"Spotting" the GenIII: Differentiating the 2010 from the GenII

Identifying the GenIII on the fly is not always easy. I responded to a couple of posts in the Have you seen any GenIII's on the road? thread, and I thought it would make an interesting topic for a new thread. If you agree, please help me out.

I've thought of a few distinctives in the styling and look of the GenIII, as compared to the GenII, and I've listed the ones I believe are "easy" distinctives to be used in "spotting" a GenIII on the fly. Certainly you can tell the two apart when they are parked. If nothing else, the wheel covers tell the story right away. Also, the placement of the name badges in the back is easier to see when the car is still.

Perhaps others have found additional "easy" distinctives, but here's what I find:

1. Head-on view. The GenII has fog lamps nestled in next to the lower grill. The GenIII has the fog lamps and parking lights together and separated from the grill. This is a very easy "spot."
2. Rear-view. The spoiler is the quick clue for two reasons. The first is that the spoiler in the GenIII is a bit flatter than the GenII, which has a bit of an arch to it from side to side. The second is that the spoiler in the GenII is color-coded to the car. In the GenIII the spoiler is black. This is not a fail-safe method of detection, though, because the spoiler is black on GenII and GenIII black cars.
3. Rear quarter view. The GenIII has more distinctive lines in the body, and the side line merges in the back with the point where the spoiler and taillight merge. This is a difficult "spot" unless you are both traveling in the same direction.
4. Side view. There are two distinctives. The first and easiest is the antenna. The GenIII has a much shorter antenna than the GenII. The second distinctive is the raised line in the sheet metal. Perhaps a bit more difficult to see at speed, but noticeable when you become familiar with it.
5. Another head-on view. The larger badge on the front (with the blue color in it) is not always easy to see at speed, but there is a subtle "bump" difference in the hood, leading to the badge.
6. Another side view. The hump has been moved back, giving the GenIII less of an egg-shaped look and a bit more of a "wedge" look.

Please add what you can.

 

Mark,

Thanks for providing the additional links. While I didn't see these threads in a quick search, I also don't know that my request is completely along the same lines. Pretty darn close, though! I really don't like it when people do not search and just start a duplicate thread. I really, really don't like it when I'm that person!

I was looking for a way to do a quick "spot" of a Gen3 while driving. At a standstill it is very easy to see the reflector lights v. projector lights or note that the side view mirrors are on the post (vs. door for the GenIII). While everyone is moving, it is more of a challenge. It also is the way most of us will encounter the GenIII -- or what we wonder is a GenIII.

 

They hardly need to add a "Toyota" badge when the big "T" blue-toned thingy is so BIG!