'The world is mine' with Toyota Fortuner
'The world is mine' with Toyota Fortuner
Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali
PT Toyota Astra Motor (TAM) spent five years making thorough preparations before launching its latest product, the Fortuner, in the Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) class.
With an engine capacity of 2,700 cc with 16 valves of the DOHC Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence (VVTi)-type to generate 160 ps of power output at 5,200 rpm, the Fortuner is in the same class as the Honda CRV, Nissan X-Trail and Ford Everest.
Though only 3,200 units could be met in the first three months after its launching in June, TAM remains optimistic that this latest model will become a major player in the local car market, particularly in the SUV class following the success of Kijang Innova, which has seen about 14,000 units ordered.
A recent three-day test drive event involving 25 Indonesian journalists in Bali served as an opportunity for TAM to prove that the car, which resembles a Toyota Lexus RX 330 Harrier at first glance, deserves high SUV classification.
"Here our media friends can feel for themselves the performance of the Fortuner, on-road as well as off-road. We will provide everything that is necessary to confirm the truth of what we are saying," said Hendrayadi Lastiyoso, Marketing Communications Manager of PT TAM, at the Pecatu test-drive area, Jimbaran, Bali.
Three types, the G, G Lux and V, were on offer from TAM to prove the car's reliability and its high ground clearance (angle of 30 degrees at the front). All of them come in automatic four- speed ECT transmission, two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive versions.
Its elegant interior design, looking something like that of the Kijang Innova, enhances the comfort of driver and passengers on both city trips and long journeys. A female journalist said that the driver's position in the Fortuner was quite comfortable for her in spite of the car's SUV design.
The main feature of the interior in all Fortuner versions is the Multi Information Display (MID) in the middle of the dashboard.
MID presents various types of information promptly and accurately, including the time, external temperature, average speed, coverable distance with remaining fuel, actual fuel consumption, travel distance since engine started and a compass showing the vehicle's direction and position.
The fact that Indonesians tend to make their car a storage place while going on long journeys has led to the designers of the Fortuner incorporating more than 18 storage points in the cabin.
A slight problem concerns the back-cushions in the middle and rear passenger seats, which are rather hard. Unlike the front seats, the tougher backs in the rear could reduce passenger comfort.
With a lock incorporating the immobilizer system, the Fortuner, which is assembled in Thailand and costs Rp295 million (G/4x2), Rp307 million (G Lux/4x2) and Rp353 million (V/4x4) in the Indonesian market, is fairly safe from the threat of false keys, which pose a danger to non safety-chipped cars.
The Jakarta Post's test drive produced an average grade in general for acceleration on even, ascending and descending surfaces. Its handling and cornering abilities were good when going in straight and changing lanes at high speed, but control when turning right and left only scored average.
Nearly all test-drive participants praised the performance of this car's braking system. With double-piston front brakes and the Anti Lock Brake System (ALBS) combined, its braking effectiveness, driver's vehicle control stability and braking system reaction were good.
In a rough-road test drive, acceleration on an ascent, steep descent, ans applying low and medium gears scored well. Vehicle stability and ease of control when turning to the right and left were also good. In addition, the suspension proved its value on rough tracks.
The car's rear exterior is equipped with high-mount stop lamps and back sonar for reverse parking.
"The core is to give prominence to personality, reflected by both the car and the driver. The impression of being mighty and macho typical of the SUV is thus created," said Hendrayadi, adding that this was in line with the slogan adopted for the Fortuner: The World is Mine.