Toyota Grand Highlander teased as ‘final road-trip automobile’

Toyota has teased a mysterious picture of one thing known as a Grand Highlander. It will not be revealed in full for one more few months, however there’s loads of hints to make educated guesses about. The title, for one, implies that it will be an extended model of the Highlander, so break up the distinction between that and the Sequoia.

One other clue is the Hybrid Max badge on the brand new badonk. The final time we noticed that, it was on the bizarre Crown crossover sedan thingy, and generated a formidable mixed output of 340 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque, mated with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder. Toyota did not say what the Grand Highlander would pack below the hood, however it did describe it as “highly effective.” 

The primary draw of this automobile, we anticipate, can be an extended cabin with extra legroom within the third row and better cargo carrying capability. Toyota calls it the “final street journey automobile.” It is probably that Toyota needs to compete with widespread three-row rigs such because the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. The title additionally attracts an apparent connection to autos just like the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Grand Wagoneer, every of which have their very own elongated variations known as the Grand Cherokee L and Grand Wagoneer L, the latter of which was in a position to swallow all of Senior Editor James Riswick’s worldly possessions. 

It would not be the primary time Toyota provided stretched variations of its autos. After years of begging, Lexus lastly provided L variations of the RX, the RX350L and RX450hL. Toyota additionally used the title Grand Hiace within the late Nineties for a seven- and eight-passenger van, a play off of the favored Hiace minivan.

We cannot know the complete particulars till the Grand Highlander is revealed on February 8, adopted by an look on the Chicago Auto Present the next day.

Associated video: