Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Review: 2010 Toyota 4Runner faithfully sticks to the formula it helped create]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/11/2010-toyota-4runner-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/11/2010-toyota-4runner-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/11/2010-toyota-4runner-review/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2010 Toyota 4Runner - Click above for high-res image gallery

Toyota has made some serious money over the past couple of decades by making safe, reliable vehicles. There have been a few models, like the Supra and Celica, that have appealed to the enthusiast, but the rest of America hasn't really seemed to care. New Toyota chief Akio Toyoda has promised to change that paradigm, however, pledging to inject new vehicles with much-needed soul. But do we have to wait a few years for Toyota's designers and engineers to come up with something new and exciting? Maybe not.

While the enthusiast-inspired products like the FT-86 coupe are still a ways off, off-roading types have a new Toyota to test drive: the 2010 4Runner. We've long known that the 4Runner has been perfectly capable of wrestling with a bit of mud, as it helped define America's sport-utility genre along with the original Jeep Cherokee way back in 1984. But this new model is at once bigger, more capable and more luxurious - and its styling has been designed to stand out in an admittedly thinning crowd of proper SUVs. We spent a week with a Magnetic Grey Metallic 4WD SR5 to see if Toyota has been right to stand by its mid-size mainstay while the rest of the automaking world has been busy turning its body-on-frame gas-guzzlers into pump-friendly softroaders.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Toyota 4Runner


Photos by Chris Shunk / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Toyota 4Runner faithfully sticks to the formula it helped create

Review: 2010 Toyota 4Runner faithfully sticks to the formula it helped create originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Jun 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 toyota 4runner2010Toyota4runner4runner4runner review4runnerReviewautoblog garage toyota 4runnerautoblog review toyota 4runnerAutoblogGarageToyota4runnerAutoblogReviewToyota4runnerfeaturedreviewreviewssuv review autoblog toyoaSuvReviewAutoblogToyoatoyotatoyota 4runnertoyota 4runner autoblog reviewtoyota 4runner reviewToyota4runnerToyota4runnerAutoblogReviewToyota4runnerReviewFri, 11 Jun 2010 11:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19511735/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/06/11/2010-toyota-4runner-review/19511735/article-detail.xml 19511735 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/lead1toyota4runnerreview2010_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/lead1toyota4runnerreview2010.jpg <![CDATA[Why the Lexus GX may be rollover-prone (and the 4Runner isn't)]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/14/why-the-lexus-gx-may-be-rollover-prone/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/14/why-the-lexus-gx-may-be-rollover-prone/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/14/why-the-lexus-gx-may-be-rollover-prone/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



The latest blow to the formerly sterling reputation of Toyota came this week when Consumer Reports gave the new Lexus GX460 a "Do Not Buy" rating. It's not often that CR gives its worst rating to a vehicle and it's never happened to a Toyota or Lexus product before. In light of recent recall woes, Toyota is taking this news very seriously and has stopped selling the Lexus GX while it investigates the issue.

The reason for the dire rating is what CR considers a major safety risk with the new GX. During the publication's handling tests, the CR drivers experienced significant oversteer (the back end of the vehicle sliding sideways) before the electronic stability control intervened and brought the SUV back under control.

Cornering oversteer is something automakers try to avoid, except on high-performance sports cars. On SUVs with a high center of gravity, this is an especially serious problem because if the vehicle hits a curb, shoulder or other impediment while sliding it's more prone to roll over. During a previous test with the Toyota 4Runner, which shares its basic platform with the Lexus GX, CR didn't experience the same problem. Follow the jump as we examine some possible explanations for the disparity between these two SUVs.

Continue reading Why the Lexus GX may be rollover-prone (and the 4Runner isn't)

Why the Lexus GX may be rollover-prone (and the 4Runner isn't) originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Lexus GX460 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Consumer Reports has officially given the Lexus GX the automotive equivalent of a black eye. The publication has deemed the high-riding luxury SUV a "safety risk" for its likelihood to go shiny side down during emergency maneuvers, and as such, has put it on the publication's infamous "Do Not Buy" list. During testing, the Consumer Reports crew found that the traction control on the GX would allow the vehicle to slide nearly completely sideways before getting everything in line.

