I REALLY didn't want to comment on this, but yes this is definitely true (found out in the summer) and definitely not a 2021 model anymore. The August 2020 date was once accurate indeed (never 2016-19) but things do change due to unforeseen circumstances while in development or due to market forces.
The biggest problem I've always had with this kind of delay happening-which is not surprising- is the MASSIVE domino effect it has on other vehicles utilising TNGA-F.
I am very confident at this point that between the midsize suvs and the IMV/Tacoma pick up redesigns, it is up to Toyota which they want to be launched first.
But definitely set in stone for 2021 is the 2022 Tundra being released around October 2021. Studying the G A-L rollout in terms of production dates between March 2017 for the LC 500 and December 2017 for the LS, such spacing is very likely between the next Tundra and Land Cruiser 300.
An August 2021 start of production date for the next Tundra would mean that a 2023 Land Cruiser and 2023 LX would be very, very likely and is probably fact (barring random ass changes) and not enter production until 8-10 months minimum after the Tundra. A 2023 Sequoia is a given, during 2022 as well, after those 3.
Well...since you now have 2022 so BUSY (including non-GA-F vehicles), this means everything else GA-F must be done in the 2023 calendar year and then if that year gets clogged with 3 BOF redesigns, what the heck happens then to the 3 remaining archaic BOF vehicles?
Pushed into the year 2024 of course. And I don't mean model years, I mean CY 2024, 5 YEARS from now!
The midsize suvs are not coming until 2023 as 2024 models (4R/PR/GX) or that will be swapped out with Taco/Fort/Hilux (MY 2025) for 2024 as MY 2025s. 2021-22 is the all jumbo Yotas. Nada for MY 2021 I can expect.
Many people may not agree with me but I am certain that 5-6 years ago, Toyota was in the early stages of working on a next generation Land Cruiser and such a vehicle would have arrived by now or next year. Both Tundra and Land Cruiser have their own delays, which in regard to the former, could have been avoided by getting it into the development sooner than they did in 2015.
There's been an annoyingly cynical approach to the existing product line which don't receive the necessary major updates needed to tide them along as stop-gaps or keep them fresh and competitive in the marketplace.
What does annoy me even more, is when constructive criticism is made (via feasible suggestions), some apologists (not necessarily on LE) tend to play Devil's advocate and gaslight or shut down the valid concerns. (ie "if it ain't broke don't fix it..."; "happy, 'cuz don't want my xxx to become dated"; "you should be happy that"...)
I know that this company can and will deliver excellent product that customers can continue to rely on, but I can see as an outsider with an ear on the inside at times, that someone greenlighted a program too late (*coughs* new Tundra) and when they do run into delays it becomes a clusterf*ck, because you're replacing relics or near-relics.
The idea that Toyota only maintains reliability somehow by keeping things forever (and therefore not make need changes is a myth, chosen to be bandied about by the ignorant or wilfully obtuse.)
Japanese being leaders in tech and mechanical engineering for durability has proven that wrong when they were able to launch new products efficiently in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, while making revolutionary products and sticking to a timely model cadence. The Tundra is going to be 15 years old by the time it is redesigned. Same for the LX and LC, ditto for the Sequoia as well.
I do not recall seeing these problems with the previous generations of these models nor their little brothers or junior Lexus cousins of yore. 7-9 years at most or even less. Someone got cocky with their customer base and then when they got to doing stuff with big ideas on top of that, all of a sudden they don't have enough time to fall back on (*coughs* Tundra). Particularly with a revolutionary hybrid needing finessing.
Time doesn't wait for anyone, as seen with the RC that should've been here in the late 90s or early-mid 2000s. Not 10-15 years later, when coupes are sinking and BMW had 4 generations of compact coupes (E30 3-Series Coupe of 1982 was a 2 door sedan essentially, unlike E36 3-C of 1992+ and E46-C 1999+) to secure their place amongst the nouveau riche, yuppies, and heirs of the world.
It would be nothing short of a miracle for Toyota to redesign 4 to 5 vehicles to GA-F per 9-12 months. But nobody has managed to do that in the industry, so things are going to be stretched out as I thought. Why do I say that? Study the rollouts of TNGA-C from 2015-Present, GA-L & TNGA-K 2017-present, and TNGA-N 2018 to present.
All of these new applications for Toyota New Global architecture have understandably not happened in one fell swoop. They are staggered out by many months, if and when differing variations (M-S Camry-Jun 2017 vs F-S Avalon-Q2 2018 vs Compact CUV RAV4-Nov 2018 vs larger Highlander - Nov 19) and that concerns me.
I think the best thing that Toyota could do is to launch 2-3 GA-F models within 24 months, starting in 2021 for 2022 to hurry replacements, but that won't happen judging by how things went in 2006 and 2007. A Tundra by itself in 2021, then 3 new big SUVs in 2022 is most likely.
