I would say that more than likely the shots of the silver rig are spot on. My neighbor owns one of the largest Toyota dealers in my area. He says that he was shown a small scale model while at some fancy owner's meeting in June, and the model looks exactly like the picture. However, I usually know more about Toyotas than him so I'm still waiting for the "real" pictures, but I still bet that these are close.
The silver one on the link is just a stretch version of the current model. This is not the new 06 model by any means. Toyota is not going to introduce a brand new mode with the same design as the current one, for goodness sakes people. The blue one looks at least like its a new model.....
Has anyone had a navigation system installed in a new (2005) RAV4? Will it be an option on the 2006 when they come out? I wanted to purchase one toward the end of the year, but my local dealership in SC said the navigation system isn't offered on the RAV4. Can I buy the nav. sys. and have it installed after purchase?
I'll believe it when I see it. What we know for sure is that the 4 cylinder is going to debut in Nov/Dec 2005 and the V6 in Feb/March 2006. I have a really hard time with the RAV4 getting a 275 horse V6 prior to that engine arriving in even the 45K Lexus RX330, which isnt slated for the upgrade to the 3.5L until late Fall 2006 as 2007 model.
of all the car mags, MT is BY FAR the one most likely to jump the gun and print some fairly wild speculation as if it is a sure thing. They are wrong so often I don't know why they don't pull it back a notch to gain some credibility.
I am with alpha in thinking it is HIGHLY unlikely that a RAV will have an optional engine with so much power before it is available in the larger and luxury models.
Now, if you were to say to me that this V-6 will be the engine for the next-gen Highlander, I would say "yes, most likely", because of the sharing that model does with the Lexus RX.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I guess we'll know soon enough.....MT also said...the [non-permissible content removed] toyota people said it will be one of the fastest toyota models(from zero to 60) available sometime after the 1st of the year, untill the other models get upgraded. If the Rav is going bigger and more upscale...it makes sense to me.
275 horse V6? Give me a break. Why would Toyota give their entry level SUV more power than most of their entire fleet? :lemon: Who'd want to pay for gas for such an engine in an entry level car?
I like the prior suggestion of an effecient 2.5L V6 putting out 190-210. That'd be just about perfect.
Camry is going up by like 8 hp for the '06 MY, and that is the same engine, so I suppose the 4-cyl RAV will do the same. Will it also get the 5-speed auto the Camry has? Would be a good idea.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
On paper, due to compliance with new SAE standards, the Camry 4 cylinder has lost 6 horses and 3 foot pounds of torque for the 2006 model year. In March of 2006, an all new Camry will debut for the 2007 model year. There have not been any modifications to the Camry's actual engines, though, and acceleration times will not be affected by the change.
The all-new 2006 RAV4 4cylinder will debut by November/December of this year, followed by a V6 variant (not sure which one though) by Feb/March 2006.
even as I was writing that, I was thinking to myself "is it the Camry, the Legacy, or the Accord that gains power in the 4-cyl?". I knew it was ONE of those midsizers! :-P
It is the Legacy, BTW.
I was over looking at Toyotas yesterday, and the "old" RAV still looks pretty fresh to me. This is one model for which the model revision was less necessary. In the SUV line, though, Toyotas have gotten pretty darn pricey. If you want a Highlander, 4Runner, or even a Tacoma with a V-6 and 4WD, you are going to be looking at stickers over $30K. I hope they don't update RAV so much they need to put one of those huge price stickers on it.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I agree that the RAV4 looks good as is - but would be nice to see the 06 just to compare.
It will be difficult for Toyota to raise prices much - the CR-V that outsells it by 2:1 is not changing nor going up in price much so to stay competitive the sticker increase should be minimal. V6 models OTOH have no match in the CR-V line so those could be much higher. As long as side air bags come standard (they should - they are on the CR-V) the price the way I'd configure it for my wife might about the same - no need for the L upgrade anymore.
what is now the 'L' package should be standard on the next model, IMO. I figure, whatever Hyundai can afford to offer standard in a $14K Elantra, everyone else oughtt be able to offer standard in models costing $20K+. Bad logic?! :-P
Besides, if they are going to have a V-6 next time around, that is going to increase the price spread on the RAV even more than it already is, and considering that all the models will have pretty much the same interior from the cheapest to the most expensive, they ought to be working to try to reduce the price spread.
