Sneak Peek of 6th Gen!

I think Toyota might surprise us by keeping the manual transfer case.

 

I wonder how much smaller the 6th gen will be than the LC. I wonder if it will be slightly smaller than the 5th gen?

 

New Tundra engine cost $18,830.

I wonder what the new 4Runner/Tacoma engines will cost.

 

Do they not have a shade that closes?

 

I'd prefer if the next gen were slightly taller and longer. Not gonna happen, but, oh well.

 

The manual transfer case makes having the part time system feel as “old-school” as it actually is. Knowing how fussy the TC can feel to engage and disengage in some situations makes me not want a dial operated TC, because now I know why people sometimes get long flashing light/unsuccessful engagement with the dial. Like the broken tacoma ADD collar video, those guys were playing with the dial over and over because they had no idea of what that TC was feeling. Manual TC, you can kinda tell when a shitty gummy shift happened and know what’s up a lot earlier. Not mention, the manual lever feel would have trained you by then to not bother trying to shift in the middle of an obstacle.

Oh well, they will write poetry about the manual lever, and they will sing songs.

This would push me to save up for the full time case…which will probably only be offered in the upper “TRD Pro Expedited Expedition Overlander Edition,” but only if you get the premium JBL and Extra Off Road option packages.

 

Well there is still a chance they keep it ...jeep still has it ....slim chance but there is still a chance.

 

They will keep it. They know what people want. I doubt they’ll screw too much with a successful product.

 

Toyota hasn't shrunk a model during redesign in the past two decades. GX550 Overtrail is 6 in. longer, 3 in. wider, and 4 in. taller than a 5th gen TRD Pro. If the 6th gen is built on the same frame as the GX/LC, then you can expect similar growth. It'll be like going from 3rd gen to 4th gen 4Runner.

https://lexus-cms-media.s3.us-east-.../uploads/2023/06/2024_GX_Spec-Sheet_FINAL.pdf
https://toyota-cms-media.s3.amazona...oyota_4Runner_Product_Information_Oct2023.pdf

 

And since a bunch is shared with the Tacoma which also grew over last generation, we're going to be staring down a 3" max body width difference between the next 4Runner and up to the Sequoia at ~80". Not too excited about it since I already felt the Honda midsize quartet was too wide for my taste at 78.5".

 

Interestingly, Edmunds data shows the 250-series LC is 4 in. shorter than the GX550 (possibly from different bumper and grille plastic). Note the 250-series LC has exactly the same wheelbase as the 80-series LC, probably intentional: https://www.edmunds.com/car-comparisons/?veh1=3990&veh2=402027520&veh3=401969856&veh4=402020060

Edmunds data also shows 18-gal fuel capacity for the 250-series LC, smaller than the GX550's 21-gal tank but shown with more range.

 

Rarely use my sunroof and actually looked for a Sport model without one but couldn't find one at the time I bought.

Should compare wheel base.

 

Depends. Do they want to satisfy us, OR do they want to compete with the Bronco, Land Rover Defender, etc who all have automatic terrain modes that engage 4WD and even the lockers automatically as the computer sense its needed. They can’t offer a system like that with a manual lever.

unfortunately as much as I love a stick shift it’s the same situation. If offered it’s likely only going to be on the base model, weakest non hybrid engine (same as Taco). They need to make the hybrid an auto to let the computer control shifting and when to switch from electric to gas to electric+gas.

 

Could it be?

 

Here’s the rub, you can’t have the computer decide when to engage 4wd on the part-time systems toyota is using. These are purely mechanical systems with an electric actuation servos on them (both the transfer case and the locker).

So even if you have a dial with electro-mechanical actuation, the driver can’t just order up 4wd willy nilly. Well, you could, but it would never engage, or would engage in a potentially damaging way. A computer can’t decide to shift into 4wd if it requires that you first drive straight on flat ground, requires you to stop, or requires you to be in neutral before it can effect a shift.

