2016 Toyota Fortuner spotted ahead of July 17 reveal

Before its international reveal on 17 July, barely disguised examples of the 2016 Toyota Fortuner has been spotted on a flatbed in Thailand.

The next generation Fortuner will be based on a reworked version of Toyota’s  Innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicle (IMV) platform. Apropos to being a proper, old-school SUV, the new Fortuner will continue with a new ladder frame chassis which would be lighter and stiffer than the outgoing version and should make for better off-road prowess.

Internationally, the new Fortuner will be available with range of two diesels and one petrol engines – a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder unit (2GD-FTV) that will make 150 horsepower and 343 Nm of torque, a 2.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder motor (1GD-FTV) that will produce 177 horsepower and 420 Nm of torque (450 Nm in a different state of tune) and a 2.7-litre four-cylinder VVT-i petrol unit will develop 122 horsepower and 245 Nm of twist.

The variants of the 2016 Toyota Fortuner include the 2.4G 4×2 6MT, 2.4V 4×2 6AT, 2.8V 4×2 6AT and a 2.8V 4×4 6AT. While the diesel models come in a variety of transmission and drive configurations, the petrol model only comes in one configuration, namely – 2.7V 4×2 6AT. Only the top-spec 2.8V diesel variant of the new Fortuner will get the four-wheel drive system, while the rest will come in a rear-wheel drive configuration. The 6-speed manual transmission will only be offered on the entry-level diesel model, while the rest get a 6-speed automatic gearbox.

Other features include 18 inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, push button engine start, front/rear fog lights, 7 airbags (dual front – side – knee – inflatable curtain), ABS with EBD, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), traction control, Hill Assist Control (HAC) and an emergency light system, amongst others.