Interestingly enough, while Consumer Reports tested the nearly-identical Toyota 4Runner, that SUV wasn't found to suffer the same problem with the traction control. Is it possible that all of the luxury goodies you'll find aboard the Lexus add enough pounds to overwhelm the vehicle's stability control, or that the Lexus has significantly different programming? It's possible.

So far, Toyota hasn't said much other than that it's concerned with the Consumer Reports findings. Considering that the Japanese manufacturer has had more than its fair share of bad publicity recently, being blacklisted by CR is just another log on the fire.


Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Lexus GX460


[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Consumer Reports puts Lexus GX on "Do Not Buy" list due to rollover fears originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4Runnerbreakingbreaking newsBreakingNewsConsumer ReportsConsumer Reports Do Not BuyConsumerReportsConsumerReportsDoNotBuyDo Not BuyDoNotBuyGX460LexusLexus GXLexus GX460LexusGxLexusGx460rolloverrollover riskRolloverRiskstability controlStabilityControlToyotaToyota 4RunnerToyota4runnerTue, 13 Apr 2010 10:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19437379/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/04/13/consumer-reports-puts-lexus-gx-on-do-not-buy-list-due-t/19437379/article-detail.xml 19437379 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/gx460-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/gx460-630.jpg <![CDATA[IIHS releases latest round of safety scores for Infiniti M, Lexus HS and Toyota 4Runner]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/09/iihs-releases-latest-round-of-safety-scores-for-infiniti-m-lexu/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/09/iihs-releases-latest-round-of-safety-scores-for-infiniti-m-lexu/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/09/iihs-releases-latest-round-of-safety-scores-for-infiniti-m-lexu/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,



First the Oscars and now this! The envelope please! The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released a bevy of scores for the Infiniti M, Lexus HS 250h and Toyota 4Runner and it was nothing but "Good" all around. The Infiniti and Toyota were tested for frontal offset and side impacts, with their "Good" score maintaining the scores of their predecessors. The Lexus scored a first-time Good" in the frontal offset test. You can get all the details on the most recent round of crash-testing here and scan the IIHS archives to see how the competition stacks up.


Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Infiniti M56


[Source: IIHS]

IIHS releases latest round of safety scores for Infiniti M, Lexus HS and Toyota 4Runner originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The 672.85-mile-long Baja 1000 race is over, and 328 starters were boiled down to just a handful of winners in various classes. The premier events were taken by Andy and Scott McMillin in the trophy truck category, in a modded Chevrolet Silverado. Andy won the race three years ago as a year ago as Robby Gordon's co-driver, but this year beat the NASCAR pilot by three places. The motorcycle category went to the three-way team of Kendall Norman, Timmy Weigand, and Quinn Cody, who crossed the line about 45 minutes before the McMillin's did.

Behind them, two legends of the race practically had the Stock Mini class to themselves: 20-time winner Rod Hall, along with Emily Miller, and Mike Winkel in a Hummer H3 took on Robert Ditner, Joe Nolan, Kez Ziesemer, and three-time winner Ivan Stewart in a 2010 Toyota 4Runner. Of three starters in the class, these two vehicles were the only ones to finish, and the issue came down to the last few miles: Hall's Hummer suffered a long repair stop at mile 40 and he only passed Stewart's 4Runner for first place just thirty miles from the finish.

