It's Time To Talk about the All New 2025 Toyota 4Runner!

Hi Tommy, how long has the current Turtle 2 4 been in production? Well, I think it started being produced in August 2009, which means it will soon be 15 years old. Yes, it's very long. And in this video, what are we going to talk about? Well, we're going to talk about our hopes, our dreams and, more importantly, our predictions about what we can expect for the new 6th generation of the 4Runner, which, in our opinion, will make its debut this year. Yes, we don't get things out of our manufacturing from nowhere. Because, in the past, the trend was generally that the Tacoma was followed by the 4Runner, and we know that we have a new Tacoma. So I think we can make logical hypotheses about the new 4Runner. But this is going to be a very unusual situation, Dad, because for the first time in generations, we have a Land Cruiser whose recommended sales price has dropped by about $ 25,000. In this video, we are going to talk about some of the big changes that Toyota is going to make with the 4Runner to adapt it to its product range. And then, we must not forget the new Lexus GX. Yes, that's it. Which is also evolving in a very similar field. Traditionally, the 4Runner has rivaled the Bronco and the Wrangler to some extent as an off-road vehicle in the Toyota range, because, of course, the FJ has disappeared. Yes. But it was more focused on the road than that, because if the Wrangler has always had a roof and removable doors, the 4Runner, over most of its generations, has focused on a more comfortable and more usable utility vehicle than the Wrangler. Let's go back a bit and talk about the beginnings of the foreign. It was launched in the United States for the 1984 and a half model year, and it was largely based on the Toyota truck. And when I say in large part, I mean completely. So, it was really a Toyota Hilux platform underneath with a roof at the rear, a set of seats and some seatbelts. And there was a removable rear part inspired by the Cassin-Noublas. There is the second generation of the Bronco where you could have fun in the sun. But when the second generation was launched, they got rid of this removable part. They made a fixed steel panel. And that's how it is, you know, for decades and decades and decades. But dad, here's my controversial opinion. Okay, are you ready? Yeah, what's your pastime? For the first two generations of 4Runner, it was very close to the Tacoma. Gen 1, Gen 2, especially Gen 3 as well. But then, when we saw the introduction of the Gen 4 production started in August 2002, we saw a kind of chemistry move away from the direction of the Tacoma, didn't we? It was obviously based on the Praland Cruiser series abroad, but we saw the introduction of the V8 in the fourth generation. We saw a very different approach in what the 4Runner offers than the Tacoma. And then with the 5th generation, they also moved away from the 3rd generation Tacoma, didn't they? So the 5th generation had this 4-liter V6, didn't it? We saw the new 3rd generation Tacoma, it went to the 3.5. The 4Runner has never had the 3.5 and they are in a way on two different paths at the moment. But my prediction for the next 4Runner of 2025 is that it will strongly merge with the direction taken by the Tacoma. And to such an extent that I would be ready to bet that elements such as the front, the interior, many body panels could even be interchangeable between the new 4Runner and the Tacoma. And thanks to the IA, we actually used it to generate what we think or what the IA program thinks could be the new 4Runner, which is based, of course, on a fusion of the current 4Runner and the new Tacoma. Now, let me ask you a question, Tommy. We have two potential engine groups, don't we? The GX has a V6. And the Tacoma has a 4-cylinder turbo that produces about 300 horsepower. So, which of these two possibilities or a third do you think there will be in the 4Runner? Well, here's what I think, don't you? So, you have to consider the Toyota range as a complete series of vehicles that can and should not really compete. And we're talking about both Toyota and Lexus because it's the same company. So, the Land Cruiser went from a $90,000 vehicle to a $55,000 vehicle. The GX will start in the $60,000 fork. And then we have the LX, which is all the way up there. In the lower range, we have the Tacoma, which starts at $30,000 and goes up