The next-generation Toyota Sequoia, the king of Toyota's SUV family, has been snapped for the first time up close and personal by the Brenda Priddy spy crew.
Codenamed 200L, the all-new vehicle is based on the new Tundra platform and is being designed to go head-to-head with GM's GMT 900 family of large SUVs. Expect the Sequoia to offer the same engine options as its Tundra sibling -- the 4.7 and 5.7-liter V-8s.
According to Priddy, both the SR5 and Limited (front view) trim models were being tested of this new beast, which looks plenty big enough to rival the interior room of the GM offerings and clearly has Tundra DNA in its design. Judging by the trailer that is hitched up to the Limited example, expect it to rival The General's SUVs in towing capacity as well.
Of course, with Toyota pressing its advantage on the hybrid front, we'll be interested to see what fuel-saving technologies, if any, it will employ on the new Sequoia. GM has been making news lately with its plans to hybridize its full-size SUV fleet, and it will be interesting to see what Toyota will do to counter the move.
Production of the new Sequoia is expected to begin sometime around the end of the year, with its auto show reveal rumored to be at next February's Chicago Auto Show. Expect to see it on showroom floors by spring of 2008 at the latest. Still unclear is if it will be a 2008 or 2009 model year vehicle.