The Japanese automaker Toyota dominates through the sheer power of its global vastness, the tasteful model series, and its untarnished reputation. Alas, that doesn't mean it hasn't given up some models along the way.
Today, the Japanese automaker has virtually legendary nameplates still in production. Examples include the Corolla series, the world's best-selling nameplate since 1997; the RAV4, inventor of the compact crossover SUV segment; the Tacoma mid-size pickup truck, which is one of America's darlings; and icons like the Land Cruiser SUV, among others.
Interestingly, Toyota currently covers two of the three main pickup truck sectors in America with the all-new N400 Tacoma and the bigger Tundra – though both are manufactured around the same modular TNGA-F body-on-frame architecture. However, not long ago, the company was also involved with the light truck market with the Stout series that arrived in 1954 and lived a long and fruitful life throughout just three generations until 2000.
The North American automotive market is currently rediscovering the potential of smaller, nimbler compact pickup trucks – all thanks to the audacity of Hyundai to build their first dedicated model in the United States and Ford's wits to outsmart them with a cheaper, electrified Maverick unibody compact truck based on the Escape and Bronco Sport platform that's built in Mexico.
All other carmakers are looking from the sidelines as the two battle for supremacy and seem unfazed or unwilling to attack Ford Maverick's newly-acquired crown. Well, according to the rumor mill, that's not going to happen for much longer, as Stellantis might allow Ram to do some Rampage in North America with the model produced in Brazil.
Additionally, a lot of voices whisper about Subaru or Toyota returning to the field with revivals of the Baja or Stout nameplates. Usually, the imaginative realm of digital car content creators has a habit of selecting one as their favorite hypothetical design project. The good folks from the TheAutoReport channel on YouTube have imagined the potential revival of the classic Stout compact pickup truck from Toyota again!
So, after recently dreaming of the perfect Stout comeback to hunt down Maverick and Santa Cruz prey, their resident pixel master is now back with the unofficial all-new 2025 Toyota Stout Hybrid. No worries, no one is going to get bored with this sequel – the CGI expert cooked up some AI to help a variety of potential styles for the front fascia, as well as a modern LED treatment both at the front and rear.
Even better, now there's a discussion about blessing it with the power and efficiency of a hybrid powertrain – the Corolla Cross Hybrid could easily lend its 196-hp setup to a Stout Hybrid sibling to help it confront the electrified Ford Maverick and ICE-only Hyundai Santa Cruz. So, which one of these unofficial CGI versions do you like the most?
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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