Well i guess it is, it says a 3.5 V6, FF or AWD, 7 or 8 Passenger seating, i would say thats either new or some updates.
Edmunds is describing the model that is currently available on sale.
Quote:
The current model comes standard with a 266-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 and front- or all-wheel drive in seven- and eight-passenger configurations.
They have no idea what the next-generation model will be like.
For early on-road testing of new models, Toyota tends to use the old body as a test mule, and that looks like what Toyota did here. You have to look carefully to see if there any changes to the body of the test mule to speculate what changes there will be from the old to the new.
I am no expert at this, so don't quote me on what follows...
At the front, the hood seems ill-fitting and seems to sit higher. The fenders don't fit well either, looking like they may stick out somewhat from the body of the test mule. That MAY suggest a higher front part of the hood (like on the new Chrysler minivans), likely to meet new pedestrian-safety regulations; and the wider fenders may suggest a wider front track.
There is a lot of tape on the back end, especially between the rear wheel well and the rear bumper, and it does seem to bulge out a bit. There is also that bulge in both rear sliding doors. That may suggest that there will be less tumblehome (the body sides will taper in less at the bottom). Perhaps the next-generation Sienna will be more slab-sided -- like the current Honda Odyssey -- and have less barrel-shaped sides.
Of course, this is all speculation, and we won't know what the next-generation Sienna will be like, for another few months at least.
Like Sulu said this is a test mule. So they might have the next generations powertrain and engine and suspension setup but use an old body? Anyway it just a test mule and doesn't really reflect what the final product will look like. My guess it will come out late next year as a 2010 model.
I think Toyota is also this time around going to adapt the car to handle a hybrid powertrain.
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I'm noticing a pattern here. Toyota's using a white mule when it was to test out specific areas of a vehicle. For example, the white Prius mule that only had the front end masked. It looked like Toyota was testing a new headlight system (with projectors) but the latest shot of the Prius (the black one) doesn't appear to have projectors.
Ditto with this Sienna mule. Look at the headlights, they're different. Toyota's testing specific things and not bigger items like suspension or handling.
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Well, that might be right. They did the same thing with the Prius. The first spyshots we got, nothing but the front was changed. And then as time went on, they changed more things...This seems great
its a test mule...
im sure the new sienna will be quite impressive....its currently a battle royale between the sienna and odyssey for the minivan top seat...im ready to see the new sienna beat up on honda's crap.
The new Sienna will use a mildly modified version of its existing platform that it shares with the Toyota Camry, the overall size of the model will grow slightly allowing a little extra space for passengers and cargo. No details about the engine lineup can be confirmed but it is believed the 266-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 from the current model will continue to be used with a strong possibility of a hybrid being offered in 2012 or 2013.
I wonder when automakers will start to decide that enough is enough and large is too large? But I suppose with the current generation Chrysler minivans growing in size from the last generation, that Toyota would do the same.
I hope that the hybrid comes sooner rather than later.
I wonder when automakers will start to decide that enough is enough and large is too large? But I suppose with the current generation Chrysler minivans growing in size from the last generation, that Toyota would do the same.
I hope that the hybrid comes sooner rather than later.
I'm not surprised the new Sienna will be slighty larger. I'm guessing it'll contribute more room for the third row. The third row of the current Sienna isn't as roomy as the previous generation Grand Caravan's before they added the fold flat seats.
I'm not surprised the new Sienna will be slighty larger. I'm guessing it'll contribute more room for the third row. The third row of the current Sienna isn't as roomy as the previous generation Grand Caravan's before they added the fold flat seats.
I'm guessing this indicates that the new Sienna will come as early as January.
Interesting... So the 2010 Sienna is coming in early 2009? That could mean that the new generation is coming in January/February 2009, but I think that it means that the following:
The 2009 model year is short (July 2008 to January 2009)
The 2010 model year comes early (January/February 2009) and runs a full year, to early 2010.
The Gen3 Sienna will be introduced in early 2010 as a 2011 model.
Toyota has been doing a lot of this early model year introductions recently: 2006 Avalon in early 2005; 2007 Camry in early 2006; 2009 Corolla in early 2008.
I base this speculation upon the fact that we have not heard more rumours about the next-generation model, and have not seen more test models of the Gen3 Sienna, including highly camouflaged models. Even Toyota cannot be that good at hiding prototypes of new models.
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