Toyota’s all-new Fortuner SUV has today been revealed globally and www.carshowroom.com.au joined the Australian leg at Toyota’s Sydney base in Woollooware.
Based on the upcoming all-new HiLux ute, the exclusively diesel, exclusively seven-seat Fortuner fills product voids in the Prado and Kluger lineups.
The Fortuner will join Toyota Australia’s product lineup in October – bringing the SUV team to six models - and although prices have not been announced (speculation has it starting below $47,990), Fortuner will be offered in three model grades: entry-level ‘GX’, mid-grade ‘GXL’ and range-topping ‘Crusade’.
As you can see, the Fortuner heads down a new styling road for Toyota SUVs – this thing doesn’t really have a passing resemblance with any other model and is noticeably different to the previous generation which we’ve seen for some time in Thailand.
The range-topping model we saw (with blackened windows so we could not see the interior) scored piercing Bi-LED headlights, LED tail-lights and 18-inch alloy wheels.
Power comes from Toyota’s 450Nm 2.8-litre turbo-diesel driving through either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.
Underneath the Fortuner runs on a modified version of the all-new HiLux platform – although naturally the leaf-spring rear end is replaced with coil springs, struts and a solid rear axle.
Toyota Fortuner GX and GXL models use 17-inch alloy wheels with exclusively-developed off-road biased tyres while the ‘Crusade’ is equipped with 18-inch wheel and highway biased tyres.
All will be exclusively part-time four-wheel-drive with a dial providing electronic 4WD selection.
A mechanical rear differential lock is also standard.
As you would expect, using that HiLux platform, the Toyota Fortuner is primed for serious off-road and towing action – in fact the towing rating is 3,000 kgs for the six-speed manual or 2,800kgs for the six-speed automatic).
We expect the Toyota Fortuner will be impressive when we get behind the wheel in October as electronics and suspension development for this global model was the work of the Toyota Australia engineering team.
And while the Fortuner is a new nameplate for Toyota Australia, the model nameplate started life in Thailand back in 1998 – appropriately as a passenger vehicle based on a pickup chassis.
According to Toyota Australia sales boss Tony Cramb, the Fortuner will b e a perfect fit for the local lineup.
“Last year diesel SUV sales were four times the level of 10 years ago and we know private buyers looking for adventure want diesels, so the Fortuner will be a diesel alternative to the petrol-only Kluger range,” Mr Cramb said.
