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Toyota Fortuner 2016 – pic from www.carsguide.com.au

Tinashe Makichi Motoring Correspondent
Toyota Zimbabwe’s sales dominance this year is expected to continue with the entry of the latest 2016 Toyota Fortuner. Unveiled in Zimbabwe on Sunday at Donny Brook, the car becomes the Japanese global manufacturer, Toyota’s fourth seven seat SUV. The vehicle looks robust and is expected to command respect in the streets because of its macho appeal. The new Toyota Fortuner was launched together with the new Toyota Hilux.

The Toyota Fortuner brand has been a favourite within the Zimbabwean circles despite earlier unsubstantiated concerns raised over its lack of balance when travelling at high speeds. A sporty styling, rugged mechanicals, comfortable interior and the reliability that comes associated with a Toyota product has ensured that the current generation Fortuner is among the highest selling SUVs on the market.

The Toyota Fortuner is powered by GD range of engines and is underpinned by an updated IMV platform that will comply with the Toyota New Generation Architecture. Akin to the current model, the next-generation Fortuner boasts of a ladder frame chassis, which should mean that the ruggedness would remain unaffected.

Internally christened as the “GD” series, the new range of motors from Toyota comprise of 2,4 litre and 2,8 litre turbo diesel units. Both these engines feature “Economy with Superior Thermal Efficient Combustion” technology and get a variable-geometric turbocharger.

The 2, 4 litre motor pumps out a maximum power of 160 hp and a peak torque of 400 Nm. The 2,8 litre unit boasts of 177 hp 450 Nm.

Both the motors will come mated to six speed manual and automatic transmissions. There’s also a 2,7 litre petrol motor for the Thai market. This engine generates 166 PS at 5 200 rpm and a peak torque of 245 Nm torque at 4 000 rpm.

All the motors are available with six-speed automatic transmission.

The 2,4-diesel also gets a 6-speed manual transmission. All the variants are available with FWD layout. The 2,8-diesel gets both FWD and AWD.

The Fortuner features a much sleeker and sportier look when compared with the outgoing version

The new model is built on the highly modular Toyota New Generation Architecture platform.

This platform has resulted in the Fortuner being lighter yet stiffer, thereby improving ride, handling, and safety. Additionally, its mileage has been increased by 10 per cent

The front-end gets slim, wraparound, dual-projector headlamps that flow into a newly designed twin-slat chrome grille.

The Fortuner also gets a refreshed front bumper which includes chrome accented fog lamps and LED DRLs.

The side profile includes a high shoulder line, large wheel arches, and 12 spoke alloy wheels

At the rear, the premium SUV gets an electric tailgate and LED tail-lamps

Inside the car, the cabin has an upmarket feel with the generous use of soft-touch materials and leather seats. The new car is also bigger than its predecessor which indicates that interior space has been improved on.

A large touch screen infotainment system display sits in the centre of the dash with the controls for the air conditioning system located below it.

The four spoke steering wheel sees mounted telephony and audio controls. The all-new Toyota Fortuner also features a range of newly developed GD diesel engines which include a 2,4 litre 2GD-FTV unit rated at 148bhp and 400Nm of torque, and a 2,8-litre 1GD-FTV unit rated at 177 bhp and 450Nm of torque.

Transmission duties will be handled by either a six speed manual or a six speed automatic gearbox.