Let the xB cover the really basic part of the price range for a cute ute of this sort.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
By now we've seen all the mules, chops, drawings etc. found a tiny pic of the cover of a Japanese car mag and based on the "cell phone" pics that surfaced a few weeks ago, this may be the real thing. The grill has Toyota's Japanese emblem and the word RAV4 is beside the vihicle on the cover. It has the "stacked" fog/driving lights of the cell phone pic and the grill shape is almost identical. Only a front view, so nothing else to see but looks promising. http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mgh8572000/my_photos?urlhint=actn,del%3as,1%3af,0 Check it out.
I would think that the 2.5 V6 would be a good choice, maybe without the direct injection. They've done that with the 3.5. But it wouldn't shock me to see the 3.0 either.
wheelz4 - We seem to be interested in the same size vehicles, the RAV4, Toyota Wish or Honda Stream/Latitude. You and others may be interested in this from Autoweek.
Actually, I read that earlier this morning. Especially interested in the fact that both Toyota and Honda may be fielding Mazda5 competitors.....hopefully they can better the Mazda's so-so gas mileage. The new Rav4 will definitely be a contender in my books if, along with the increase in size, they can make it more efficient as well. I guess we should know the details in about a month or so.
I'm like you looking for products from both Honda and Toyota. I'm very interested in the new RAV4, hopefully giving high gas mileage but also comes standard with side curtain airbags, 4 wheel disk bakes/ABS and all the latest technology. I'm also excited to read that the Matrix may go to Scion and that Toyota may bring a smaller mini-van/sport wagon - the WISH - which I've wanted for the past several years. Things are finally looking up.
Toyota has stated that the new Rav will be somewhat larger, and this photo does not look like its larger, so don't hold the breath on that being the new 06 Rav 4. Not to mention the picture does not show a rear bumpter that is suppose to be on the new 06.
Well, I think it's just the angle, really. As you can see in this recent spy shot, there will be a rear bumper, but the rear-mounted spare tire will very likely stay. Here's the other new spy shot. Funny, as you can see here, this image's embargo date isn't up until this coming Monday. Though somewhat unlikely, there's the possibility that Toyota will release the V6 RAV4 as a long-wheelbase, seven-seat model (i.e., something similar to Suzuki's Grand Vitara and XL-7). Could this explain the two-month gap? :confuse:
Anyway, I'll post more photos and info whenever available.
Thanks for the update and links. You could be right, but it sure looks as if its the same size as my current 05 model. Thought it would be longer for the extra seats. Possibly wrong on that to... :P
There is no way Toyota will put 250-280 hp in the RAV for 2006; not when the Highlander makes 230 hp and the 4Runner is in the same range. Not going to happen IMO.
I'm looking forward to seeing a rear 3/4 picture and the engine specs on the V6, if not just to calm down the crackheads that think it'll be a 3.5L putting out more HP than the RX330.
Earlier this month I was in southern California and a vehicle came up beside me that was disguised in black vinyl from front to back. It was traveling inbetween a current RAV4 and a Lexus, all three had Michigan Manufacturers plates. It was an SUV, I assumed it was a Highlander by its size. The discussion on this forum about it growing in size makes me think it may have been a RAV. Time will tell.
That interior shot of the pre-production unit shows steering-wheel-mounted Bluetooth telephone controls, a push-button starter, and dual-zone climate control. In addition to the obvious navigation system.
Very nice! Wish they'd throw in an AUX port for an MP3 player too.
Just for the record....that is the new RAV. I happen to sell them. Feel free to send your email to Heffner Lexus Toyota ................I'll send you some interior shots.
I will be getting a new car in the second week (or thereabouts) of january. I was dead-set on the 2006 CRV. Now this is swaying me (if the price is right). When does it go on sale?
From the information I have, the 4-cylinder units should be on lots by Thanksgiving. V6 models will likely be available very ealy in 2006, say, January or February. The European-spec RAV4 will debut on the 12th of September, whilst the US-spec version will bow at the SEMA show in early November. Also remember that the all-new, Acura TSX-based Honda CR-V will debut next year as a 2007 model.
thanks. Since I am looking at the 4 cylinder version, it should be out in time then. I would love to wait for the new CRV but I cannot, unfortunately since I will need a car by jan
Comments
~alpha
I am with alpha in thinking it is HIGHLY unlikely that a RAV will have an optional engine with so much power before it is available in the larger and luxury models.
