'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.