A smaller version of the Toyota Fortuner is going to debut sometime in 2024 and will be based on the new IMV 0 ladder frame platform that was introduced last year. A model based on this platform called Hilux Champ Pickup is already on sale in Indonesia and Thailand. The SUV will first go live in Thailand first with a possible launch in India in 2025.
Toyota Mini-Fortuner to Debut by 2025
Toyota kind of hinted at this last year at the Japan Mobility Show when the brand talked about how SUVs and Pickups are getting expensive due to regulations and feature additions. As a result, many of the brand’s original customers are unable to afford their products.
The answer to the crisis is the new IMV 0 platform that is not only affordable but also lets you do a lot of customizations. But being affordable by no means that the IMV 0 compromises on reliability. In fact, it’s quite credible because of the fact that the IMV 0 is derived from the tried and tested IMV platform that is used by bestsellers such as Innova, Hilux and Fortuner.
Now, the mini-Fortuner that is in the works could be on sale as the Toyota Land Cruiser FJ or FJ Cruiser. It will carry a rugged profile and possibly borrow design elements from the Hilux Champ which includes the retro bits, circular headlamps, C-shaped DRLs, a rugged bumper with prominent skid plate, thick body cladding, flared wheel arches and rectangular ORMs with integrated turn signals.
The basic interior of the mini-fortuner is expected to be similar to that of the Hilux Champ, however, the Fortuner lite will likely get some premium equipment such as a larger touchscreen infotainment system and a broader range of techs. The SUV will also be getting good quality materials on the inside, to maintain the Toyota standards.
As for the powertrain, the IMV 0 platform supports 2.4-litre to 2.8-litre diesel engines along with the 2.7-litre petrol engine that is currently used in the India-spec Fortuner, so it’s yet to see what options the SUV gets.
So, is the Fortuner Lite Needed in India? A big yes, because as much as the Fortuner is the Star of its segment, it still gets held back in terms of sales due to the high on-road prices that go as high as Rs 60 lakh in some states and since there are some price gaps between Innova Crysta and Fortuner, this affordable mini-Fortuner can be placed between the two.
Furthermore, Toyota already cancelled its plans to launch a new C-SUV and looking for a new SUV to launch, so the mini-Fortuner can be a good launch by the brand in the Rs 21-25 Lakh range, where it can compete with SUVs such as Mahindra Scorpio N.
