Where to even begin with the vast line-up available worldwide by the industry’s largest OEM? How about a new model for the brand’s number one market, a replacement for an unusually very old existing vehicle.
Generation six of the 4Runner, a rugged off-roader, revealed today (9 April), shares the GA-F platform plus powertrains with the Tacoma. Which means the choice of gasoline and series hybrid four-cylinder options. The importance of this rugged three-row 4×4 should not be underestimated, Toyota Motor Sales USA remaining the dominant force against the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco.
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So very many other novelties are coming later this year, among them a plug-in hybrid version of the C-HR. To be built solely in Turkey and sold mainly in Europe plus Australia, this FWD-only SUV is to be powered by the pairing of a 2.0-litre engine plus a 120 kW motor, producing a combined 164 kW.
As the Indian market continues its rapid expansion, Toyota is looking to break out of partner Maruti’s shadow, whilst at the same time twinning many models with Suzukis. The latest such one is the Urban Cruiser Taisor. Revealed a few days ago, it will be supplied by Maruti Suzuki and based on the Fronx.
Also coming later in the second quarter will be North America’s hugely important 2025 model year Camry, which becomes hybrid-only. This mid-cycle makeover is due to be in production by GAC Toyota JV too, the car also having a strong following in China. Meanwhile, FAW, the other main local partner in the PRC, is to start manufacturing the new generation Prado at a plant in Chengdu.
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One more piece of news for the 25 model year in the US and Canada will be the arrival of the Crown Signia. A sort of successor to the Venza, it will be interesting to see how this large crossover fares.
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By GlobalDataAlong with the plug-in hybrid version of the C-HR, Europe will gain at least one more model later in 2024, that being a 4.3 m long electric SUV. Heralded by the Urban SUV (see image) concept a few months back, it will offer front- or all-wheel drive, two battery choices and share much with Suzuki’s eVX concept. That likely means it will be an import from India, manufacturing set to take place at Maruti’s Hansalpur plant in Gujarat.
A larger and completely different style of SUV is yet another future model coming either this year or next. Possibly mainly for Asia, in fact, it could be called more of an MPV-SUV mash-up. Details are few though production in Japan by Toyota Auto Body is assumed and the looks were previewed by the X-Van Gear, a concept at the Tokyo motor show back in October 2023. That 4.7 m long prototype had four sliding doors, the ones for the front occupants being an unusual touch.
Still in Asia, next year sees the debut of the potentially major volume Hilux Champ, a pick-up to be based on the IMV 0 concept. To be targeted at ASEAN markets, it seems highly likely to be built in Thailand.
Demonstrating the contrasts throughout the massive range of vehicles built in TMC’s home region, also in 2025 we should see an update for the GR 86, including the 1.6-litre three-cylinder turbo engine from the GR Yaris. Some also claim that the sports car’s BRZ brother will be axed at this point, which would be quite a development given that Subaru builds both.
Remaining in Asia but now moving to China, GAC Toyota is promised a production version of the ‘Comfortable Space’. That was the name – officially translated – of a five-metre long electric sedan which debuted at AutoGuangzhou in November 2023.
Slightly smaller than the Comfortable Space, another production model previewed by a concept in 2023 is headed to China (and Europe) in 2025. We don’t yet know what Toyota will call this 4.9 m long EV but the general look was revealed by the Sport Crossover concept from the 2023. Rumour has it that the model could be produced in China as part of an alliance with BYD.
Australia is an important market for the company, the brand not only being the long-time number one down under but increasingly subject to attack by multiple Chinese brands. Already others are selling electric utes (pick-ups) and next year, the Japanese giant will target them with an EV version of the best-selling HiLux. Production in Thailand is expected to start around Christmas time.
Another model due as 2025 becomes 2026 has the 340D development code but so far no confirmed name. A special three-row GA-C architecture SUV for India, this one should be based on the Corolla Cross. It may even be the second model – after the HyCross – for a third Bidadi plant in Karnataka. The capacity of this factory is said to an initial 80,000-120,000 per annum moving to 200,000 in a second phase.
In two years’ time we might see either one or two new sports cars, though how that would affect the GR 86 is not yet clear. No prototypes of the rumoured return of the Celica have been seen, so for the moment, those hoping to see this name re-appear should contain their excitement.
There is more hope for an MR2 successor. If this car does indeed appear in 2026, it will confirm that the FT-Se (‘Sports electric’), a GR-badged concept which debuted at the Tokyo Mobility Show in October 2023, was no flight of fancy.
Underlining the personal belief in a multi-energy approach for the company’s future, Akio Toyota is said to be keen on continuing to expand the Gazoo Racing sub-brand. And so if there is indeed a next generation GR 86 (or a Celica to succeed it?) along with an eventual follow-up to the GR Yaris plus the e-MR2, why not also a Supra replacement? BMW is said to already be working on prototypes which run on synthetic fuel.
What also of plans to launch cars with solid-state batteries? As IM prepares to launch what it claims will be the first such model when it begins selling the L6* in May, Toyota seems content to sit back and watch how others fare.
The latest official position on cell packs with solid electrodes and a solid electrolyte is that a Toyota partner is developing them with a view to launch in 2027. Idemitsu Kosan, an oil refiner, is in charge of most of this mass-production project with TMC noting that it would not be building “tens of thousands” until 2030.
*as with other such cell packs, including the WeLion 150 kWh one offered by Nio, the 130 kWh battery in the L6 is by some definitions a semi solid-state one rather than solid-state