Literally, all the dial does is have an electric motor with pushrods move the TC into 4wd, or into 4LO (if trans is in neutral), instead of your hand. It’s a very basic system (it has its advantages and disadvantages). Nothing in the part-time 4wd system changed on the 4th gen Tacos, and nothing will change on 6th gen 4runners.

Save the levers!

With all that said, are you sure the bronco etc will automatically engage mechanical lockers without the driver asking for it? Is it instead maybe some variation of what A-trac is? I cant imagine it’s good to shock a mechanical locker in a situation where wheel spin is sensed. The it would lock all at once and break stuff. Unless it’s some sort of clutched locker, but now you have complication that might cause new issues down the road. Even though our part-time systems are fairly primitive, at least the simplicity predicts reliability and robustness (don’t look at my TC failure thread lol).

The full-time 4wd TC on the limiteds is the better system though. Although, I’m not sure you can engage the center diff lock “on the fly”, so that might still require actuation under certain parameters. Interesting to note however, that a mechanical lever was used to actuate 4lo on these full time TCs back in the day.

 

It’s pretty clear that’s not a real picture, and since real prototypes exist, it means that picture is probably just another photoshopped guess on the areas that haven’t been revealed. But I bet it will look just like that (but with the spare tire donut off center, like the tacos). At least I hope so…I think it will look good with the same Tacoma front end.

 

We had this a few weeks ago in Missouri and it blew out sunroofs and rear windows.

 

Sure looks like chrome to me… perhaps they don’t know their customer base all that well lol.

 

Well we know the rear is what it’ll look like since it’s a mockup between the two teased photos Toyota dropped. The front though is probably just a guess.

 

Yeah, I saw plenty of pictures of broken glass already. I was actually trying to figure out why a glass roof would be worse than a sheet metal roof.

Sheet metal will be much more expensive and time consuming to repair than glass. And, it seems like sheet metal damage is even more common than broken glass. And, if your moonroof is getting broken, so is your windshield (probably). So, you're pretty much screwed no matter what if you get stuck in big-ass hail like that.

 

Ehh. They put chrome on the 5th gen and people buy the shit out of them.

 

Saw the new LC 250 at the auto show today. The base model looks meh as hell. I am as underwhelmed in person, as I was with the photos.

The combo of the street tires and the low ground clearance (Subaru level lol) gives it a very weak appearance. Both the LC and gx has this terrible looking hump in the rear bumper, to hide the hitch.

toyota can do much better with the exterior styling of the 6g 4r

 

I am guessing LC is pretty meh looks wise, like Gx much better. Which I guess is how it should be, but it’s been not true all these years (mainly due to the hourglass grill of Lexus, which looks terrible on all vehicles).

 

The 100 series was a pinnacle in LC design (other than 70 series). Looks good in every angle.. even as a distant blob, you can tell it’s a 100 series and it looks fking good.

the lc250 holy shit.. terrible look when stock … the rectangle lights are the most goofy retro attempt

 

I mean it’s a personal choice. Sure I like a 100 better than 250, but give me a 80 any day over 100. To me that’s the pinnacle.

 

Well considering the screen from my 2018 was a screen you’d see in 2010 I’m not mad.

 

Lol exactly anyone who thinks they are leaving that dinosaur engine in there is out of their mind.

 

I'm ok with the LC250 design, headlights and all, but I can't get behind the low ground clearance and the ridiculous hump created when folding the rear seats flat. I know that's because of the hybrid battery, but, what a fail. I guess we'll find out about actual ground clearance when it gets into the hands of people modding it.

I much prefer the dash design of the LC and GX vs the new Tacoma and the teased shot of the next 4R. I hate that big-ass tablet stuck on the dash look. The LC and GX have it much more integrated.

As ever, just my .02.

 

My 2011 has a dot matrix 1 inch screen with a single line digital letters on an orange background.
The 2021+ OEM radio with its 8 inch screen is an indulgence for me.

 

The GX sits above the LC and the LC sits above the 4runner. So it makes sense that they have a more well rounded, better designed and well proportioned interiors than the Tacoma and the 4R.
It would be hard to justify the 10-15K price difference if they all looked and felt the same from the inside.