It seems that wherever you go, at least as an automotive enthusiast, there's a new Toyota in front of you, behind you, to the left and right, and also just around the corner. But that's not such a bad thing, right?
The Japanese automaker is fighting hard to keep its global supremacy and also wants to make sure it has an excellent chance to dethrone General Motors in America after the first six months of sales revealed the Detroit carmaker is still holding to the delivery crown. In the United States, Toyota has churned out one novelty after another in pitch-perfect cadence this year – from the Prius Prime plug-in hybrid with 220 hp to the Corolla Cross Hybrid and from the first-ever Grand Highlander three-row family CUV to the N400 Tacoma and 2024 Land Cruiser superstars.
And that's without mentioning the countless special editions, model year updates, or the classic mid-cycle refreshes, of course. While there are slim chances that Toyota will indulge the global markets with its newly 'affordable' ($170k) take on the Bentayga and Cullinan trope, folks who really don't need an off-roader as big as the Century SUV might soon rejoice. Notice how we said off-roader and not crossover SUV, by the way.
According to a recent rumor flaunted by Japanese media, Toyota will unleash in 2024 – after the new Land Cruiser (Prado or 250 across various global markets) makes its triumphant return to the United States – a baby or mini version of the J250 off-road SUV. Please take into account that we are still dealing with the modular TNGA-F body-on-frame platform version that underpins models like the J250 and J300 Land Cruiser, the Lexus GX, Toyota Sequoia, Tundra, and J310 Lexus LX. In fact, the 'smallest' models to date are the all-new N400 Tacoma mid-size pickup truck plus the J250 GX and Land Cruiser.
Interestingly, the whisper across the rumor mill speaks of the baby/mini Toyota Land Cruiser going after a compact slot, potentially tripling the sector's reach alongside the best-selling RAV4 crossover and new EV kid on the block bZ4X. Naturally, this news – which is not entirely surprising considering Toyota hinted at a smaller Land Cruiser during the world premiere of the SUV model and the fact that even Mercedes-Benz is considering a compact SUV based on the G-Class underpinnings – got everyone on their toes.
Or at the tip of their CGI brushes if we talk about the imaginative realm of digital car content creators. For example, the passionate folks over at 'landcruiserupdates' directly gave us excerpts from the Japanese media that originated the rumor, complete with their digital depiction of the compact Toyota Land Cruiser. Even better, the Halo oto channel on YouTube provides fresh automotive info that is corroborated with their virtual designs; now, there are some new CGI takes of that small Land Cruiser that feels a lot closer to a real-world vehicle.
Their interpretation of a baby or mini–Toyota Land Cruiser is respectful of the off-road SUV's proportions, and it even has a widebody allure to give the impression of power and adventurous resourcefulness. All in all, their take on the rumored (yet unconfirmed) smaller version looks decidedly ready to brawl with the other members of the rugged, compact SUV sector – like the Ford Bronco Sport crossover SUV or the iconic Jeep Cherokee, right?
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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