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On April 9, local time in the United States, Toyota's new generation of 4Runner (commonly known as "Super") was officially released. As a sixth-generation model, the new 4Runner, like the Tacoma pickup truck and the new Prado, is based on the TNGA-F architecture and is upgraded for appearance, interior and power. It is understood that the new 4Runner will be officially launched in the North American market in the autumn of 2024.

In terms of appearance, the new Toyota 4Runner adopts the latest family design, with double polygonal grille surrounding the silver guard plate to set off a strong aura, while the headlamp shape is also changed to the same design style as the new Tacoma pickup truck. The new car will be available in nine versions: SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Sport Premium, TRD Off Road, TRD Off Road Premium, Limited, Platinum, TRD Pro and Trailhunter. Trailhunter is a new model, similar to the TRD Pro version, with the "TOYOTA" logo at the front and Toyota brand LOGO at the other models.

On the side of the car body, the raised body lines also make it have a hard styling feature different from the urban SUV, highlighting the wheel arch of the car body and the broken line on the door reflecting a strong sense of muscle. Compared with the previous generation, the length and wheelbase of the new Toyota 4Runner are increased, the wheelbase is increased by 61mm, the length of the car is increased by 119mm, and the approach angle and departure angle are 32 degrees and 24 degrees respectively.

The rear part of the car looks square as a whole, and the trapezoidal taillights with black contours also look simple. Unlike the current model, the "4Runner" chrome-plated letter logo on the rear door is moved down to the top of the bumper, and the groove of the silver rear bumper polygon reflects the hard cross-country style. In addition, the 4Runner is equipped with a sliding and open electric lift tail window, and many cross-country SUV use an open tail window, which makes it easier to access the items in the trunk.

In terms of interior decoration, the new Toyota 4Runner is similar to the Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. The new car will be equipped with a combination of 7-inch LCD meter and 8-inch central control screen, while the high-end model will be upgraded to a combination of 12.3-inch meter and 14.0-inch central control screen. Equipped with the latest Toyota infotainment system, it supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto mobile phone interconnection. The leather wrapping and stitching on the center console of the new car are details that the previous 4Runner did not have, and the 10-speaker JBL sound system and mobile phone wireless charging also make the car look more modern and more responsive to the needs of today's drivers.

In terms of power, the new Toyota 4Runner will be equipped with a 2.4T turbocharged engine and a 2.4T engine + motor system, of which 2.4T has a maximum power of 282hp and a maximum torque of 423Nm. The transmission system matches an eight-speed automatic transmission and is carried on SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road and Limited models. The TRD Pro, Trailhunter and Platinum models are equipped with a hybrid system composed of 2.4T engine and motor, in which the motor can provide additional 49 horsepower, the maximum comprehensive power of the system is 331hp and the maximum torque is 630Nm. It is the most powerful powertrain ever provided by 4Runner, and the transmission system also matches the 8-speed automatic transmission.

In addition, depending on the configuration, it will also provide LSD limited slip differential (rear drive model), electronic transfer box (four-wheel drive model), upgraded LSD limited slip differential (four-wheel drive model) and full-time all-wheel drive system with central differential lock (hybrid model). In addition, the maximum traction capacity of the new 4Runner has been increased from 5000 pounds to 6000 pounds.

As a hardline off-road SUV focusing on the North American market, Toyota 4Runner has been born for more than 40 years. Toyota 4Runner can be regarded as the twin of Toyota Prado, or it can be simply understood as the American version of Prado. The positioning and pricing of the two models are basically the same, Toyota 4Runner is mainly for North America, Toyota Prado is for other markets, including the Chinese market, the Middle East market and so on.

The original Toyota Hilux 4Runner (N60), launched in 1984, is not a newly designed and developed model, but based on Toyota Hilux pickup trucks, with detachable fiberglass back covers and rear seats, Hilux Surf (Japan's local market name) came out. It is worth mentioning that the first generation of SUV launched by Great Wall Motor, in addition to the appearance of Toyota 4Runner, its Chinese name "Saifu" is also transliterated from Surf.

In 1989, Toyota released the second generation of 4Runner (N130), also based on Hilux pickup trucks, replacing the previous fiberglass roof design with traditional body forms and offering two-door and four-door models. It is worth mentioning that Toyota used technology transfer to make the second-generation 4Runner continue to shine in the Chinese market after the suspension of production. In addition to the appearance of Toyota 4Runner, its Chinese name "Saifu" is also transliterated from Surf.

After five years of research and development, Toyota launched the third-generation 4Runner (N180) in 1995, which completely parted ways with Hilux and adopted a new platform architecture, which also gave birth to the second-generation LC90, with more emphasis on road use, its product focus gradually moved closer to luxury, the interior space was more spacious, and the car system began to be equipped with rear differential locks. The fourth-generation 4Runner (N210), launched in 2003, shares the third-generation Prado platform with the LC120 series, provides off-road capability with a non-load-bearing body and a central differential lock, and is equipped with a 4.7L V8 naturally aspirated engine for the first time.

The fifth generation of the N280 was born in 2009 and has been sold since then. This new generation of Trail Edition provides Toyota's new power suspension system and crawl control, also known as the creeping system. It is worth mentioning that Toyota's slogan for 4Runner, "at the end of the map, the best story begins", is still deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.

As the new Toyota LC250 enters the North American market as Rand Cool, the role of 4Runer as an American version of Prado has obviously changed, mainly in the fact that the new Prado only offers hybrids in the North American market, and the new Toyota 4Runner has optional pure fuel power. In the use scene, the new Toyota 4Runner is more suitable for rough work or cross-country, while the new Toyota LC250 focuses more on the daily experience.

Previous generations of Toyota 4Runner have not attracted much attention in the domestic market, and most of its main users prefer the well-known Toyota Prado and Rand Cool Luze, so Toyota has not introduced it in official channels. Today, the domestic hard SUV market is hot, coupled with the same platform of the new Toyota Prado will also return as a domestic identity. Therefore, a bold guess is that it is not impossible for Toyota to introduce a new 4Runner, so do you think it is possible for 4Runner to be introduced into China?

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