While Stewart settles for second - and Hall gets his record-setting 21st class win - it's a triumph for the truck and drivers to have finished the race at all. Congratulations to all involved

[Source: SCORE]

The Baja 1000 - and Hummer vs. Toyota - has been decided originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 4runner2010 toyota 4runner20104runner2010Toyota4runner4runnerbaja 1000baja 1000 4runnerBaja1000Baja10004runnerhummer h3HummerH3Ivan StewartIvanStewartRod Hallrod hall racingRodHallRodHallRacingToyota 4RunnerToyota4runnerTue, 24 Nov 2009 08:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19251335/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/11/24/the-baja-1000-and-hummer-vs-toyota-has-been-decided/19251335/article-detail.xml 19251335 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/baja1000_09_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/baja1000_09.jpg <![CDATA[Trial By Fire: Toyota to run nearly stock 2010 4Runner in SCORE Baja 1000]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/10/trial-by-fire-toyota-to-run-nearly-stock-2010-4runner-in-score/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/10/trial-by-fire-toyota-to-run-nearly-stock-2010-4runner-in-score/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/10/trial-by-fire-toyota-to-run-nearly-stock-2010-4runner-in-score/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2010 4Runner for the Baja 1000 -- Click above for high-res image

Toyota is taking a nearly stock 2010 4Runner to the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 in about ten days, and the immortal Ivan "Ironman" Stewart will be piloting. Toyota hasn't said what changes to the production truck will be made, but the class rules dictate that runners stay pretty close to factory specs, while allowing more serious mods to the suspension and whatever is needed inside for a safety cage.

In addition to the loss of the rear gate and the swapped-out wheels, we imagine a thorough shock overhaul and a minor engine tune. We'll look for more in-depth info on the car as the race gets closer, but for now we'd like to let Toyota know that they need to add this package -- minus the cage and spare -- to the 4Runner's showroom offerings. You can read about the truck in the presser after the jump, and click above for a high-res image or check out the stock '10 4Runner in our gallery below.


Gallery: 2010 Toyota 4Runner Limited


[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Trial By Fire: Toyota to run nearly stock 2010 4Runner in SCORE Baja 1000

Trial By Fire: Toyota to run nearly stock 2010 4Runner in SCORE Baja 1000 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Toyota 4Runner - Click above for high-res image gallery

Looks like Anaheim was the next stop on the wagontrain from the Texas State Fair this year, at least for a couple of 2010 trucks we had been waiting to see in person. At the 2009 OC Auto Show in Anaheim, we saw not just the 2011 Ford F-350 Super Duty pickup, but also the 2010 Toyota 4Runner. This wider and longer 4Runner offers a third row of seats inside and an optional 2.7-liter 4-cylinder underhood. Of course, you can always stick with the 4.0-liter V6, which pumps out a healthy 270 hp. We're not sure how many true SUV buyers are left given current economic condition and ongoing environmental debate, but the few who are out should probably keep this new 4Runner or their short list.


Gallery: OC 2009: 2010 Toyota 4Runner


Photos copyright (C)2009 Frank Filipponio/Weblogs, Inc.

OC 2009: 2010 Toyota 4Runner makes auto show debut in Anaheim originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Episode #147 of the Autoblog Podcast is ready for your consumption. Chris calls in to Sam and Dan, and the trio bites into a few timely topics. BMW's move to put its turbo 4.4 liter V8 into the M5 is our first subject of conversation, before moving on to more powertrain news with the rumors that the 2011 Hyundai Sonata will be a four-cylinder-only affair. Audi's fuel mileage achievement with its A3 TDI is up next, before we go all power crazy and touch on Rhys Millen's mid-engined Genesis Coupe. Wrapping it up, we head to truckville, thinking about what it would mean for Chrysler to make Ram its own nameplate, ponder the new Toyota 4Runner, and finally chat about the new Ford SuperDuty before moving on to some of your excellent questions.

Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback with our survey and in iTunes, as always, drop us a line at Podcast at Autoblog dot com. See you again next week, and if you start to miss your Weblogs Inc. podcasts, there's our friends at Engadget and Joystiq to help get you through the pain.

