Last week Toyota launched the 2021 facelift of the Toyota Fortuner in the Indian market, but the brand is now already working on the next-generation Toyota Fortuner and surprisingly, Toyota Motor Corporation’s Chief Engineer confirmed that the new-generation model will be launched next year. The third-generation Fortuner is speculated to continue with the body on frame architecture but is expected to come with a lot of new features inside-out as well as a new electrification-ready powertrain.
The next-generation SUV is expected to come with a lot of features in the electronics department such as a new electric power steering (EPS) with a high level of calibration that allows easy manoeuvrability within the city as well as sporty driving feedback of the hydraulic unit employed on the current model. The brand will need to make a big change in the electronic architecture of the SUV to adapt to the new EPS system.
The next-generation Fortuner is also expected to come with the latest generation connectivity features as well as an improved ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) technology. The India-spec Fortuner misses out on ADAS but the international version is available with radar-based Adaptive Cruise Control, lane departure warning and pre-collision safety system. The next-generation model is expected to come with greater digitisation and integration of the ADAS. Furthermore, safety is also expected to be enhanced with electronically-controlled VSC (vehicle stability control).
In the engine department, the brand is expected to introduce more efficient powertrains that are ready for future emission standards and some form of electrification is expected to be engineered. The next-generation Fortuner could come with a mild-hybrid or strong hybrid powertrain with a diesel motor. The brand may not introduce a pure diesel engine in the future. The electrification strategy is expected to offset the inference of heavy body-on-frame without having to switch to a monocoque architecture. The current Fortuner in India is powered by both diesel and petrol engine options.