Toyota, although it didn't manage to surpass General Motors after the first six months of the year in terms of sales in the US car market, continues to remain steadfast with a massive tidal wave of novelties.
This year has been brimming with novelties, from low-key ones like the Prius Prime plug-in hybrid and Corolla Cross Hybrid introductions to medium-importance reveals like the expanding Nightshade family or the trio of GR special editions (GR86 Trueno, GR Corolla Circuit, GR Supra 45th Anniversary) and on to superstars. The latter category included stuff like the 2024 Grand Highlander three-row, eight-seat family-oriented crossover SUV, the N400 Tacoma mid-size pickup truck, and the hyped 2024 Land Cruiser return.
The rumor mill is keen on observing that Toyota is not stopping there or completely refocusing on the autumn 2024 model year refreshments. Instead, the whispers speak of upcoming Corolla Cross unibody compact pickup truck versions coming to spite the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz. Or they hint at the impending release of a 'Land Hopper' version of the 2024 Land Cruiser devised as a spiritual successor of the FJ Cruiser and acting as a compact variant of the LC family.
Meanwhile, the imaginative realm of digital car content creators is also busy putting other models from the Toyota range into a virtual perspective. Most recently, many CGI-focused channels and independent pixel masters have turned their attention to the upcoming 2025 Toyota RAV4 – some claiming the next model year will bring a substantial refresh and others promising that an all-new generation is around the corner instead.
For example, the good folks over at the Q Cars channel on YouTube aim to daze and amaze the audience with the potential redesign of the all-new XA60, sixth-gen RAV4. Assisted by AI design software tools, the resident pixel master has imagined a couple of different versions for the next iteration – one looks a lot closer to the actual, current RAV4 found in the real world than the other. Additionally, the rear POV also seems a bit far-fetched based on what we are used to from Toyota's OEM designers.
All in all, though, these renderings are pretty satisfying in terms of envisioning a complete redesign for the XA60 iteration, even if only unofficially. Of course, we are also well aware that all this is merely wishful thinking – even the channel's host noted that Toyota would most likely choose a safe approach of evolution rather than evolution for the sixth generation to preserve its appeal towards a more traditional customer base.
Hopefully, though, all will be clarified soon after Toyota wraps up with the potential Land Hopper introduction and then refocuses on more traditional members of the family, such as the upcoming Highlander facelift and the potential RAV4 refresh or all-new generation.
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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