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This is an '18 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro. A member of Toyota's 4Runner family, the 4Runner acts as Toyota's mid-sized SUV in a number of regions. With a history dating back to 1983 with the Toyota Trekker as built by Winnebago, the 4Runner is one of Toyota's longest running SUV nameplates, introduced in 1984. It is known as the Hilux Surf in Japan and is assembled mainly at Toyota's Tahara Plant in Aichi.
The fifth generation of the 4Runner, introduced in 2009, has gone through a number of facelifts and has a number of additional variants, such as the TRD Pro seen here. Despite still being built at Tahara, this generation of the 4Runner is unavailable in Japan (or any RHD market for that matter), mostly being available in the Americas. Designed by Koichi Suga, the TRD Pro is powered by a 4.0L 1GR-FE V6 making 270 BHP. With part-time all-wheel drive, a 5-speed automatic, TRD FOX shocks and springs, crawl control, multi-terrain select and a Multi-Terrain Monitor, this thing is built to be rugged and ready to go places no other Toyota can. Production of the TRD Pro began in 2014 and continues until today.
Now this casting was designed by Mark Jones and introduced in 2021 as part of the Hot Wheels Boulevard line. This casting replicates Hot Wheels marketing manager Jimmy Liu's own 4Runner TRD Pro and features a number of references to boot. Mimicking a feature on the real 4Runner the rear window on the tailgate is partially rolled down. This casting has seen two known releases, the last in 2022, also in the Boulevard series.
