By: IOL Motoring Staff
Every once in a while Toyota gets its TRD division to create a sportier version of one of its cars.
Usually it's a conventional car and in many instances there's a power hike to go with it, but this time Toyota's let's-be-racy division (TRD stands for Toyota Racing Development) has taken a big step out of its comfort zone and into the world of SUVs.
Meet the Fortuner TRD Sportivo, which has just been released in Thailand. It's set apart by a number of sporty garnishes, including black 20-inch alloys, a matte black roof and a bolder bumper design on the outside, while the cabin has been pimped with a black and red leather seat upholstery, carbon-look trim, TRD instrumentation and a high-end JLB sound system.
While many TRD creations sport a performance upgrade, the Fortuna Sportivo makes do with the standard 130kW/450Nm 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine. The division has reportedly firmed up the suspension, although we fail to understand why they'd compromise the ride quality of a vehicle that's never going to handle in a sporty manner in any case.
Our contact at Toyota SA tells us that there are no immediate plans to introduce this version of the new Fortuner as it carries a "hefty" price premium. However, some of the items fitted to the TRD could make their way onto local special editions somewhere down the line.
The all-new Fortuner is set to be launched in South Africa at the end of March.