Toyota readies for a big reveal, as the beloved 4Runner gets its first true redesign in 15 years. Meanwhile, the EPA hands down strict new emissions rules for heavy-duty vehicles, just as automakers pull back on their electric vehicle projects – including Tesla. The automaker is reportedly pulling the plug on its long-promised, low-cost family EV in favor of developing self-driving taxis.
The Engine Block has details on these stories as well as updates on Fisker’s bankruptcy woes, the bridge cleanup efforts in Baltimore, and NHTSA’s most recent crash fatality data.
Toyota 4Runner Teased, Reveal Set for April 9
No one loves a teaser campaign quite like Toyota, and the automaker is hard at work drumming up excitement for the new 2025 4Runner. The full reveal is only a day away, but for those who can’t wait another 24 hours after waiting 15 long years, check out the sneak peeks below.
On March 28, Toyota released this single photo on its Instagram account, as part of a carousel of photos celebrating the storied history of the 4Runner. The teaser image shows the rear bumper and tailgate of a new 4Runner, complete with a throwback squared-off design and chrome badging.
Rumors suggest the front-end styling will be similar to the new Tacoma, with power output and performance specs along the mid-size truck’s same lines as well.
On April 4, Toyota gave a better view of the new 4Runner’s rear end, showing off new taillights and confirming the model will retain its power rear window. Peering through that open window reveals a sleek dash with massive touchscreen very similar to the Tacoma’s current layout.
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The new Toyota 4Runner will also see a fresh Trailhunter trim. The automaker teased the model on its social media, with the badging set against a sleek muted-shade of forest green paint. On the 2024 Tacoma, the Trailhunter trim comes “adventure-ready” with standard integrated overlanding equipment like an Old Man Emu suspension, ARB steel rear bumper, steel underbody protection with frame-mounted rock rails, and 33-inch RT tires wrapped around 18-inch wheels.
EPA Comes Down Hard on Heavy-Duty Vehicles
On March 29, the EPA finalized new emissions rules for heavy-duty trucks, buses, and other large vehicles. The standards, which take effect for vehicle model years 2027 through 2032, represent the strictest limits ever set by the agency, drawing equal amounts support and criticism.
Environmentalists applaud the new rules, which will “avoid up to 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions over the next three decades,” according to the EPA. Cleaner air will not only benefit the environment, but also human health. The agency says the reduction in smog will provide an estimated $13 billion in net benefits in the form of fewer hospital visits, lost work days, and deaths.
Trucking organizations, fleet owners, and vehicle manufacturers contest the new standards. They argue that compliance unfairly favors expensive electric vehicle technology and is unrealistic due to current charging and power grid infrastructure.
Similar to the new emissions standards set for light- and medium-duty vehicles a couple weeks ago, these new heavy-duty rules ease up restrictions on early model years but ramp up significantly by 2030. They also vary by vehicle type, as different heavy-duty vocational vehicles face different challenges when it comes to cutting emissions.
Tesla Scraps Low-Cost EV Plans for Robotaxis
Despite regulators’ hard push for electrification, the EV market continues to struggle – and automakers are making moves to insulate their profits. Both GM and Ford are delaying once-critical electric projects in favor of rebooting or expanding gas-electric hybrid offerings, while Mercedes scrapped its ambitious plans to be all-electric by 2030.
More notable, however, is Tesla’s rumored recent decision to park its plans for a low-cost family EV.
The entry-level vehicle has been a key component of the automaker’s growth strategy since 2006, and a long-held promise by CEO Elon Musk to Tesla investors and fans. In fact, as recent as this past January, when the company’s shares tumbled 12%, the promise of a $25,000 ‘next-gen’ vehicle was still on the horizon. It was expected to enter production in the second half of 2025.
Tesla Robotaxi unveil on 8/8
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 5, 2024
According to three sources who spoke with Reuters, the automaker’s strategy has now shifted away from a cheap “Model 2” and toward self-driving taxis, despite the new endeavor presenting both greater engineering challenges and regulatory risk.
No specific reason was given for the change in plans, but the move does coincide with increased competition from Chinese EV makers – specifically BYD, whose Seagull model retails for a mere $10k.
It is worth noting that the robotaxi and cheaper EV were always intended to share the same platform. So, if the economic winds begin blowing in a favorable direction again, the automaker may shift priorities accordingly. However, every pause in development does place Tesla further behind its competitors.
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What Else You Need To Know This Week
Here are a few headlines we’re keeping an eye on and think you should too.
Fisker Misplaced Customer Payments … For Months
Yes, you read that correctly. News broke last week that the EV startup currently balancing on a bankruptcy high-wire lost track of millions of dollars in customer payments last year. Worse, it took internal auditors several months to track down the money.
According to people inside the company, who spoke anonymously to TechCrunch, Fisker not only struggled to properly track transactions, but also failed to cash checks in a timely manner and, occasionally, lost the payments altogether.
“We were often scrambling to find checks, credit card receipts and any wired funds a few months after a vehicle was sold,” one person told the publication.
Another employee explained how incomplete sales documentation and poor internal processes meant Fisker couldn’t accurately convey yearly revenue figures. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the company has yet to file its annual report for 2023.
Baltimore Port Cleanup Making Progress
This past weekend, salvage crews began the arduous process of removing shipping containers from the cargo ship that crashed into Baltimore Harbor’s Francis Scott Key bridge on March 26. Crews have already removed roughly 200 tons of twisted metal from the collapsed bridge, clearing two small temporary channels on either side of the wreckage and beginning work on a third that will be open by month’s end.
Getty Images
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Officials aim to restore normal traffic to the harbor by the end of May. They have outlined a three-step plan to aid their efforts, with each step happening concurrently. While one crew works on clearing the 700-foot-wide shipping channel, another works on freeing the 95,000-ton container ship so it can float away. A third group is focused on clearing away remaining debris on the riverbed.
To help ease immediate supply chain disruptions, federal and Maryland officials signed an agreement last week that will divert previously-awarded federal infrastructure funds to the port’s Tradepoint Atlantic terminal, which remains accessible. The $8.26 million grant will be used to expand cargo capacity, specifically for vehicle imports and exports. Baltimore is one of the largest vehicle-handling ports in the U.S.
NHTSA: Traffic Deaths Down, Pedestrian & Cyclist Fatalities Up
Last week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released its statistical projection of traffic fatalities for 2023. While the numbers continue to improve, they are still higher than pre-pandemic levels, indicating there is still safety work to be done.
According to NHTSA data, an estimated 40,990 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2023. That represents a decrease of about 3.6% compared to the 42,514 fatalities reported in 2022 and about 5% compared to the 43,230 fatalities reported in 2021. However, it is still higher than 2020 – and every year preceding it, save for 2008.
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Additionally, while traffic deaths are slowly declining, the opposite trend is being observed among pedestrians and cyclists.
NHTSA data shows 7,522 pedestrians and 1,105 cyclists were killed in 2022, the highest numbers observed since the early 1980s. The agency stresses that distracted driving, in particular, poses an immense danger to these vulnerable road users. The risky behavior played a role in the deaths of 621 nonoccupants in 2022.
The Engine Block is your one-stop source for any and all auto industry news. Keep an eye on our weekly round-up of enthusiast coverage, product reviews, vehicle spotlights, auto show/expo features, and more. Be sure to check back Wednesday for a rundown of TruXedo’s budget-friendly tonneau cover lineup. On Friday, don’t miss our deep-dive on 2024 performance wheel and tire trends.