The Toyota 4Runner is a dinosaur, a truck-like body-on-frame SUV in a world of car-based crossovers. That means the 4Runner is no longer the big seller it once was, but it also means this Toyota is pretty good off road.
Toyota is highlighting those off-road capabilities with the new 2017 TRD Off-Road model. It basically replaces last year’s Trail model, and slots in below the more hardcore TRD Pro in the 4Runner lineup. TRD, by the way, stands for Toyota Racing Development. That’s Toyota’s motorsport division, and it has many off-road race victories to its credit.
Like most modern off-roaders, the 4Runner TRD Off-Road gets many gadgets to help drivers negotiate tough terrain. The Multi-Terrain Select system allows the driver to adjust the vehicle’s behavior for different conditions using a knob on the dashboard. An electronic-locking rear differential helps manage power, and Toyota’s Crawl Control system helps manage speed. It works like low-speed cruise control, maintaining a constant speed without the driver having to touch the throttle or brakes.
Read more: Toyota’s 2016 Tacoma TRD Pro is ready to climb every mountain
An optional Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) enhances the 4Runner’s sure-footedness. On pavement, it restrains body roll for better handling. Off road, it allows extra wheel travel to help the 4Runner climb over obstacles, rather than smash into them. KDSS also controls wheel slip, allowing more where it is advantageous, and less where it isn’t.
Toyota will offer the 4Runner TRD Off-Road in both standard and Premium trim levels. Both versions are distinguished by black-trimmed wheels and “TRD Off-Road” badges on the C-pillars. Interior changes include fake carbon fiber trim on the center console, and floor mats with the “TRD Off-Road” badge. Premium models get the same badge stitched into front headrests as well.
The TRD Off-Road uses the same powertrain as every other 4Runner model. A 4.0-liter V6 produces 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, which is sent to all four wheels through a five-speed automatic transmission. The 2017 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road goes on sale later this year; pricing will be announced closer to the on-sale date.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.