I still remember that in the middle of 2020, due to the switch of China VI emissions,FAW Toyota Prado had to stop production earlyAnd ended its 17-year history of localization.
In these 17 years, FAW Toyota has produced a total of 346706 Prados in various versionsAnd for the "Toyota off-road" in the Chinese market reputation has made great achievementsIt is precisely because of Prado's strong reputation that this model has always been a "value preservation car" in the second-hand market, and its discontinuation has also made a large number of consumers regret.
More than three years have passed, and the Prado model has also ushered in its own new generation in overseas markets, and information about FAW Toyota's intention to reintroduce this off-road vehicle has been circulating on the Internet. And Toyota did not disappoint everyone, at last year's Guangzhou Auto Show, Toyota exhibited a new generation of domestic version of the Prado at the boothOfficially "officially announced" the return of this hard-core off-road vehicle to the Chinese market.
According to the production plan of the FAW Toyota plant in the previous relevant channels, the new generation of domestic version of the Prado, codenamed "P model".The design annual production is only 36,000 units, and will only be available for the time beingThe 4-ton hybrid version will officially go into production in 2024.
According to relevant information, FAW Toyota's new Prado will provide four versions of the model, namely the low-profile UN, the mid-range ALR, the mid-to-high-end ADV and the top LUX-HI,The pre-sale price was set at 470,000-570,000 yuan.
The low-spec model is only available in a five-seat layout, the mid-spec model is available in a five-seater or six-seat layout, and the two high-spec models are only available in a six-seat layout.
Overseas seven-seater layout.
Not only that, but according to this configuration table, we can also know,The much-acclaimed retro round headlight front end will only appear on the lowest-spec modelThe rest of the configuration will have a more conventional and advanced rectangular headlight front face.
Left: High with rectangular headlights Right: Low with round headlights.
Although the high-end rectangular headlights look more advanced and may provide high-end functions such as matrix headlights, whether it is the overseas market or the domestic market, after the release of the new generation of Prado, everyone actually has more praise for the retro front face with a round headlight design.
As for the configuration level,The MTM Multi-Terrain Selector Monitoring System and the MTS Multi-Terrain Optional Driver Assistance will be available on the two high-spec modelsIn addition to the exclusive front face, the top-of-the-line model will continue to be equipped with a car refrigerator and larger 20-inch wheels, which are popular with Chinese consumers.
In terms of power, the current domestic version of the model is only available in 2A 4T hybrid + 8AT gearbox is a powertrainThe maximum power of the system is 330 horsepower, and the maximum torque is 630 NmIn addition to the most basic high- and low-speed four-wheel drive, ** differential lock and rear axle differential lock, the high-end model is also expected to be equipped with SDM disconnect anti-roll bar, so as to improve the vehicle's suspension travel under extreme working conditions.
It is worth mentioning that in the Middle East market Toyota also offers the Prado 24T pure fuel power, while even the 2 continues to be available in the Japanese domestic market7L naturally aspirated + 6AT models, but due to emission regulations, these power configurations will most likely not appear on domestic models.
Although the share of Japanese cars in the Chinese market has been eroded recentlyHowever, given Prado's strong reputation in the off-road vehicle market, it is believed that there will be no shortage of suitors in the short term after its launchAccording to the latest news, the new generation of Prado will be pre-sold at the Beijing Auto Show in April, and will be officially launched and delivered in July this year.
The starting price of 470,000 yuan is actually reasonable in terms of Toyota's consistent pricing strategy and the previous positioning of the Prado seriesAfter all, at the level of power it is better than the old 4The 0L model is much strongerBut in the three years since Prado's absence, the Chinese market has changed dramatically.
With the traditional family car market in all segments of the competition has become fierceIn the past two years, the hard-core off-road vehicle market has become a new track for independent brands. The previous discontinuation of the Prado just won valuable growth space for China's hardcore off-roaders, so during this time, we can see that the Tank 300 quickly dominated the 200,000-level hard-core off-road vehicle market, and derived the higher-end Tank 500 that is in direct competition with the Prado.
More importantly, with the advantages of the domestic new energy industry, new energy + hard off-road has gradually become a new trend, with stronger power, lower fuel consumption and higher configuration has become a new label for China's hard-core off-road. The Tank 500 Hi4-T, Tank 400 Hi4-T, Formula Leopard Leopard 5, and Yangwang U8 are among the most representative models.
In addition to these real hardcore off-road vehicles, there are many other brands that have launched a series of off-road vehicles with off-road appearance and certain off-road capabilities according to consumer preferencesAn off-road urban SUV that can be used in the city for everyday use, such as the Jet Traveler, Haval Raptors, etc.
With a large number of choices, Chinese consumers no longer need to be confined to a few traditional off-road vehicle series, and can choose products that are more suitable for them according to their own car purchase budget and car needs. Perhaps for those who like to play high-intensity hardcore off-road or even no-man's land crossing, a "not bad" Toyota Prado will never be a wrong choice, but this part of the consumer is only a minority in the market after allThe vast majority of people who buy off-road vehicles actually want to have a more personalized appearance, and can meet their occasional suburban travel and light off-road needs.
The price of 470,000 yuan is not expensive for a PradoBut for today's Chinese consumers, who have plenty of choice, it's not cheap at all. In contrast, the Ford Bronco, which is also about to go on the market, seems to have recognized this fact, and the current "blowing price" of this American hard off-road is around 300,000 yuan, if this ** can come true, not to mention a number of independent brands, even Ford will become a strong rival of the new generation of Prado in the Chinese market.
So, as a hard-core off-road vehicle enthusiast, will you choose to continue to believe in Toyota's reputation and spend 500,000 yuan to choose a new Prado, or spend a lower ** to "try" your own brand of new energy off-road vehicles, or a chance to use a new car with sincerity such as Ford Bronco?