Toyota Fortuner facelift to launch in India on January 6

Toyota Kirloskar Motor India is set to launch the Toyota Fortuner facelift on January 6. This will be the mid-life update for this generation of the Fortuner, and follows a similar update to the related Innova Crysta MPV last month

The SUV now features sleeker-looking projector LED headlamps with new DRLs, a new mesh-pattern grille, and a different bumper with deeper inserts. At the rear, the bumper has been chiselled down, while the taillamps now have a sleeker look to them. The interior has been revised too, the highlight being a new eight-inch infotainment system and revised instrumentation. There are seven airbags on offer too.

A big highlight with this update will be the inclusion of the range-topping Toyota Fortuner Legender. This iteration carries a more aggressive face with a heavily Lexus-inspired two-part honeycomb grille. The headlamps have four-part LED detailing, there are deep recesses for the foglamps and low-mounted LED DRLs. There are dual-tone alloy wheels while at the rear there are L-shaped inserts and a contrasting faux diffuser. The Legender also gets a unique black and maroon interior, a larger 9-inch touchscreen, 360-degree camera and wireless charging.

Another big change on the international-spec Fortuner is the updated 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine that churns out 204PS of power and 500 Nm torque. However, in India, we still don't know if the seven-seater SUV will get the uprated engine or continue with its current BSVI range of engines. The Fortuner is available in India with a 2,755cc four-cylinder turbo-diesel motor which makes 177PS at 3,400 rpm and 420 Nm at 1,400 - 2,600 rpm with the six-speed manual. This increases to 450 Nm at 1,600 - 2,400 rpm with the automatic. The petrol engine is a 2,694 cc unit with 166PS at 5,200 rpm and  245 Nm at 4,000 rpm. This is paired with a five-speed manual and six-speed automatic.

When it launches we expect the updated Fortuner to carry a Rs 75,000 to Rs 1 lakh premium over the current car. The prices for the current Toyota Fortuner in India start from Rs 28.66 lakh for the 4x2 petrol-manual. The facelifted Toyota Fortuner will compete with the Ford Endeavour, MG Gloster and Mahindra Alturas G4