By Autodealer
With the international launch of the much anticipated and long overdue Toyota Hilux soon upon us, some of you might have been wondering what is going to happen to the Fortuner? Well we have just received news on the all-new Toyota Fortuner. Here are all the details that you need to know.
When it comes to the all-new Fortuner, the brief set by Toyota South Africa was simple: “Design a Fortuner than can compete in terms of style and aesthetics while staying true to its authentic SUV characteristics and genuine 4WD performance.”
The new Toyota Fortuner sure does have some big boots to fill as the current generation is still selling like hot-cakes. Toyota has focused on four key areas where the new Fortuner needs to excel:
The first is the element of design. Toyota has created a new “Solid Fluidity” design language for the Fortuner which expresses toughness and wideness through the high body axis, the bulging wheel arch flares as well as the chunky trapezoidal front bumper. This prominent three-dimensional trapezoidal front bumper produces a sense of depth while deeply recessed foglamps emphasise the vehicle’s width. Along the side, a bold character line runs across the doors between the flared front and rear fenders which feature sculpted surfaces to express refinement in the midst of toughness.
From the back, Fortuner’s rounded upper body is highlighted by a chrome-plated moulding that wraps around from the sides to the back glass – a distinct contrast to the rear bumper, which has protruding corners. The sleek rear combination lamps add extra flair to the rear end of the Fortuner.
When it comes to the driving side of things, Toyota has developed a new six-speed manual gearbox which includes ‘intelligent’ technology to ensure smoother shifting by matching engine speed to transmission speed. A newly developed six-speed automatic transmission is now also available with optimised gear ratios to maximise engine performance.
As for the Utility aspects, a part-time 4×4 is active during day-to-day driving, owners can turn a dial to access the Fortuner’s impressive four-wheel-drive ability in high or low range.
A key feature of the new Fortuner is performance. Customers can expect two newly developed engines. A new 2.4- and 2.8-litre diesel are highlights of the new Fortuner engine range. These units will be supplementing the petrol variants (details to be disclosed closer to launch). Low-speed torque has been greatly improved. In addition to achieving higher power at all engine speeds, the new units boast improved fuel efficiency and cruising range as well as reduced engine noise. Maximum braked towing capacity will be three tonnes for the manual and 2.8 tonnes for the auto.
And finally a key key element is safety. The new model comes with a full suite of safety technology including both active and preventative systems such as kneebags and Hill Start Assist, to mention just two of the safety extras on offer.
Please note that the all-new Fortuner launches in South Africa during the second quarter of 2016. Full local range and specs will be disclosed closer to launch timing.
