Toyota introduces new Fortuner

JAKARTA. Toyota Astra Motor (TAM) unveiled the second generation of its Fortuner special utility vehicle (SUV) on Friday. This new Fortuner will compete with rival producers who have also upgraded their models.

US manufacturer Ford already marketed the New Everest in the second week of January despite not formally launching it yet. Another Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi also plans to launch its Pajero Sport in January 2016.

But Toyota is confident that the Fortuner will lead the market. Because of the high local content and the variations in price. Toyota models usually receive a good response from the market.

"This car has 75 percent local content so it has good resistance to the fluctuations in foreign currencies. Another fact that we found with its sibling Kijang Innova, is that in less than two month after launch orders already reached 15,000 units, we hope for the same thing with the Fortuner," TAM president director Hiroyuki Fukui said during the launch on Jan. 22.

The Fortuner uses the platform called the International Multi-purpose Vehicle (IMV), which is shared with the Kijang Innova launched in December 2015 as well as the Toyota Hilux pickup. The IMVs are exported to other regions such as the Middle East, Australia and South Africa. Of the IMV models, the Kijang Innova and Fortuner are produced in Indonesia.

"Fortuner production rate is 6,000 units per month. They are mostly for export, while the export/local sales level for the Kijang Innova is 50:50 but the Fortuner export share is bigger. Both are produced in Karawang plant 1 with a plant capacity of 130,000 per year. By doing shifts and intensification it is possible to adjust for more than that if market demand increases," Warih Andang Tjahjono, vice president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia said.

The price is also a factor, Toyota offers prices ranging from Rp 440 million (US$31,716) to Rp 550 million. The Fortuner has six variants in its lineup with variations in diesel and gasoline engines, transmission in manual and automatic transmission, and 4x2 or 4x4 drivetrain. "The price increase from the previous model is Rp 17 to 28 million, but it is in line with the improvements," TAM Vice President Henry Tanoto Said.

The Ford Everest has prices starting from Rp 562 million but it has no manual transmission and is still 4x2. The price is close to the 4x4 diesel Fortuner with automatic transmission.

In the media test drive, Fortuner was able to climb and descend a 47-degree gradient. Although the diesel engine is just 2.4 liters -Toyota also has a 2.8 liter engine but not in the Indonesian market-, it is still powerful. "The power is good, when you are climbing a gradient like this 47 degrees just press the accelerator a bit and it will climb easily," The professional driver said during the media event at Senayan City Mall in South Jakarta. (Anton Hermansyah)