CANBERRA: Toyota’s all-new seven-seat Ford Everest fighter set to arrive within months of HiLux and follow eight major releases this year.
Toyota Australia will add yet another SUV to its range. The next-generation Fortuner off-roader will arrive by this time next year — just months after the launch of the redesigned HiLux ute on which it’s based.
The Japanese giant this week reiterated its plan to launch 10 new or facelifted models by this time next year, and motoring.com.au has confirmed the new Fortuner will be the last of the tranche.
Before then in 2015, Toyota will release the facelifted Prius c this month, the facelifted Camry in April, followed within weeks by the facelifted Aurion, a facelifted Prius v mid-year, the redesigned HiLux around October and a 200 Series LandCruiser upgrade late this year.
Motoring.com.au understands the LandCruiser’s midlife model makeover will be relatively minor, and a similar upgrades will be applied to its Lexus LX 570 twin.
Indeed, it’s turned out to be a busy 2015 for Lexus. Recent releases include the NX 200t SUV and the RC F sports coupe launched this week at Bathurst. The new 570 and the surprise early arrival of the GS F sports sedan will be further key arrivals for Toyota’s luxury brand this year.
No upgrades are currently planned for the Yaris, Corolla, Rukus, Tarago, 86, RAV4, Kluger, Prado, FJ Cruiser, 70 Series LandCruiser or HiAce, however, Toyota’s fourth-generation Prius will be a highlight arrival in early 2016.
As we’ve reported, Toyota Australia was heavily involved in the development of the next-generation HiLux and Fortuner wagon sister model.
Australia was the first export market for Toyota and its first LandCruiser, and has played an integral role in the research and development of every LandCruiser since.
Apart from durability testing, both HiLux variants underwent chassis development work Down Under at the hands of the Melbourne-based Toyota Technical Centre.
The current HiLux has been around since 2005, while the outgoing Fortuner appeared on the same platform as a replacement for the 4Runner in Thailand – where both models are built – in 2004.
The new HiLux will face stiff competition from a new Nissan Navara and Mitsubishi Triton, as well as facelifted Ranger and Mazda BT-50 models, all due here by mid-year.
The previous Fortuner (pictured) was never sold in Australia, but Toyota Style Australia was involved in its midlife makeover.
As before, the new Fortuner will essentially be a five-door wagon version of the next HiLux ute, just like closest rival — the Australian-engineered, Ranger-based Ford Everest. In the absence of a diesel Kluger, Fortuner will provide Australia’s number one vehicle brand with an oil-burning off-road SUV positioned beneath the Prado.
Built in Thailand, Indonesia, India and Argentina, the current Fortuner seven-seater is available with 3.0-litre turbo-diesel, 2.7-litre four-cylinder petrol and 4.0-litre petrol V6 engines matched to two-wheel drive and selectable four-wheel drive systems, the latter with a two-speed transfer case.
Expect the Fortuner to be priced from around $40,000 in Australia, in line with or below the Camry-based Kluger seven-seat SUV.
The Fortuner will bring to eight the number of SUVs Toyota sells in Australia, including the RAV4, Kluger, Prado, FJ Cruiser and three LandCruiser wagons.
While Toyota Australia continues to explore its micro-car options, its next additional is likely to be another SUV, this time a compact SUV to slot beneath the RAV4, based on the edgy C-HR concept.
