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Toyota face-lifts popular Fortuner
driven by Autodealer
ZAMBIA, a country forged through hardship, where its
people live in harsh and unforgiving conditions as the dry land is baked
under the hot African sun. This is Fortuner country.
16 September 2011
| Stuart Moir
A significant seller for Toyota, its most popular SUV has
undergone a mid-life facelift, borrowing a few features from its
recently launched sibling - the Hilux. Some of these enhancements
include an upgraded front grille, which is flanked by a newly designed
headlight cluster. These changes flow into the new bonnet, which now
houses a muscular bulge. Other changes also include upgrades to the
front bumper, which is characterised by its squarer façade, building on
its aggressive stance.
Styling changes to the rear include individually styled rear
light clusters and the continuation of a square rear bumper to name a
few.
Interior
In
the cockpit, a redesigned instrument cluster greets the driver and it
now features a single unit with chrome detailing. Despite its clever
layout, the centre console does look slightly dated on the 3.0 D-4D and
4.0 V6 models, which house a 1
5.5cm TFT touch screen - a handy feature.
But with the Zambian sun gazing down on us, I couldn’t see what was
being displayed as the reflection was rather unkind. However, the audio
system does house Bluetooth capabilities, with iPod/USB connectivity and
in the higher spec models, the Display Audio system also features
images from the reverse camera, tucked away under the chromed number
plate garnish.
The
3.0 D-4D and 4.0 V6 models also feature automatic climate control systems,
while the new 2.5 D-4D VNT sports a manually controlled
air-conditioning system, a helpful item when exploring in this lifestyle
vehicle.
Despite housing these modern features, the interior
styling looks like something from a 1980s hotel room, with a mixture of
dark wood trimmings and grey plastics. Admittedly I only felt this time
warp in the higher spec car.
Motor
Continuing to move forward, the Fortuner enjoys engine enhancements too, most notably the new high power
2.5-litre D-4D VNT motor.
This powertrain has been fitted with an electrically actuated nozzle
turbo charger and fuel injection system producing eyebrow-raising
results. The engine produces 343Nm of torque, on par with the bigger
3.0-litre motor. This vehicle was the pick of the bunch as it devoured
the unsavoury Zambian roads quite competently, and with a price tag of
R325 500 it definitely looks like a market warrior.
The Toyota Fortuner range is sold with a
5-year/90 000km service plan and a 3-year/100 000km warranty.
Pricing
Fortuner 2.5 D-4D VNT 4x2 RB R325 500
Fortuner 3.0 D-4D 4x2 RB R395 000
Fortuner 3.0 D-4D 4x2 RB AT R406 300
Fortuner 4.0 V6 4x2 RB AT R422 300
Fortuner 3.0 D-4D 4x4 R439 800
Fortuner 3.0 D-4D 4X4 AT R451 200
Fortuner 4.0 V6 4X4 AT R466 900
AYGO FRUGAL – TOYOTA’S SMALLEST COMPETITOR WINS PETROL CATEGORY OVERALL IN 2011 TOTAL ECONOMY RUN
It may be the smallest model in Toyota’s local line-up, but the diminutive Aygo – introduced to South Africa less than six months ago – has already proven it is up for any big challenge.
With its cheeky attitude, depicted by its youthful styling, it has won over the hearts of hundreds of South Africans, and more than a thousand Aygo’s have found owners – making it one of the most popular entry level vehicles in South Africa.
Now the Aygo has proven its frugality and fuel efficiency again by claiming the overall petrol category victory in the 2011 Total Economy Run, the 35th running of the event, staged in and around Thaba ‘Nchu in the Free State.
An Aygo Wild in the hands of the Team Total rally duo Craig Trott and Robbie Coetzee, who normally pilots a Total sponsored Toyota RunX in Class A6 of the South African National Rally Championship, returned a consumption figure of 5.191 litres/100km on the pair’s debut entry to this event. Another highlight of the pair’s feat was the fact that Coetzee, who normally navigates for Trott, was doing the driving!
To further emphasize the Aygo’s fuel efficiency the Team Total lady rally crew Angela Shields and Stefanie Botha (they campaign a Class A6 Toyota RunX in Total colours) placed third overall in the petrol category with a consumption figure of 5.371 litres/100km.
The Aygo is equipped with Toyota’s acclaimed 3 cylinder 1 litre petrol engine that has won its category in the World Engine of the Year competition for four years running. It uses novel engineering solutions such as resin air intakes, engine cover and fuel injector ramps to save weight and space, without compromising durability or power delivery.
It is mounted atop a unique engine mounting system that absorbs engine vibrations and is linked to two side-mounted braces that is aligned with the engine’s centre of gravity. At 67 kg the engine, equipped with variable valve timing (VVT-i), 12 valves and double overhead camshafts, is the lightest internal combustion engine in a passenger vehicle, delivering a tax-beating CO2 emission figure of only 109 g/km.
To further prove Toyota’s green credentials a Toyota Prius, piloted by the celebrity couple Rian and Michelle Garforth-Venter, won the Hybrid Category with an overall consumption figure of 6.065 litres/100km, which included 6 penalties.