Now, if you were to say to me that this V-6 will be the engine for the next-gen Highlander, I would say "yes, most likely", because of the sharing that model does with the Lexus RX.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
If the Rav is going bigger and more upscale...it makes sense to me.
I like the prior suggestion of an effecient 2.5L V6 putting out 190-210. That'd be just about perfect.
Like I said, the 2.5L V6 out of the IS with cheaper plumbing is my best guess. That will be a hand-me-down engine soon anyway.
I just wish some more concrete info would come out about the 4 cyl model.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
On paper, due to compliance with new SAE standards, the Camry 4 cylinder has lost 6 horses and 3 foot pounds of torque for the 2006 model year. In March of 2006, an all new Camry will debut for the 2007 model year. There have not been any modifications to the Camry's actual engines, though, and acceleration times will not be affected by the change.
The all-new 2006 RAV4 4cylinder will debut by November/December of this year, followed by a V6 variant (not sure which one though) by Feb/March 2006.
~alpha
It is the Legacy, BTW.
I was over looking at Toyotas yesterday, and the "old" RAV still looks pretty fresh to me. This is one model for which the model revision was less necessary. In the SUV line, though, Toyotas have gotten pretty darn pricey. If you want a Highlander, 4Runner, or even a Tacoma with a V-6 and 4WD, you are going to be looking at stickers over $30K. I hope they don't update RAV so much they need to put one of those huge price stickers on it.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I agree that the RAV4 looks good as is - but would be nice to see the 06 just to compare.
It will be difficult for Toyota to raise prices much - the CR-V that outsells it by 2:1 is not changing nor going up in price much so to stay competitive the sticker increase should be minimal. V6 models OTOH have no match in the CR-V line so those could be much higher.
As long as side air bags come standard (they should - they are on the CR-V) the price the way I'd configure it for my wife might about the same - no need for the L upgrade anymore.
Besides, if they are going to have a V-6 next time around, that is going to increase the price spread on the RAV even more than it already is, and considering that all the models will have pretty much the same interior from the cheapest to the most expensive, they ought to be working to try to reduce the price spread.
Let the xB cover the really basic part of the price range for a cute ute of this sort.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
found a tiny pic of the cover of a Japanese car mag and based on the "cell phone" pics that surfaced a few weeks ago, this may be the real thing. The grill has Toyota's Japanese emblem and the word RAV4 is beside the vihicle on the cover.
It has the "stacked" fog/driving lights of the cell phone pic and the grill shape is almost identical. Only a front view, so nothing else to see but looks promising.
http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mgh8572000/my_photos?urlhint=actn,del%3as,1%3af,0
Check it out.
http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=102996
Only Chrysler and GM seem to have a lot of products coming. Ford only has the Shelby GT500, Fusion/Milan, Zephyr and Expedition/Navigator redesigns.
Here's the real deal.
Enjoy!
Mike
Anyway, I'll post more photos and info whenever available.
Mike
When do the 2006 RAV 4s hit the showrooms?
Carlv1
Mike
http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/future/rav4.html
It looks real nice
Mike
That Yaris there looks great too, but I'd like the 5 door hatchback.
Yep!
Pretty cool, huh?
As for the Yaris - I think the 5-door looks better anyway. If you haven't seen this version, you can view some good exterior shots here and here.
Mike
I'm looking forward to seeing a rear 3/4 picture and the engine specs on the V6, if not just to calm down the crackheads that think it'll be a 3.5L putting out more HP than the RX330.
The new Yaris (Echo replacement, right?) is pretty sharp, too. I'd get one of those before one of those Scion abominations.
That interior shot of the pre-production unit shows steering-wheel-mounted Bluetooth telephone controls, a push-button starter, and dual-zone climate control. In addition to the obvious navigation system.
Very nice! Wish they'd throw in an AUX port for an MP3 player too.
From the information I have, the 4-cylinder units should be on lots by Thanksgiving. V6 models will likely be available very ealy in 2006, say, January or February. The European-spec RAV4 will debut on the 12th of September, whilst the US-spec version will bow at the SEMA show in early November. Also remember that the all-new, Acura TSX-based Honda CR-V will debut next year as a 2007 model.
Source1
Source2 [.pdf]
Mike