Toyota’s midsize SUV 4Runner
Redesigned model teaser released through complete change
Optional features applied for the first time in the industry
Toyota 4Runner is a midsize SUV celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. First released in 1984, the current 4Runner is the 5th generation model released in 2009. Apart from its reasonably long generation replacement cycle, it boasts enormous popularity in the North American market. Since 2014, sales in the U.S. have rapidly increased and peaked at 144,469 units in 2021. In 2023, it recorded 109,9951 units, a significant decrease from its heyday, but sold more than in the first year of launch.
This is considered a relatively rare occurrence in the automobile industry. The 6th generation 4Runner will soon be revealed. Toyota has only released a teaser of the rear of the new 4Runner, but the response is already hot. What are the specifications of this unimaginable option for the new 4Runner?
Power Window for Tailgate Revealed
Toyota released the second teaser of the new 4Runner. The rear part was revealed like the first teaser released on March 29, but we can see surprising changes. First, the way the tailgate window opens and closes attracts attention. Like a power window, it goes up and down inside the tailgate and is operated with buttons on the overhead console.
It has been shared that tailgate window opening and closing functions should be applied to hatchback-type vehicles such as SUVs and wagons. Since the entire tailgate can be opened, it can be used in various situations, such as loading cargo or taking out small items in a narrow space. Like most tailgates, it opens and closes using a hinge, but the new 4Runner is the first to hide the window behind the tailgate.
Giant Center Screen Draws Attention
It looks like it will keep the rustic interior
Meanwhile, we can also get a hint from a part of the interior visible through the rear window. In the case of the first row of seats, the existing rough design is changed to a sporty look. The seat back shoulder rest partially covers both sides of the headrest, reminiscent of a semi-bucket seat. In the case of the horizontal center display, its vast size stands out even when viewed from a distance. The foreign news outlet Car and Driver predicts a 14-inch center display will be applied to the new 4Runner.
The interior expected rendering released earlier also attracts attention. The interior changes revealed in the teaser image were reflected while preserving t4Runner’sr’s unique rugged image. As an authentic SUV tailored to the tastes of North American consumers, the large physical buttons and angular details stand out. A change in modern sensibility is expected while maintaining a conservative design.
Expected Powertrain Specs
High-Performance Trim Also Coming
Meanwhile, the new 4Runner model is based on Toyota’s modular platform TNGA-F. Other Toyota SUV lineups in the U.S. market, including the Land Cruiser, Tacoma, and Sequoia, also share the same platform. 4Runner’s powertrain has a 2.4L 4-cylinder gasoline turbo engine installed in the new Tacoma. It is expected to have a maximum output of 280 horsepower and a maximum torque of 43.7kgf.m.
An i-Force Max option is also available, adding an electric motor to the same engine to produce 326 horsepower. The new 4Runner will be available in various specifications, starting with the basic trim, SR5, Luxury Limited, and TRD Pro, an off-road optimized tuning specification.
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