Toyota bets big on all-new Fortuner

Since its launch in 2009, the Fortuner has been the best-selling premium SUV in India. Now, Toyota is working on the second-generation of the popular SUV and it is expected to make its way to our showrooms soon. Images leaked online paved way for the illustration that you see above.

The Fortuner now looks more upmarket and even more radical than its stable sibling – the Innova. The upright look of a traditional body-on-frame SUV has been ditched, and instead, its styling is edgy in both profile and detail. At the front, the high bonnet height has been retained but the slim headlight pods are heavily peeled back and there’s a prominent chrome grille. The Fortuner also gets a steeply raked windscreen like on the new Innova and there’s an appealing kink in the shoulder line just above the rear wheel arches. The entire rear of the car now gets a pillar-less look, complete with a wraparound rear windscreen.

Expected to be built on the updated version of the IMV platform, this new chassis will be stiffer and lighter. Like the Innova, the Fortuner is also likely to benefit from a slightly longer wheelbase. Toyota is expected to update the brakes on the new Fortuner, along with adding an entire raft of new safety features.

Under the hood, both the 3.0- and 2.5-litre motors from the current car are expected to be carried over, although power for the 3.0-litre is likely to be bumped up to 187bhp.

The Fortuner’s dominance in its segment is unmatched as it sells more than all its competition put together. That said, the first-gen model has been around for a while and with fresh offerings from rivals coming in, competition is only going to get stiffer – Ford is ready to launch its all-new Endeavour and Chevrolet is bracing up to introduce the new Trailblazer soon as well. However, the combination of the Fortuner brand and Toyota badge is terrific and at least from the information available currently about the upcoming SUV, it looks like a more compelling package.

SELVIN JOSE