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #147

Autoblog Podcast #147 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 toyota 4runner2010Toyota4runner2011 hyundai sonata2011 hyundai sonata hybrid2011HyundaiSonata2011HyundaiSonataHybrid4 runner4runneraudi a3audi a3 efficiencyaudi a3 tdiAudiA3AudiA3EfficiencyAudiA3Tdiautoblogautoblog podcastAutoblogPodcastbmw m5bmw v8 engineBmwM5BmwV8Enginechrysler dodge ramchrysler ramChryslerDodgeRamChryslerRamdodge ramDodgeRamfalsefeaturedford super dutyford super duty pick...ford super duty pickupsford super-dutyford superdutyford superduty 2011FordSuper-dutyFordSuperDutyFordSuperduty2011FordSuperDutyPick...FordSuperDutyPickupshyundai sonataHyundaiSonatam5 turbom5 turbo v8M5TurboM5TurboV8podcastpodcast 147Podcast147ramram brandRamBrandrhys millenrhys millen genesis couperhys millen racingRhysMillenRhysMillenGenesisCoupeRhysMillenRacingsuper dutysuper duty dieselsuper duty fordsuper duty pickupSuperDutySuperDutyDieselSuperDutyFordSuperDutyPickuptoyota 4 runnertoyota 4runnerToyota4runnerWeblogs IncWeblogsIncTue, 29 Sep 2009 16:15:00 ESTAutoblog Podcast #147Autoblog01:34:00autoblog podcast, podcast, autoblog podcast 147, ford, ford superduty, super duty, bmw, bmw turbo, bmw m5, m5, hyundai sonata, sonata, 2011 sonata, audi, audi a3, rhys millen, genesis coupe, ram, dodge ram, toyota, toyota 4runner http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19178168/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/09/29/autoblog-podcast-147/19178168/article-detail.xml 19178168 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/autoblog-podcast_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/autoblog-podcast.jpg <![CDATA[2010 Toyota 4Runner debuts with four-cylinder, Trail grade model]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/24/2010-toyota-4runner-debuts-with-four-cylinder-trail-grade-model/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/24/2010-toyota-4runner-debuts-with-four-cylinder-trail-grade-model/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/24/2010-toyota-4runner-debuts-with-four-cylinder-trail-grade-model/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2010 Toyota 4Runner Limited -- Click above for high-res image gallery

Turns out the Texas State Fair has more to offer us today besides the 2011 Ford Super Duty. Toyota has also chosen the state shindig to debut its all-new 2010 4Runner SUV. Besides the all-new exterior and interior, the big news is the addition of a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine and a new Trail grade model for hard core off-roaders. Of course, we'd be remiss not to also mention the sound system's new Party Mode that raises bass and transfers equalization to the rear of the vehicle where hatch-mounted speakers await to please the tailgating crowd.

Both wider and longer than the previous 4Runner, the new model offers an optional third-row seat and is available in three trims: the top-of-the-line Limited, SR5 and new Trail grade. Buyers can choose between rear-wheel-drive 4x2, part-time 4x4 and a full-time 4x4 system with a locking center differential. All 4x4 models get a 4.0-liter V6 producing 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque and achieving 17 city/22 highway mpg. V6-powered models with 4x2 do slightly better with 17 city/23 highway. The new 2.7-liter four-cylinder is only available on the 4x2 SR5 model and produces 157 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque while returning 18 city/23 highway mpg. Considering the marginal difference in fuel economy, we recommend the V6 and question why Toyota is even offering a four-cylinder option besides a lower starting price.

Toyota describes the 4Runner SUV as more rugged than the Highlander CUV and more versatile than the two-door FJ Cruiser. The question remains how large a market still exists for four-door, mid-size SUVs. The Ford Explorer, which defined the segment in the '90s, will be switching to a unibody platform soon and become more CUV-like. Nevertheless, Toyota still believes there's demand for a rugged, go-anywhere SUV in today's penny-pinching, gas price-fearing market.

Check out pics of the Limited model below and make the jump to see galleries of the SR5 and Trail models, a video of the new 4Runner in action and Toyota's official press release.


