The Chicago Auto Show is less a trade event for showcasing new models and more of an industry dumping ground for special editions and appearance packages. Toyota is already bringing one of those to the party with the Land Cruiser Heritage Edition, but that’s not all it plans to unload from its trailer.
With the event just hours away, Toyota felt compelled to issue a last-minute teaser of an unidentified TRD Pro model. However, we’re disinclined to believe it’s destined for the updated Tacoma display.
First of all, Toyota chooses to describe the mystery vehicle as “a new TRD Pro off-road beast.” Unless the manufacturer’s marketing team is playing fast and loose with its terminology, “new” disqualifies the Tacoma, Tundra, and 4Runner — all of which already have TRD Pro variants.
Since the trim typically denotes body-on-frame vehicles, that leaves us with the ancient Sequoia as the only applicable candidate — unless Toyota throws us a curveball with a second Land Cruiser.
However, there’s a chance the new TRD could be a unibody. While Toyota’s announcement was beyond brief, it did say this new model will lead the charge for a host of updates across the entire TRD Pro lineup. That could be indicative of a change in strategy, with unibody models entering the fold, or simply be an announcement that TRD fans will enjoy a more robust parts catalog or options list next year.
The photograph and accompanying video aren’t much help. Toyota cleverly decided to keep every image of the upcoming TRD Pro cropped so closely that it could be just about anything. Speculate all you can now, as we’ll have our answer by Thursday evening.
[Image: Toyota]
I still can’t get over the fact that Toyota named this vehicle a “TuRD”.
I laugh every time I see one of these in a parking lot…
Conservatives love them some over priced and out of date Toyota’s. This new TuRD will do well.
It could be worse – it could be a Volkswagen.
Volkswagen? Yes, so close to Volkswagen.
Oh, that was just you making fun of a username. Typical of you to keep of the stereotype of values,, sad.
Not all conservatives are junk.
RAV4 TRD_PRO!
If Ford can have a “baby” Bronco… why not a little TRD?
Lol ;-)
I love this idea. Toyota’s reliable air suspension, dif lockers, and KDSS. Toyota follows jeep and land rover into the unibody 4×4 world. I would buy it.
There’s some exciting things happening in SUV/crossover world, well maybe interesting, anyway
Doors on the RAV4 and Highlander have pronounced creases so I don’t think that’s it.
My money’s on Sequoia. The Sequoia is no more ancient than the Tundra and the Tundra has a pro model. The Sequoia even comes with that same style of mudflaps already.
Please let it be Avalon! Please let it be Avalon!
If those are the tires Toyota puts on its “off-road beast” color me highly unimpressed.
Exactly what I was thinking….
Michelin’s LTX-AT2 is actually a highly regarded All terrain tire, the fairly mild looking pattern belies its off road performance. Certainly it wouldn’t do well in mud, but no All terrain really does, including the ubiquitous and gnarlier looking BFG-KO2.
I know the TRD line isn’t exactly much more than GMs Z71 but please don’t water it down with laughable unibody “off-roaders” no ones that dumb to think a unibody minivan is going anywhere offroad. Of course everyone wants to bring up the GC from 20 years ago without mentioning the documented chassis damage those all have with moderate off-road use.
Those are Michelin AT2 tires, which aren’t made in crossover sizes, so it’s one of their real trucks. Sequoia adds up to me.
2019 FJ Cruiser?
There’s already a Google Auto Complete for it, as well as a bunch of speculation and some concept photos.
Relevant AstroTurf blog post:
https://www.toyotafjcruisers.com/new-toyota-fj-cruiser-2019-price-release-date-redesign/
They updated their upcoming vehicles page already.
https://www.toyota.com/upcoming-vehicles/sequoiaTRD/
So, it’s a Sequoia, mystery solved
It’s about time that Toyota offered the marvelous TRD package on the Sequoia. I’ve been longing to buy one since they came out.
It’s about time that Toyota offered the marvelous TRD package on the Sequoia. I’ve been longing to buy one since they came out.
How about updating the GD vehicles?
This is getting as bad as toward the end of a generation of Mustangs when Ford starts spitting out special editions like a hockey player shedding teeth.
How about updating the GD vehicles?
This is getting as bad as toward the end of a generation of Mustangs when Ford starts spitting out special editions like a hockey player shedding teeth.