Changing fortunes All-new Toyota Fortuner makes much-anticipated global debut – its first full-model change ever

ON STYLING ALONE it clearly eschews the previous SUV’s utilitarian presence in favour of a more overt exterior, but Toyota says it won’t lose any of its strength and genuine all-terrain capability. The need-to-knows of the second-gen sevenseater (beginning life as the Hilux Sport Rider of 1998, before going global in 2005 with the model Saffas know and love) are its totally redesigned body, more premium interior and a range of new engines. The design brief was simple. ‘Design a Fortuner that can compete in terms of style and aesthetics while staying true to its authentic SUV characteristics and genuine 4WD performance,’ says Calvyn Hamman, Senior VP of Sales & Marketing, Toyota SA. To that end the 2016 Fortuner ushers in a new design language Toyota chooses to call ‘Solid Fluidity’. That oxymoron might be a little more ‘moron’ than ‘oxy’ but what it’s angling at is the offering’s solid width, high body axis, bulging wheel arches and chunky trapezoidal front bumper, which don’t sacrifice sophisticated detailing, such as the slim headlights, slanted chrome grille and sleek, complex rear lamps. 18in wheels with 265/60 rubber fill the arches and the keen beltline kinks up towards the tall rear, with black C-pillars giving it a ‘floating roof’ look. Although Toyota hasn’t shown us the interior just yet, the firm says ample cabin space (with 15 hidden stowage compartments) will be complemented by convenience features (model dependent) that include an integrated multi-media touchscreen (à la Prado), smart entry and a second-row seats with one-touch operation for easy seat folding. As with the new Hilux, there are new engines offering improved low-down torque, fuel efficiency and reduced engine noise. These include 2.4-litre (112kW/400Nm) and 2.8-litre (132kW/450Nm) diesels, supplemented by a 123kW/245Nm 2.7-litre petrol variant. Propping up these efficient powerplants are newly developed six-speed automatic transmissions with optimised gear ratios. The new Fortuner arrives in SA in the second quarter of 2016. Full local range and specs will be disclosed closer to the launch