The first official images and features of the 2012 Toyota Fortuner were seen on Toyota’s Thailand website early yesterday.

The new Fortuner’s styling has been revised from the A-pillar forwards, with a new bonnet, radiator grille, headlamps and front bumper. In addition, the 2012 model sports new steel and alloy wheel designs, as well as side mirrors with integrated turn signals. Expect the 2012 Fortuner to benefit from the same interior updates as the 2012 Hilux. This means a new upper dashboard design, with a new, horizontal, centre instrument cluster, as well as a 6.1-inch colour touch-screen multimedia unit.

Under the bonnet, the 2.5-lite D-4D engine has been given a variable geometry turbocharger, which adds 18 kW for a total of 107 kW and 343 Nm of torque. At the same time, combined cycle fuel consumption has been reduced by 1.0 l/100 km to 7.3 l/100 km and CO2 emissions lowered by 26 g/km to 193 g/km. The 3.0-litre D-4D engine remains unchanged, although it has been paired with a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF), together with the 2.5 D-4D, which now means it is compliant with Euro V emissions standards.

The updated Fortuner is likely to be launched sometime in early 2012.