What is stopping Toyota from

Toyota sold about 2500 of the hydrogen fueled Mirais this year.
https://carsalesbase.com/us-toyota-mirai/

 

I would really like Toyota's 5.7L in a 4runner with all of the nanny lane assist/braking nonsense and emission stuff ripped out, maybe put a supercharger on top.
Make it a standard option upgrade from the pathetic 4cyl turbos that are being forced due to CAFE in alot of vehicles.
It's been done.
https://trail4runner.com/2021/09/05/rsg-off-road-t40r-v8-sas-straight-axle-swap-5th-gen/

 

I found this real quick. I remember reading a bunch about yota wanting to go hydro over electric

https://www.reuters.com/business/au...tric-toyota-chases-hydrogen-dream-2021-11-15/

 

I hope they stick to it! Hydrogen seems more appealing to me.

 

You're going to have to do that yourself.

Aside from novelty vehicles like the Lexus IS-F, LC500, RC-F, etc, we probably won't see a V8 in another Toyota vehicle ever again. Unless it's a hydrogen engine.

The turbo 4 that will likely be in the next 4Runner makes more power than our 4.0. It also makes peak torque at 1700 RPM's compared to the 4.0 making peak torque at 4400. Couple that with a transmission with more gears, and it will most likely be more enjoyable to drive, and more fuel efficient.

I don't like everything about this CAFE stuff. I don't really like the idea of using extra thin oil to get an extra .001 MPG. Or cylinder deactivation, or auto start/stop.

But, a more powerful engine, AND better fuel economy? Sign me up!

 

It’s a good thing to have several options for vehicles available to give consumers choices for what suits them best. Then there’s the need for lower carbon emitting vehicles, less reliance on foreign oil etc. But the Reuters article points out another motivation for Toyota pushing hydrogen cars, their desire to minimize any disruption to their own auto industry:
“In Japan, where mass layoffs are politically difficult, hydrogen's allure is that it would cause less disruption than a full switch to EVs. The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association estimates the automotive industry employs 5.5 million people.”

In the ultra progressive SF Bay Area, population 7+million, there are currently 10 hydrogen stations online. Most have only one pump.
https://cafcp.org/stationmap

Not much of a demand yet.

 

No not much of a demand yet, nor do I think there will be. Toyota was banking on this but I believe now shifting more focus to the EV realm, as I think they also now realize it’s a pipe dream.

 

Would love to get government out of the car business. Give people real choices again. Something is wrong when $12,500 is an incentive to buy a EV. I want a V8! I want something that howls like a banshee in heat getting a tooth pulled!
Cars used to be fun, not socially responsible. Heck, bring back leaded gas!

 

I agree it’s not a vehicles job to be socially responsible, it is the humans job to be socially and environmentally responsible.

 

SO I can help with this topic. It's an EPA thing to improve paper numbers, but rarely affects much in real life.

If the temp is too cold (50F or lower), AS doesn't work because heater is on.
If temp too high (90F or higher), AS doesn't work because AC is on.
If you plug in a trailer, AS is disabled.

You need a special AGM battery and a heavier duty starter, not a big deal.

Here's where it sucks, my wife's vehicle has AS and even tracks the fuel saved vs time spent "off". So when you're at a traffic light and AS stops the engine, the counter starts and it estimates fuel savings. Pretty interesting feature until you see the numbers. I'll go get a photo later but the computer say it's saved 0.027 gallons for 59 MINUTES of being off. To save a whole gallon might take 10 - 12 hours.

 

my brother's XC90 has this feature, and they hate it. particularly when sitting at a red light in the middle of a Virginia summer with the AC cranking. i showed him how to disable it, but you have to do it every time you start the vehicle. he got sick of doing that and now they just suffer with it. its certainly not the smoothest feature in the volvo.

 

So many people complained in the Subaru we have that they updated the home screen to include a disable button right on the main screen.

 

So you are aware of the Toyota Plan that is already in place to require a subcription to use YOUR Key FOB right? and if you do not pay it? oh the car will still start and run you just will not have the ability to use the features on the Key Fob. The Ability for Toyota to do this has been in Place since 2018.

 

Go buy a Jeep with a Hemi.

There are plenty of fun cars on the market. Shop around a little.

People all over the place, including people on this forum, consistently prove that they would not choose to be environmentally responsible if the government did not regulate it.

 

I agree, far too many look for the government to create laws for them to do the “correct” thing.

 

Our highlander has a physical button to disable it. Even toyota knows it sucks so they gave you a switch lol

also, I drive the highlander on with the gear selector in S mode. ASS is disabled in that mode, which is nice

 

I’ve seen the Mirai a few times in the bay area, which is probably the only place in the US where you can refuel the damn thing.

 

I can think of sooo many things that the government can regulate and that slope is slippery...like ice. Of course no one has the stones to tell India or China to stop those coal fired electrical plants ect.

Anyway, my wrangler gave me 197,000 miles when the wheels fell off. The Grand Cherokee had soccer mom 4wd but fast. The 4Runner is it, but underpowered for the amount of weight we throw on it, in it. 4Runners could use about another stock 100hp IMO, without a supercharger. At some point we might see twin turbo 4cyls...shudder.

 

I’ve never noticed any on the road myself but there are reportedly over 3,000 hydrogen vehicles in the Bay Area. Apparently fueling can be a challenge, especially when the main station supplier has a plant explosion like in 2019.
https://abc7news.com/hydrogen-explosion-chemicals-chemical-plant/5328775/

 

There’s one not that far from here in San Ramon, that’s probably why I see them around.

 

Lol. Obviously you've never driven an actual slow vehicle. Look at 0-60 and 1/4 mile times. The 4Runner is comparable to most of it's competition, and better than some.

The current 4.0 actually accelerates better than the previous V8 4Runner, which I doubt anyone would consider underpowered. Give it some gas. It won't break.

If there's an issue with the current drivetrain, it's gearing. It's geared for fuel economy, and only has a 5 speed transmission. Aside from that, the throttle is programmed so that you need to really mash the pedal to get it to move.

But, even on 33.5" mud tires, and loaded with a few hundred extra pounds and a roof rack, I never have trouble getting up to speed.

 

2020 Highlander Hybrid LE had it too !
Im not sure I liked it , but got up 38 mpg hwy

 

Pretty sure I've driven slow vehicles and who wouldn't want another 100Hp stock? It's about choices and options not dictated by the gov. The market and consumers should decide not some bureaucratic twits in Washington. I bet a 4Runner with 375-450Hp would sell pretty good.

 

The market does decide these things. Toyota could make the 4Runner faster if they wanted. But, they know that almost nobody is going to pay an extra $10K or more just to have a fast 4Runner.

Also, if you want a V8, you can always get a GX.

Probably not at the price Toyota would charge.

 

they seem to be selling pretty well now, and remember, yota has the if it's not broke don't fix it attitude.

 

Jeep has no problems getting people to pay 80-90k for a 392 Wrangler.

 

Not in nearly the numbers that people buy 4Runners.

Toyota never does anything just for novelty. A V8 4Runner is never happening again.

Would you 100% buy a V8 4Runner if they made it?

 

If it was less than 75k and had a real powerful engine I would.

 

So, that's you and probably like 7 other people.

What if it was $90K and had the 5.0?

 

I’d either get the Jeep or the new LX600.