Gallery: 2010 Toyota 4Runner Limited



[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading 2010 Toyota 4Runner debuts with four-cylinder, Trail grade model

2010 Toyota 4Runner debuts with four-cylinder, Trail grade model originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 Toyota 4Runner2010Toyota4runner4runnertoyotatoyota 4runnerToyota4runnerThu, 24 Sep 2009 13:53:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19172942/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/09/24/2010-toyota-4runner-debuts-with-four-cylinder-trail-grade-model/19172942/article-detail.xml 19172942 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/01-2010-4runner-limited-620op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/01-2010-4runner-limited-620op.jpg <![CDATA[More next-gen Toyota 4Runner shots hit the interwebs]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/10/more-next-gen-toyota-4runner-shots-hit-the-interwebs/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/10/more-next-gen-toyota-4runner-shots-hit-the-interwebs/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/10/more-next-gen-toyota-4runner-shots-hit-the-interwebs/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2010 Toyota 4Runner - Click above for high-res image gallery

Those anxiously awaiting the scheduled September 24 reveal of the 2010 Toyota 4Runner are going to want to take a good look at the gallery below, which contains a few more high-resolution images of the Japanese automaker's body-on-frame SUV.

As we noted the last time we saw spy shots, the next 4Runner will push forward with a boxy, square-jawed look that reinforces this SUV as the rugged, off-road capable midsizer in Toyota's lineup, leaving the unibody Highlander and Venza to take on the rest of the burgeoning CUV crowd.

When the 2010 4Runner hits the market, it will be equipped with the buyers choice of either a 161-horsepower four-cylinder or a 268-horsepower six. The current V8 engine option will no longer be available, but Toyota promises its 'ute will be more luxurious and capable than ever before. We'll find out exactly what that means in exactly two weeks. Stay tuned!


Gallery: 2010 Toyota 4Runner

2010-toyota-4runner-large_12010-toyota-4runner-large_92010-toyota-4runner-large_42010-toyota-4runner-large_22010-toyota-4runner-large_3

[Source: Toyota-4Runner.org via The Car Lounge]

More next-gen Toyota 4Runner shots hit the interwebs originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 toyota 4runner2010Toyota4runner4-runner4runnerfour runnerFourRunnertoyotatoyota 4runnertoyota SUVToyota4runnerToyotaSuvThu, 10 Sep 2009 14:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19157041/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/09/10/more-next-gen-toyota-4runner-shots-hit-the-interwebs/19157041/article-detail.xml 19157041 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/2010-toyota-4runner_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/2010-toyota-4runner.jpg <![CDATA[Autoblog Podcast #143 - with automotive legend Denise McCluggage]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/02/autoblog-podcast-143-with-denise-mccluggage/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/02/autoblog-podcast-143-with-denise-mccluggage/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/02/autoblog-podcast-143-with-denise-mccluggage/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,


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Racer, skydiver, magazine editor, and Automotive Hall of Fame inductee but a smattering of accomplishments that Denise McCluggage has racked up during her tenure as one of the car-craziest people on the planet. For Episode #143 of the Autoblog Podcast, Denise takes time to join Chris, Sam and Dan to talk about current automotive news and answer some of your questions. We start off what turns out to be a record-length podcast with the news of a lawsuit against Toyota by one of its former lawyers, and move on to talk about the Hyundai Sonata Photochop that turned up in a dealer's ad showing a close approximation of the 2011 car. We wrap up by waving the diesel flag and talking about Ford's new Scorpion engine before taking a couple of questions and calling it a night just shy of the two-hour mark.

Hit us up at Podcast at Autoblog dot com with questions, comments and feedback, check out the survey we've been relentlessly asking you to fill out, and thanks for the new reviews in iTunes - we even went popular! In the meantime, you can get your Weblogs podcast fix from our friends at Engadget and Joystiq. Thanks for listening, see you next week!

