Upcoming Toyota Fortuner will focus on ride comfort
Modern styling has largely replaced the robust design of the evergreen Toyota Fortuner which despite its rugged nature still managed to find incredible traction in the city amongst business men and women.
According to Calvyn Hamman, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Toyota South Africa Motors, the brief 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.”
In response to the Ford Everest which is scheduled to arrive in South Africa later this year, the Toyota Fortuner has gone through its own exterior metamorphosis. Like the 2016 Toyota Hilux, the headlights are slimmer, the grille has been slanted (and finished in chrome) and the front bumper heavily sculpted and integrated with the adjoining panels.
While the exterior resembles the Hilux, the interior was conceptualized to be more refined and less physical. Sadly Toyota has not released any interior pictures but do promise that the Fortuner will introduce a wide selection of soft touch materials surrounding the new vertical cluster and bigger touchscreen – some may call it a tablet.
Selecting 4WD is done via a rotary knob, the middle row of seats can be collapsed by pressing a button and fifteen storage spaces will swallow all the loose change you can imagine.
Toyota is staying tight-lipped over the engines but expect the 2.4-litre and 2.8-litre to be popular diesel choices (110kW/400Nm and 130kW/450Nm respectively) while petrol options should mimic the Hilux’s with a 2.7-litre 4-cylinder and 4.0-litre V6. Outputs may depend on choice of gearbox but a six-speed automatic is a big step forward.
Ride quality and low noise levels are probably the two faculties that will set this 2016 Toyota Fortuner apart from the model it replaces. Maximising comfort and safety is an all-new frame with strengthened cross members, side rails and suspension towers complimenting double wishbone and 4-link suspension with rear stabiliser bar.
The all-new Fortuner launches in South Africa during the second quarter of 2016.
