I just got back from San Diego, where Toyota debuted its new 4Runner, based on the same TNGA-F platform as the Tundra, Sequoia, Tacoma, Land Cruiser, and Lexus GX. It was a heck of a spectacle — hundreds of people standing on the beach, music blaring, and then BOOM: A new 4Runner starts ripping donuts in the sand. But before that, Toyota had to get the vehicle to the beach without anyone noticing, and I happened to spot the thing on a flatbed, undercover.
This is a pretty short and straightforward blog, but it was something I’d never seen before, so I figured I’d share it with you, dear readers: A vehicle being transported by flatbed, covered by a tarp and wrapped in packaging stretch-wrap:
The vehicle had just been shown to journalists in the middle of nowhere near the California-Mexico border. Here it is:
Actually, there were two locations, with one showing the TRD Pro alongside the rest of its Toyota brand TNGA-F siblings and the other showing the Limited and Trailhunter:
After journalists were able to each have 45 minutes to capture content for these three 4Runners, the vehicles were transported to San Diego’s South Mission Beach, where the official debut took place at sunset. It was badass:
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I thought this was a very cool debut, mostly because it was authentic. Lifeguards legitimately use Toyotas to safeguard beaches around Southern California. In fact, here are a few photos I took of some Tacomas (lifeguards also use 4Runners, as you can see here):
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But getting the 4Runners from the undisclosed location in the middle of nowhere to the beach required stealth travel. And, presumably because a big box truck would have struggled on the dirt trails near the media location, Toyota brought in a flatbed. This left the vehicle open to prying eyes, and since automakers are rather particular about exactly when and how a vehicle debuts, the company slapped a car cover over the 2024 Toyota 4Runner and wrapped that cover in cling-wrap:
Anyway, that’s pretty much all I got for this blog. I’d never seen a vehicle transported out in the open on a flatbed to its debut; I wonder if anyone on the roads saw it and knew what it was…
I’ve transported cars a number of times on flatbed trailers, and I’m always worried about rock chips. That is a REALLY cheap way to solve that problem! I guess the limitation would be the tarp needs to be pretty tight over the top so it doesn’t whip around and mess up the paint underneath if you’re doing some highway miles… Still. Assuming that shortcoming can be mitigated, that’s a really cheap alternative to a proper auto transport trailer that leaves the flatbed open for other uses. Love it!
It looks Puffalumpy like that.
Please send it to Casa de Puffalumps for additional donutting.
The Crown Signia was being test driven in Coronado at the same time. I saw a sign that said “Toyota” on a side street right after the end of the Coronado bridge. Later that day I saw a 3 day old article saying they were test driving it in San Diego. A quick Google search showed Toyota was holding a private event in Mission Beach on April 9th. I then headed to the street where I had seen the sign and spotted a white Crown Signia at a local resort. It all makes since Corona(do) means Crown in Spanish, and Coronado, CA is known as the Crown City. I took a hidden video since I was on private property and didn’t want to get kicked out.
Wonder how much Toyota paid the City of SD to let that happen. Did you enjoy some time in San Diego or did you head right back to LA?
I headed right back. I love San Diego, though, and would love to spend more time there.
I’m off in the other direction next weekend: Solvang!
I live very close to where you bought the i3 (which is a Fisker dealership now, interestingly enough). I’d be honored to host you and your lovely lady if you need a place to stay in North County San Diego (an upgrade over that Carlsbad no-tell motel, I promise!). I’d also be happy to show you around the Anza Borrego desert and other interesting outdoorsy stuff out to the east and south of the general San Diego area. We met at the first March 32nd celebration – I’m the guy with the gold Jag XJ6.
Enjoy some Ebelskivers!