Toyota’s Fortuner is the largest selling SUV in its segment and by a considerable margin, thanks to its brute, muscular looks, Toyota’s reliability and decent off-roading capabilities.
However, with an onslaught from all corners, Fortuner is under pressure to maintain its lead over the competition. And Toyota is doing just what Mahindra did with XUV500 – launching a lesser variant in the lineup.
The cheapest Fortuner in Delhi carries a sticker price of Rs 22.25 lakhs (ex-showroom) and just as we reported a few months back, Toyota is planning to bring out a lower spec version of the popular SUV to attract an even larger customer base with the smaller 2.5 L engine from the Innova. And as per a report published on Autocar India, the launch is scheduled for as soon as the first week of October.
Fortuner has been clocking roughly 1,500 units per month for the past few months. Fitted with a 3.0L D-4D diesel mill it produces 171 PS of power and 343 Nm of torque with manual transmission and is available in 2WD and 4WD and 360 Nm of torque with an automatic transmission with 2WD.
Toyota has been selling the Fortuner with the same 2.5L engine in Indonesia for a long time now. It churns out 144 PS of power at 3400 rpm and 343Nm of torque in the range of 1600-2800 rpm. Indonesia gets a 5 speed manual as well as an automatic transmission; it comes in two-wheel drive as well as a four-wheel drive. India though will, in all probability, get only a manual transmission with a two-wheel drive to keep the costs under check.
Apart from this, Toyota will also launch a new top of the line Fortuner 3.0L 4 Wheel Drive (4WD) coupled with an Automatic Transmission. With these two variants at either ends of the spectrum, Fortuner will encompass a larger audience base. This is Toyota’s last attempt to revive the current Fortuner before the new-gen SUV, which has already begun tests in Thailand, will make way sometime in 2016.
So, how about a 19.99 Lakh Fortuner, then..?
Related: 2016 Toyota Hilux Spied Hinting at New Design of All-New Fortuner
