Rewinding to the final week of August 2009, we recall when "The Final Destination" ruled the cinemas, "American Idol" dominated television, the Black Eyed Peas topped the charts with "I Gotta Feeling," and fuel was priced at $2.43 per gallon (equivalent to $3.49 today according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). During this period, the fifth-generation Toyota 4Runner began production in Japan. As James Riswick hinted, this model will have reached legal driving age by the time it is phased out. Now, Toyota is sparking excitement with teasers of the upcoming model.

A recent Instagram post from Toyota challenged followers to pinpoint the model year of a 4Runner, culminating in a teaser of the rear end sporting a new design, reminiscent of the Land Cruiser's Heritage Blue. Noticeable updates include sleeker taillights, a refined tailgate design, and a boxier bumper adorned with red reflectors and metallic accents. The 4Runner badge has been repositioned above the bumper, with the "R" now aligned in size with the other letters. Despite these changes, the classic 4Runner silhouette remains.

Speculation abounds regarding the new 4Runner’s features, with discussions on the 4runner6g forum suggesting a design evolution akin to the latest Tacoma, and a variety of four-cylinder engines mirroring Tacoma's power range, potentially including a manual transmission option. Anticipated enhancements include a front sway bar disconnect, locking differentials, factory 32-inch tires, a TrailHunter variant, and IsoDynamic seats borrowed from the Tacoma. A prototype seen in Arizona sported Tacoma wheels and shared the new Tacoma's windshield angle. Production is anticipated to commence in July.

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