A quarter-century after launching the first Prius, Toyota Tuesday introduced its 19th hybrid, the 2025 4Runner. The automaker’s “portfolio approach,” offering a mix of hybrids, PHEVs, EVs and fuel-cell vehicles has become controversial — but may be vindicated by slowing growth in the EV market. In this Q&A, Toyota’s U.S. brand boss David Christ talks about why giving customers a choice makes sense — while also laying out plans for even more electrified models in the near future.
The 2025 Toyota 4Runner made its official debut Tuesday night and those looking for a rugged, midsize SUV will find plenty of reasons to give it a close look. The body-on-frame utility vehicle gets a ground-up makeover that provides more choices than ever, including an optional new hybrid powertrain, the new Trailhunter and Platinum packages, an array of new tech features and over 200 dealer-installable accessories.
Tesla pulled the plug on a program aimed at developing a $25,000 EV, even as Chinese automakers led by BYD double down on bringing to market all-electric vehicles affordable often to reach mainstream buyers. According to Reuters, Tesla CEO Elon Musk now wants to focus on self-driving robocabs.
The 2025 Toyota 4Runner is slated to bring a major revamp to long-running nameplate but fans will be pleased to see that Toyota has kept the power-operated rear window for the new model year.
Tesla’s first quarter deliveries declined for the first time in nearly four years, falling short of Wall Street estimates. The declines came despite EV sales rising for competing automakers during the same period. Find out more at Headlight.News.
After an uncertain start, U.S. auto sales showed solid momentum in March, with big gains by Japan’s big three and record numbers from Hyundai – which was charged up by EV demand. But Tesla posted a rare sales slid and GM lost ground during the first quarter. Meanwhile, high transaction prices continue to keep many buyers out of the market.
Toyota plans to make some big news in a couple weeks and it’s giving a big hint at what’s on the docket with the first tease of the next-generation 4Runner. If these images offer any indication, the new 4Runner will get an evolutionary design makeover, but it’s also likely to get more significant updates when it comes to capabilities and technologies.
The latest round of rumors suggests the next-generation FJ Cruiser will use a small truck platform. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Kia has an all-new compact sedan coming and it will make it’s debut at the New York International Auto Show next week. There are some big changes coming – and they start with the badge, the Kia K4 replacing the old Forte nameplate.
The Dutch-based energy giant Shell plans to eliminate 1,000 gas stations by the end of 2025 as it begins to put more emphasis on its EV charging operations, the company said in a new report. It already operates 3,700 charging stations in the U.S. and will not only add more facilities but expand the size of existing ones.
The Biden administration is expected to roll back new rules governing vehicle emission and mileage standards, a move that should prove particularly helpful for Detroit automakers who are heavily dependent upon large, fuel-hungry models like the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Suburban. But the changes likely also will benefit some Japanese manufacturers, including Toyota and Honda, that have been reluctant to invest heavily on EV technology.
Looking for an environmentally friendly vehicle? You have more options than ever before. That includes a flood of new battery-electric vehicles, as you might expect, but if you’re still reluctant to go with an EV you still have plenty to choose from. In fact, the top-ranked model in the 2024 GreenerCars list is a plug-in hybrid, and even some products running solely on gasoline do well in the annual study. Better yet, there are plenty of affordable options. But there also are some surprises, as Headlight.News reports.