarely see spy photos taken at night and lack of prototype testing has zero to do with it...

 

People already wheel the shit out of Tacos. With the right mods, approach and departure angle are easy to work around.