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #143 - with automotive legend Denise McCluggage

Autoblog Podcast #143 - with automotive legend Denise McCluggage originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 hyundai sonata2011 sonata2011HyundaiSonata2011Sonata4runner lawsuit4runnerLawsuitautoblog podcastautoblog podcast 143AutoblogPodcastAutoblogPodcast143denise mccluggageDeniseMccluggagefalsefeaturedford scorpionford scorpion diesel v8FordScorpionFordScorpionDieselV8hyundai sonataHyundaiSonatapodcastpodcast 143Podcast143scorpion diesel v8ScorpionDieselV8sonata photoshopSonataPhotoshoptoyota 4runnertoyota lawsuitToyota4runnerToyotaLawsuitWed, 02 Sep 2009 11:20:00 ESTAutoblog Podcast #143Autoblog1:47autoblog podcast, podcast 143, denise mccluggage, hyundai sonata photochop, 2011 sonata, toyota lawsuit, 4runner lawsuit, scorpion v8, scorpion diesel, ford scorpion http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19146790/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/09/02/autoblog-podcast-143-with-denise-mccluggage/19146790/article-detail.xml 19146790 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/autoblog-podcast_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/autoblog-podcast.jpg <![CDATA[Spy Shots: Toyota 4Runner snagged ahead of Texas debut]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/30/spy-shots-toyota-4runner-snagged-ahead-of-texas-debut/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/30/spy-shots-toyota-4runner-snagged-ahead-of-texas-debut/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/30/spy-shots-toyota-4runner-snagged-ahead-of-texas-debut/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Thanks to one particularly sleuthy Autoblog reader, we now have a ton of useful information about the upcoming 2010 Toyota 4Runner, including the fact that its powertrain options will consist of a 161-horsepower four-cylinder and a 268-horsepower six. The new body-on-frame SUV is slated for debut at the State Fair of Texas later in the month, but the boys at Car and Driver managed to obtain a set of spy photos that shows the truck both inside and out.

We can clearly see that Toyota will be endowing the 2010 4Runner with an upright, squared-off look, reinforcing the vehicle's position as one of the brand's off-road capable offerings. Those looking for a more sedate ride and swoopier appearance can choose from Toyota's car-based Highlander or Venza crossovers, but the 4Runner figures to be in the thick of the off-road capable hunt, along with the Land Cruiser and FJ Cruiser. Expect the next-gen 4Runner to go about its business with a number of new features that add to both its off-the-road credibility and the luxuriousness of its interior, the latter of which has fallen well behind the curve ahead of the new model's arrival. Full details will be released on September 24, so stay tuned.

[Source: Car and Driver]

Spy Shots: Toyota 4Runner snagged ahead of Texas debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 30 Aug 2009 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 toyota 4 spy shot2010 toyota 4runner2010Toyota4runner2010Toyota4SpyShot4runner4runner spy shot4runner spy shots4runnerSpyShot4runnerSpyShotsspy shotSpyShottoyotatoyota 4runnerToyota4runnerSun, 30 Aug 2009 15:03:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19144712/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/08/30/spy-shots-toyota-4runner-snagged-ahead-of-texas-debut/19144712/article-detail.xml 19144712 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/image_cd_gallery_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/image_cd_gallery_opt.jpg <![CDATA[Toyota teases 4Runner in advance of debut deep in the heart of Texas]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/27/toyota-teases-4runner-in-advance-of-debut-deep-in-the-heart-of-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/27/toyota-teases-4runner-in-advance-of-debut-deep-in-the-heart-of-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/27/toyota-teases-4runner-in-advance-of-debut-deep-in-the-heart-of-t/#commentsFiled under: ,


2010 Toyota 4Runner teaser - Click above to expand and enlarge

Toyota is using the occasion of the annual State Fair of Texas - an event automakers commonly use to unveil new pickup trucks (as Toyota itself did with the Tundra back in 2006) - to launch its latest 4Runner SUV for the 2010 model year.

While Toyota isn't yet ready to unleash all the details on its newest body-on-frame 4Runner - which is scheduled for its official unveiling in late September - the Japanese automaker has decided it is high time to tease America's remaining SUV fans with a lone image showing a new 2010 4Runner perched atop a rock with what appears to be an appropriately beefy and heavily-protected undercarriage.

