Latest news with #Corolla-based
Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
This Is What Toyota's Answer to the Ford Maverick Might Look Like
The world's largest carmaker is preparing to jump into the compact pickup market. The small lifestyle pickup will take on the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz, with a potential launch window in 2026 or 2027. And unlike the Hilux, this one's not being built to pull tree stumps out of bogs - it's aimed squarely at young urbanites, daily drivers, and maybe even your neighbor who already owns three camping chairs and a roof box. Thanks to rendering artist, Theottle, we have some idea of what it might look like. The new model will most likely be based on either the RAV4's TNGA-K platform or the smaller Corolla-based TNGA-C, meaning this ute is more crossover than crawler. The size is expected to be slightly shorter than a RAV4, and powertrains will likely be hybrid-first, including a plug-in hybrid variant capable of over 60 miles (100 km) of EV-only only would this make it Toyota's most efficient pickup ever, but it comes at a time when the company is doubling down on reliability and sheer road presence. Toyota claims over 150 million of its cars are still on the road today - a handy fact when you're trying to win over budget-conscious buyers who don't want to own a disposable trucklet. Although Toyota still holds the overall U.S. sales crown, it's now under pressure from all angles. According to recent Q2 data, Ford is catching up fast. Ford's year-over-year gains are outpacing Toyota's, and with the Maverick continuing to be a runaway success, it's no wonder Toyota sees the need to respond. A hybrid ute that undercuts the Tacoma and gives buyers something between a crossover and a proper truck would fill a glaring gap in their lineup. It's not just the U.S. market Toyota is eyeing. There's also growing speculation - including recent comments from Chairman Akio Toyoda himself - that American-made Toyotas may soon be sold in Japan. This follows new trade agreements that make it easier to import U.S.-built vehicles to Japan by removing complex certification barriers. If Toyota does choose to build this pickup in North America, it could be among the first models to benefit. While Toyota hasn't confirmed specifics yet, early reports suggest the new ute will be based on either the RAV4's TNGA-K platform or the smaller Corolla-based TNGA-C. That means a car-like ride, excellent hybrid integration, and a front-wheel-drive layout with optional all-wheel drive. Powertrains are expected to include both a regular hybrid and a plug-in hybrid, with the latter capable of over 60 miles of electric-only driving. That figure would place it at the top of its class in terms of efficiency. If Toyota's internal timelines are accurate, the truck could launch in North America in late 2026 or early 2027, with other markets to follow. Expect it to slot below the Tacoma in price and size, aimed squarely at buyers who want the rugged look of a pickup without the fuel bills or size penalties. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Miami Herald
10-07-2025
- Miami Herald
‘Angel' wild horse guards sea turtle nest on NC's Outer Banks, photo shows
A rare instance of a wild horse appearing to guard an endangered sea turtle nest was witnessed by tourists visiting North Carolina's Outer Banks. A photo taken July 6 by Wild Horse Adventure Tours shows the horse reclining on the sand, staring through protective tape spooled around the incubating eggs. The eggs require 40 to 60 days to hatch — a period fraught with risk on a beach where off-road vehicles are allowed to drive at speeds of up to 35 mph. 'Everybody gets excited when there's a new turtle nest — and it looks like this one has an extra special guardian keeping watch,' the Corolla-based tour company wrote in a July 7 Facebook post. 'It's been an active season for turtle nesting this year.' The post had racked up 7,800 reactions and comments as of July 10, including some from people who reported witnessing the 'once in a lifetime' moment. 'That's no horse, it's an angel,' MC Mecha posted on the tour company's Facebook page. 'The horse is very smart! Knowing it's protected (the eggs) from all the crazy tourists driving recklessly,' Lori Warren Cole said. 'So undisturbed by the going ons,' Lonna Arnold wrote. A herd of just over 100 wild horses roams the Corolla area of the northern Outer Banks. They are tended by the nonprofit Corolla Wild Horse Fund, which shares volunteers with sea turtle programs such as the Network for Endangered Sea Turtles. 'I thought that picture was so cool,' Corolla herd manager Meg Puckett told McClatchy News in an email. 'It's really hard to imagine something like that would happen and be caught on camera. Where else in the world, right? It's a reminder of what a special place it is.' North Carolina's beaches are 'vital nesting grounds for loggerhead, green and Kemp's Ridley turtles,' the Network for Endangered Sea Turtles reports. Corolla is about a 230-mile drive northeast from Raleigh.
