Toyota has begun testing the next-gen Fortuner SUV in India. Unveiled earlier this year and currently on sale in Thailand and Australia, the SUV will rival the likes of the Chevrolet Trailblazer and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.
Earlier scheduled to be released in 2016, the India launch will now take place more than a year after its global unveil, as the carmaker plans to localise the SUV for the market here. The next-gen Fortuner is powered by Toyota’s new GD series engines, which will be assembled and made in India. As a result, Toyota could launch the new Fortuner at an attractive price.
The Japanese carmaker recently inaugurated an engine plant in Bengaluru which will manufacture its GD series range of engines – the 2.4-litre and 2.8-litre units. Set up with an investment of Rs 1,100 crore, the plant is Toyota’s first GD engine plant in India and third globally, after Japan and Thailand. With a production capacity of 1,08,000 units a year, the facility manufactures engines in compliance with BS-IV/Euro IV emission standards with an additional provision to upgrade to BS-V and VI with minimum investment and lead time in the future, according to the carmaker.
The new GD series engines comprise two diesels – a 2.4-litre turbo-diesel, expected to replace the current 2.5-litre diesel unit, and a 2.8-litre motor that will replace the current 3.0-litre unit. The new 2.4-litre 2GD-FTV motor, which will also power the all-new Innova, is rated at 148bhp and 40.78kgm of torque while the larger 2.8-litre 1GD-FTV is rated at 175bhp and 45.9kgm of torque. Transmission duties will be undertaken by a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic.
The Fortuner’s design language is now more in line with the current-gen Toyota off-roaders sold internationally. Up front, the car features a wedge-shaped bonnet along with pulled-back headlights. It gets a generous helping of chrome at the front and around the fog lamps.
A few months ago, Toyota launched the second-generation Innova MPV in India and the carmaker will soon add a petrol-powered Innova to its India line-up soon.
Read our exclusive new Fortuner review