Here we have a few more detailed shots of what appears to be the upcoming 2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter. The 2024 Tacoma is all-new, but this prototype shows several very interesting details. Let’s take a close look.
2024 Toyota Tacoma
The next Tacoma is rumored to be based on the TNGA-F platform that also underpins the new Toyota Tundra, Toyota Sequoia, and the Lexus LX (among other Toyota vehicles around the world). This means it is likely hiding a multi-link rear coil suspension and a new powertrain under the hood.
This prototype may be the all-new Trailhunter model that Toyota teased a little while ago. The Trailhunter model is planned to be an overland-focused trim level. It is not meant to replace the TRD Pro, which will continue. The Trailhunter model is meant more for slower rock crawling and handling heavier payloads. It should also showcase many partner parts such as steel (or metal) bumpers, different wheels/tires, a roof rack, a bed rack, a bed-top tent, and more.
The prototype appears to have a snorkel-type air intake and a roof rack. More interesting is that it also appears to be a long-wheelbase version of the next Tacoma. Just look at the rear of the cab to the rear axle length.
Lordstown Motors may have to shut down as its chief partner and financier threatens to pull out of the deal.
The EV truck startup has faced hurdle after hurdle bringing its Endurance pickup truck to market. After halting operations to fix quality problems earlier this year, it just started slowly getting trucks out to a select few customers. It may all come to an end soon, however, as Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn threatens to withhold funding for the deal, effectively forcing Lordstown into bankruptcy.
On Monday, Lordstown Motors noted the very real possibility of insolvency in a securities filing. “If we are unable to resolve our dispute with Foxconn in a timely manner on terms that allow us to continue operating as planned, identify other sources of funding, identify a strategic partner and resolve our significant contingent liabilities, we may need to curtail or cease operations and seek protection by filing a voluntary petition for relief under the Bankruptcy Code,” the company said.
Upon news of Lordstown Motor’s dire situation, its stock prices fell 27%, trading at just 38 cents a share as of Monday morning. Nasdaq warned Lordstown last month that its stock may be delisted if it stays below the $1 minimum share level for more than 30 consecutive days.
So…what happened?
At the moment, Foxconn representatives did not make an immediate comment on the situation. The Apple iPhone manufacturer paid $230 million for the former General Motors plant in Lordstown, Ohio, while it also aimed to invest another $170 million in the startup to ramp up Endurance production. In exchange, Foxconn would claw its way into the automotive space and Lordstown Motors, for its part, would have the money it needs to continue operating.
Beyond an earlier electrical issue that hamstrung production, though, the EV startup asked Foxconn to suspend production as per-unit manufacturing costs for the Endurance exceeded the truck’s $65,000 price target, as Automotive News reports. Lordstown Motors noted it would need to bring another partner into the deal to share costs, bringing the overhead down to a point where it could profit on the vehicles it sold.
Both Lordstown and Foxconn are currently in talks to resolve their dispute, though the details of those talks are unclear for the moment. What we do know is that Foxconn informed Lordstown it could terminate its deal in 30 days, citing a breach in the two firms’ agreement.
We’ll keep a close eye on the situation and report whether Lordstown folds or if it can solve its outstanding issues with Foxconn, or find another partner to save the company from imminent bankruptcy proceedings.
GMC drops two very big surprises on us. They are the upcoming 2024 GMC Sierra HD AT4X and HD AT4X AEV edition. Yep, the Ford Super Duty Tremor, Ram HD Rebel, and Ram Power Wagon have a new competitor that is coming to market very soon. Let’s dig into all the details.
Actually, there were three surprises, but more on this later.
2024 GMC Sierra HD AT4X
These first-ever heavy-duty off-road beasts are very similar to the Silverado HD ZR2 and HD Bison trucks that were recently revealed. GMC brings its own unique style and additional equipment into the mix. Let us start with the Sierra HD AT4X. The truck gets a 1.5-inch suspension lift when compared to a standard Sierra HD 4×4 truck. Specially tuned suspension and DSSV spool-valve dampers by Multimatic round out the suspension upgrades.
The AT4X gets a driver-selectable rear locking differential. There is no front selectable locker, so the Ram Power Wagon still has the upper hand there. The AT4X brings larger tires to the party. It’s riding on 305/70R18 Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires. This tire size converts to a 34.8-inch diameter. In other words, these new GMC HD trucks are rolling on 35s!
This truck will only be available in a Sierra 2500 HD classification. A 6.6L Duramax turbo-diesel V8 or a 6.6L gasoline V8 power choices will be available. The power ratings remain as with all 2024 HD trucks. The diesel is rated at 470 hp and 975 lb-ft of torque. The gas V8 is rated at 401 hp and 464 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are hooked up to a 10-speed automatic transmission.
GMC exterior and interior appointments round out the AT4X truck. If you are wondering about the price, this is not yet available.
HD AT4X AEV Edition
The AEV Edition adds strong stamped-steel front and rear bumpers and skid plates. The AEV front bumper can accommodate a winch, and a 12,500 lbs Come-Up winch is included in the AT4X AEV Edition package.