Toyota promises that the fifth-generation 2010 4Runner will be "more rugged than ever" and will offer "sure-footed off-road capability and increased comfort with added roominess." Mini press release after the break.

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota teases 4Runner in advance of debut deep in the heart of Texas

Toyota teases 4Runner in advance of debut deep in the heart of Texas originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 4runner2010 toyota 4runner2010 toyota 4runner teaser20104runner2010Toyota4runner2010Toyota4runnerTeaserstate fair of texasStateFairOfTexastexas state fairTexasStateFairtoyota 4runnerToyota4runnerThu, 27 Aug 2009 14:40:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19142884/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/08/27/toyota-teases-4runner-in-advance-of-debut-deep-in-the-heart-of-t/19142884/article-detail.xml 19142884 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/2010_toyota_4runner3-crop_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/2010_toyota_4runner3-crop.jpg <![CDATA[Rumormill: New Lexus GX foretold for Fall]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/19/rumormill-new-lexus-gx-foretold-for-fall/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/19/rumormill-new-lexus-gx-foretold-for-fall/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/19/rumormill-new-lexus-gx-foretold-for-fall/#commentsFiled under: , ,



According to Ward's Auto, Lexus' GX SUV will finally be relieved of duty when a new model comes calling this autumn. The mid-size body-on-frame GX has been serving essentially unaltered since 2003, and dealerships have been struggling to sell them in recent years, with April deliveries down some 66.1% year-over-year.

According to Ward's sources, the GX will receive the 310-horsepower 4.6-liter V8 from the 2010 Tundra, giving it a useful boost over the larger 263-hp 4.7-liter in the current model. The model will also benefit from a new interior (including a next-gen navigation system) and reworked sheetmetal and fascias, including a different rear door assembly.

The news would appear to make sense, as a successor to Toyota's 4Runner has been confirmed by officials, and that model's chassis underpins the GX (not the Land Cruiser as claimed in the Ward's article).

[Source: Ward's Auto]

Rumormill: New Lexus GX foretold for Fall originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 May 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>body-on-frameGXGX 470GX-470Gx470Lexuslexus SUVLexusSuvSUVtoyotaToyota 4runnerToyota4runnerTue, 19 May 2009 10:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1549932/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/05/19/rumormill-new-lexus-gx-foretold-for-fall/1549932/article-detail.xml 1549932 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/05/2008_09_2009_gx470_580_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/05/2008_09_2009_gx470_580.jpg <![CDATA[Attended: Bridgestone Winter Driving School]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/17/attended-bridgestone-winter-driving-school/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/17/attended-bridgestone-winter-driving-school/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/17/attended-bridgestone-winter-driving-school/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The 2-ton SUV is sliding completely off its intended course. The steering wheel is at full opposite lock, yet uncontrolled oversteer flips the rear end of the Toyota 4Runner around like a cat with its tail on fire. In one last-ditch attempt to halt the pendulum process, I stab the throttle. All four tires desperately claw at the frozen surface, but it is too late to really help. The grip the four small contact patches manage to find simply drives me directly into the thick snow bank on the side of the road. The truck immediately comes to a stop and I sit there stupefied shaking my head with embarrassment. Over the radio, my instructor tells me to back up and try it all over again. No harm done, as the "crash" is all part of the learning process at the Bridgestone Winter Driving School. Follow the jump to read all about our full-day experience in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

Gallery: Bridgestone Winter Driving School


All photos Copyright (C)2009 Jackie Owen Photography / Michael C. Harley, Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Attended: Bridgestone Winter Driving School

