The Japanese automaker is prepared to end the year on a high note. After all, it delivered a tidal wave of special editions, refreshments, and all-new and first-ever models across its most important regions.
If we take just North America, there's still an entire list of goodies, including the Corolla Cross Hybrid, the Prius Prime plug-in hybrid, the trio of special GRs (GR86 Trueno, GR Corolla Circuit, GR Supra 45th Anniversary), the all-new Grand Highlander three-row CUV, the N400 Tacoma and 2024 Land Cruiser superstars, plus the 2025 Camry and Crown Signia crossover SUV. And that's just to name a few.
Interestingly, many folks still think that Toyota has even more space to fill up across the lineup. Many fans would love to see the reports about a compact Land Cruiser-based follow-up of the FJ Cruiser come to fruition, the rumors about the MR2 revival become real, and so on. However, one of the oldest whispers across the rumor mill has to do with Toyota aiming to double the success of the Tacoma best-seller in the compact unibody pickup truck sector where currently the Ford Maverick reigns supreme over its one and only foe – the ritzier Hyundai Santa Cruz.
Many reports speak of Toyota using the easy backdoor of morphing the Corolla Cross architecture into a bland yet accessible pickup truck derivative. However, others think the Japanese automaker will invest heavily and bring back to life their beloved Stout nameplate – the light truck produced from 1954 through 1989 that was also sold in the United States and quickly earned a cult following. Speculation about its revival has been around for what feels like ages – so perhaps there's something true behind it?
Until we find out what's what, the imaginative realm of digital car content creators is taking charge, as always, so we don't get bored while we wait for the corner office head honchos to decide if it's worth fighting the Maverick and Santa Cruz on their own turf. For example, the good folks over at the A1 Cars and Next-Gen Car channels on YouTube have imagined the potential design of the rumored Toyota Stout revival.
The resident pixel master from A1 Cars is much more sensible than their counterpart from Next-Gen Car because the futuristic elements are kept to a minimum – they imagine a couple of versions, and one has the rear door handles hidden. In contrast, the front ones are integrated into the body. On the other hand, the version from the other outlet is much easier to label as simply wishful thinking – the orange 'Stout' in the gallery seems ready to fight the competition right now. In contrast, the other one, dressed in various colors, feels much more like a concept vehicle for next year's automotive events.
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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