to $50,000. I think that's it. Actually, it's in the $30,000 range. But go ahead. So, I think this new 4Runner will follow the current Tacoma engine group to the letter. So, at the base end, we're going to see a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine coupled to a four-wheel drive system. It's the usual Tacoma thing we're seeing right now. I don't think they're going to opt for a V6. Because it's going to start cannibalizing the GX and it's also going to cannibalize the Land Cruiser. And that's where things get weird. Because for the first time now, the 4Runner and the Land Cruiser are kind of competing for the same price. We suppose that the new foreign model will be presented this year as the 2025 model. I think that's a reasonable hypothesis because that's what happened in the past. Let me ask you a question. You said four-cylinder turbo, like in the Tacoma, right? Yes. What about all-terrain qualities now? The Tacoma is now equipped not only with a lockable rear differential and a lockable central differential, but also with a disconnectable stabilizer bar. Do you think all this will be transferred to the 4Runner? Yes, I think it will be exactly the same thing. Same engine group, same off-road equipment. I literally think we're going to witness a return to the 1980s. Very well. I think we're going to have a Tacoma design with an open roof at the rear. And I hope, it's a far-fetched hope. But my dream would be that we have a removable roof, because we have seen many changes in the off-road industry since the launch of the 5th generation 4Runner 14 years ago. And one of these major changes was the introduction of the Bronco, which was a huge success. And one of the things that the Bronco and the Wrangler have in common, and that has been missing from foreigners for four decades, is the possibility of transforming it into a convertible. It's a major selling point for a lot of people. And it's not that people turn them into convertibles, but it's the idea that they can. So, my ideal wish list would be a 1984 4Runner and half-done today. So a 2024 Tacoma with seats in the bench and a removable roof. Yeah, it won't happen. Well, I mean, it just won't happen. Yeah, but Toyota could be... Way too conservative for that. Yeah, but the problem I'm thinking about now is that the Land Cruiser, because the Land Cruiser is now a $50,000 vehicle, right? So what's going to differentiate the Land Cruiser from the 4Runner? Now, of course, there's always that $35,000 to $50,000 gap where the 4Runner could rank. But they're going to have to do something special. Otherwise, you're going to have two vehicles in competition. Okay. Why not do something like bigger wheels? Of course. And that's another way they could offer. Different off-road packages. Let's talk about it first. The current Tacoma, the new one, has both a 6-speed manual gearbox and an automatic. The manual gearbox, I know the automatic will do it, but will the manual gearbox be available in the next generation of 4Runner? I hope so. I bet yes. Yeah, I'll do it. I really hope so. It would be an interesting differentiation tactic. And the size of the wheels? What size can they have? They're not going to roll at 35. No, I think you are. I mean, the fuel economy would be simply fatal. You're going to have a 30 on a small end at a 32.6 or something like that. Okay. For a TRD or a... Trel, in our little sketch generated by the IAC, we have an air intake. Is it going to happen? Of course. I mean, is... Is it going to be real or fake? I literally think it's going to look like a Tacoma. Okay. So, imagine a Tacoma with a roof. That's what we did. We don't have to do it. But it's actually the bad Tacoma I used. The previous one, right? Yeah. Don't look at my shitty sketches. But imagine... Use your head here. I'm thinking of the front of a Tacoma, the wings of a Tacoma, the inside of a Tacoma. Why don't you design a better one? I tried and my skills ran out pretty quickly. But we have a picture of it. So I have a few. Yeah, that. Yeah, we're going to publish it and you can watch it. Yeah, but that's what I think because I hope it... Will be affordable? Like 40,000? Yeah. So, in order to reduce costs, they will share much more with the Tacoma platform. Very good. I mentioned that one way to distinguish it from the Land Cruiser, of course, is that they have different models. Will there be a TRD Pro