Attended: Bridgestone Winter Driving School originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzakBridgestone BlizzakBridgestone Winter Driving SchoolBridgestoneBlizzakBridgestoneWinterDrivingSchoolColoradoIceOversteerSkidSnowSnow and IceSnow TireSnowAndIceSnowTireSteamboat SpringsSteamboatSpringsStudded TieStuddedTieToyota 4RunnerToyota CamryToyota4runnerToyotaCamryUndersteerWinter DrivingWinterDrivingSat, 17 Jan 2009 13:25:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1431234/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/01/17/attended-bridgestone-winter-driving-school/1431234/article-detail.xml 1431234 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/winter_580__03_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/winter_580__03.jpg <![CDATA[Catalytic Converters: Thieves target the pod of precious metal]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/catalytic-converters-thieves-target-the-pod-of-precious-metal/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/catalytic-converters-thieves-target-the-pod-of-precious-metal/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/catalytic-converters-thieves-target-the-pod-of-precious-metal/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Bulging in the exhaust system like a rabbit deep in the belly of a boa, the catalytic converter cleans engine fumes before they are released into the air. To the inexperienced, the oversized metal cylinder looks rather uninteresting. To a thief, it is a pod of precious metal worth nearly $200 on the black market.

Catalytic converters are loaded with small amounts of precious metals including platinum, palladium and rhodium. When combined with hot exhaust gasses, a chemical reaction detoxifies the pollutants (this all happens without any trip to a Malibu clinic). All the average Joe really needs to know is that every car and truck is supposed to have one.

This low-lying fruit for the criminals hangs within easy reach under many sport-utility vehicles. Sitting taller than your average passenger car, their cats are easy to steal, and often don't even require the vehicle to be lifted for access. According to police, the Toyota 4Runner and Kia Sportage are the running favorites.

Unless it is your normal dwelling, there is no need to sleep underneath your vehicle with a shotgun; innovative consumers have found that spot-welding the catalytic converter to the rest of the exhaust system has proven to be an effective deterrent.

[Source: MSNBC via Winding Road]

Catalytic Converters: Thieves target the pod of precious metal originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Feb 2008 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>catalytic converterCatalyticConverterKia SportageKiaSportagestolenthiefToyota 4RunnerToyota4runnerweldSat, 16 Feb 2008 09:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1116504/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/02/16/catalytic-converters-thieves-target-the-pod-of-precious-metal/1116504/article-detail.xml 1116504 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/02/converter_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/02/converter_opt.jpg <![CDATA[Chicago 2008: Toyota 4Runner Urban Runner not really for Urbania]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/06/chicago-2008-toyota-4runner-urban-runner-not-really-for-urbania/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/06/chicago-2008-toyota-4runner-urban-runner-not-really-for-urbania/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/06/chicago-2008-toyota-4runner-urban-runner-not-really-for-urbania/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above to view high-res gallery of the Toyota 4Runner Urban Runner

The word "urban" seems to be taking on more meanings every day. In its latest use, Toyota has applied it to a truck kitted out for something more like the Amazon rather than "urban" civilization. Starting with a Sport Edition 4Runner, the Urban Edition gets a new audio system, a Tom Tom GPS system, Alcantara seats, and some nicely finished side steps and roof rails in black. If you have some dosh left over, you can add the Urban Edition value pack that throws in a double-decker cargo system and net, a moonroof, HomeLink, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Underneath, the SUV rides on an X-REAS sport enhancement suspension that's meant to improve on-road handling and performance, hence the "Urban Runner" moniker, though all of Toyota's official images show the SUV trudging through the snow. Check out the press release after the jump, and the gallery of hi-res images below.

Gallery: 2008 Toyota 4Runner with Urban Runner package

Continue reading Chicago 2008: Toyota 4Runner Urban Runner not really for Urbania

Chicago 2008: Toyota 4Runner Urban Runner not really for Urbania originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4 runner4 runner sport edition4 runner urban edition4 runner urban runner4Runner4RunnerSportEdition4RunnerUrbanEdition4RunnerUrbanRunnerchicagochicago 2008chicago auto showChicago2008ChicagoAutoShowtoyotatoyota 4 runnerToyota4RunnerWed, 06 Feb 2008 18:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1108614/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/02/06/chicago-2008-toyota-4runner-urban-runner-not-really-for-urbania/1108614/article-detail.xml 1108614 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/02/00004runner_chi_1280_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/02/00004runner_chi_1280_opt.jpg -1 2