New Toyota family SUV teased

Toyota has teased the rear-end design of a new large SUV and all but confirmed that it’s the next-generation 2023 Toyota Sequoia that will share plenty with the incoming new Toyota Prado.

To rival the Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Expedition in the US, the Indiana-built three-row 4x4 wagon will be based on the new TNGA-F architecture that underpins the latest Toyota Tundra pick-up truck, the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series – and the next ‘Son of LandCruiser’ Prado.

As such, it is almost certain to be powered by similar tow-friendly engines – namely the power-packed 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 that produces at least 290kW/650Nm in the Tundra.

If the new Toyota Sequoia gets all the powertrains available to the Tundra, that would mean a thunderous V6 turbo-petrol hybrid will be on the cards too, cranking out a stump-pulling 325kW/790Nm.

Toyota is keeping tight-lipped for now on the incoming model, with its first darkened teaser showing the LED brake light design and rear-quarter panels and glass.

The company declared: “The Next Big Thing from Toyota is on the Horizon”.

“Something big is coming to the Toyota SUV line-up. A clear picture will come into view soon. Stay tuned,” the company said.

We’ve dug a little deeper with the resolution of the image and found that Toyota has also left a ‘hidden’ message that all but confirms what we’re looking at here is the next-gen Sequoia, which is a name based on the California redwood tree.

The message reads: “All-new debut: The forest, and its trees, almost in view.”

Whereas the Aussie-spec Prado will be built in Japan, and may carry different design cues, the new Sequoia will be produced alongside the Tundra at Toyota’s Indiana factory, which is undergoing a significant billion-dollar upgrade ($US803 million) to deliver two new-generation SUVs.

The second will be version for Lexus, which Toyota last year confirmed would be built alongside both the Toyota SUV (Sequoia) and Tundra at the Indiana plant.

The car-maker said at the time that the new luxury SUV will be pitched at “active Gen-Y American family” buyers and will feature a number of high-tech features.

These include “hands-free driving in certain conditions” and a remote parking system that will allow “the driver to park and unpark from outside the vehicle using a smartphone”, says Toyota.

Given the new Lexus LX upper-large SUV is also built in Japan, the new US-built large SUV could be the next-generation 2023 Lexus GX – essentially a Toyota Prado wearing a tailored suit.