version? Yeah. I think it will be exactly the same finish as the one we see everywhere. So SR5, you have a limited version, the all-terrain TRD, the sport TRD. Uh, there's one thing that came to mind that would be terrifying, but it's a potential. If you look where the Land Cruiser is located, isn't it? You have it in the top of the range. You also have the RAV4 coming now, especially with the all-terrain TRD model. What if they turned the 4Runner into a RAV4 Plus? So they're giving up the low range, they're giving up the conventional all-wheel drive. I doubt it's the RAV4. Uh, I want to continue. Okay. So, as you know, for now, the Tacoma is only available with its 4-cylinder turbo. But a hybrid version is being developed, which is not a fuel-efficient hybrid, but it's a more powerful hybrid. Will this engine also be integrated? Will there be a 4Runner Hybrid? I guess that's the question I'm asking. Yes, will there be a 4? You know, let's be crazy, a rechargeable 4Runner? Yeah. A rechargeable as a bonus? No. I think there will certainly be a hybrid version, because Toyota has committed to the hybrid. Bonus. It's possible. Okay. I mean, look, the Land Cruiser is launched as a standard hybrid. It would be a way to differentiate it from the Land Cruiser. I think it would make sense to me if there was no electrification, if there was only the 2.4 turbo, and that the Land Cruiser would remain a more emblematic all-terrain vehicle. Uh, I mean, I think you're right. The other direction it could take, is the Overlander, which is a Land Cruiser. You have the Rock Crawler, which is a 4Runner, and you can simply borrow its two voices. I think that's also a very big potential. Okay. And you could do as they did with the Tacoma, where you have an all-wheel drive, without having to switch to all-terrain mode manually. Like a Limited with the third box. If we talk about Jeep, it would be like the Sahara version of the 4Runner. Yeah, I mean, there's one like that now. You can get a permanent all-wheel drive in a 4Runner now. Okay. Now, Tacoma is going to offer its Funky seats, isn't it? These are cushioned seats on which you can swing when you do all-terrain. Do you think this will also make its way abroad, or will it just be a Tacoma thing and... I think they're going to take Tacoma stuff again. So, you think even the seats will come out of it? Yes, I think the interior will come out of it to save money. I think the seats will come out of it. I mean, I may be far from the truth, and I probably am, but I think you're right about the removable roof. It's a thing pulled by the hair, but I see that it's a real Tacoma because I have no more proof. Listen to me. Period. I have another point of reference. They were going to remove the Sequoia in this current generation, but the chief engineer, Mike Swers, asked Japan to keep the Sequoia, and Japan said, you can do it if you build a Breack Tundra. So, the Sequoia is a Toyota Tundra in Breack. So, I think the foreigner is going to be a Toyota Tacoma in Breack. So, you know, there's a Highlander, and there's a big Highlander. Okay. And what distinguishes them mainly, is a third row. Is there going to be a big 4Runner or a big 4Runner? No, I don't think so. I think so, because you're in competition with Sequoia, aren't you? So, where does it stand? So, yes, I think we're going to see a real Tacoma. Call it. 4Runner, give it really cool stuff for off-road, start it at 35, go up to 55 like the Land Cruiser, maybe 60 for a Pro or a Trailhunter, and hop, you have a new 4Runner. And what if we offered you not only Fox shock absorbers, but Fox active shock absorbers? Is that something Toyota could offer you? What does the Tacoma have? It doesn't have active shock absorbers. Well, that's your answer. It has, uh, what are Fox shock absorbers? I'm committed to answering this question, Dad. It will be a Tacoma Plus. But guys, we'd like to have your opinion. What do you think they're going to do with the new 4Runner, uh, the big 4Runner? I like it. It's funny, $400,000. It's a Sequoia, anyway. Tell us what you think in the comments section. And as always, it was Tommy. Je veux faire une prédiction audacieuse. D'accord. Vous savez que Toyota possède une entreprise qui fabrique des moteurs diesel. Non? Vous avez tort. Ils vont mettre un diesel dans le prochain forêt. Tfl.com est l'endroit où vous pouvez nous trouver. Très bien. À la prochaine. Ciao.