Take a look at this in-person world debut walkaround video.
Join us for the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 Duramax diesel Ike GauntletTM – the world’s toughest towing test. Is this new turbo-diesel the best light-duty towing pickup truck of them all? Let’s find out.
GM has updated the 3.0L Duramax turbo-diesel I6 engine to give it more power and better efficiency. The engine is now 25% new. They updated the pistons, raised the compression, and bumped the power output up to 305 horsepower @ 3,750 rpm and 495 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500 rpm. The engine is still mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. In this luxurious Denali Ultimate trim, the rear axle ratio is 3.23 to 1. This configuration of the truck is rated up to 8,800 lbs of towing.
Ike GauntletTM
This is the world’s toughest towing test because this stretch of the I-70 Interstate goes up to the top of the Colorado Rocky Mountains at 11,158 feet above sea level. It’s an 8-mile stretch of the grueling highway with a maximum of 7% grade.
GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate
The Denali Ultimate is a new top-of-the-line trim for GMC trucks. It takes the existing Denali truck to the next level with dark “Vader” chrome accents on the outside, and unique leather massaging seats and wood trim on the inside. The truck get GM’s latest and updated interior design and technology.
This time the Roamer1 off-grid and off-road luxurious camping trailer is loaded up to a total weight of 7,000 lbs. This way we can compare it to when we towed it with other pickup trucks and SUVs.
The new LZ0 version of the 3.0L Duramax turbo-diesel I6 is one of the most efficient trucks on the Ike Gauntlet test. It showed 5.9-6.0 MPG during the rigorous climb. It did not blow us away with its downhill grade-shifting performance nor its acceleration speed on the way up. The Sierra 1500 registered a good four brake applications on the way down (better than average, but not the best). It also showed an 8-min 13-sec second climb, when we expect a perfect 8 minutes up the mountain.
No matter – this new turbo-diesel is ultra quiet, super-refined, and very efficient. If you plan to tow a trailer on longer distances, this engine must be at the top of your list.
Here is the new 2023 Ford F-150 Tremor with a 5.0L V8 and a 2023 Ford Expedition Timberline with a high-output 3.5L EcoBoost V6 – towing the same trailer on the Ike GauntletTM.
Ford already launched the next-generation Ranger for overseas markets, but we have yet to see it officially debut for North America.
A new Ford Authority report confirms the reveal is coming in May, so we don’t have too much longer to wait.
The 2024 Ford Ranger still rides on the ‘T6’ platform shared with the new Bronco and should carry over the 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine.
This generation will actually launch the Ranger Raptor for the U.S., though, complete with a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbocharged V6.
Other markets can get a range of diesel engines, but we’ll only see gasoline powertrains here in North America.
The new Ranger should go into production here in the coming months —in time for the 2024 model year changeover.
The 2024 Ford Ranger is almost, almost here!
We’ve had to endure a teeth-grinding wait for Ford’s revamped midsize truck to actually reach our shores, as it’s already on sale in overseas markets. Ford stated it would debut the new Ranger for North America sometime this year, though thanks to a Ford Authorityreport we know it will finally arrive next month.
Considering we’re right at the end of April, that could mean we’ll see the U.S.-spec Ranger premiere in just a few days’ time, or it could be a few more weeks. At any rate, we’re in a watershed year for new midsize trucks and Ford’s offering looks more or less ready to go, as it’s lately been hitting the streets with little to no camouflage. In fact, Ford Authority has caught the truck cruising around the Michigan streets with no concealment at all.
So, when it does arrive, what can we expect the 2024 Ford Ranger to bring? The truck will still ride on the T6 platform (called ‘T6.2’ here), and we expect the 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder shared with the Bronco to carryover with some revisions. The real news this time around, though, is that Ford is finally bringing the Ranger Raptor to our shores.
That’s a whole other level for this truck’s mass-market appeal, since it’s packing a 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6. Exact horsepower and torque figures are technically an unknown quantity for American buyers, but the overseas version manages 392 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. Like the outgoing truck, a 10-speed automatic transmission will be the only option for both the standard models as well as the Raptor.
How will the competition shape up later this year?
When it does finally land, the 2024 Ford Ranger will face some stiff competition. By “watershed year”, we’re looking at the recent launch of the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado, as well as its forthcoming GMC Canyon sibling. Both of those trucks are getting more hardcore variants with a new ZR2 variant and AT4X model respectively. The 2024 Toyota Tacoma is just around the corner, with its TRD Pro and Trailhunter configurations alongside the standard trucks.
We’ll get far better clarity on what Ford’s planning for the Ranger here in the coming weeks. We’ll have more information here on TFLtruck, of course, so stay tuned for more updates.
Ford set up a full-scale Raptor-palooza event in Utah called the 'Raptor Rally' to celebrate its full lineup of off-road juggernauts, as well as their owners. Here's what the experience was like!
