Toyota Fortuner with all-new diesel hybrid engine for 2023

Will this be Toyota’s new engine for their 2023 pickup trucks as well?

When UMW Toyota launched the current generation Toyota Fortuner in May 2016 for RM186k it had no real rival to worry about. Sure, there was the Ford Everest which was way too expensive at RM228k and the less admired Isuzu MU-X which was selling at just RM176k, but Malaysians were impressed with the aggressive looks of the Toyota Fortuner and also its well known truck chassis and ultra reliable diesel engine which is shared with the Toyota Hilux pickup truck. 

The Fortuner sold very well in Malaysia and also the rest of the ASEAN nations where it stood tall alongside the Toyota Hilux.

Last year in February, right in the heart of the pandemic, a facelifted Fortuner arrived which signaled the end of life for this popular 7 seat SUV. It is a well known fact that when a facelift arrives 4 to 5 years in the life of a vehicle, a brand new model is around the corner. 

This is why we are now getting some information trickling in that an all new 2023 model Toyota Fortuner is getting ready for an ASEAN launch and it will come with a brand new generation engine and some features that were previously reserved for Toyota’s luxury automotive brand, Lexus.

The current and all previous Fortuners were built on a tough ladder frame chassis (shared with the tough Hilux pickup truck) and so this next generation Fortuner will continue to use a ladder frame chassis. As with every new model, it will be larger and with more space in the cabin. Physical features will be upgraded to carry a Lexus inspired design and nose so that this latest Fortuner will be able to compete in a new segment. The upmarket SUV segment which has Mazda and more recently Proton (with rebadged Geely SUVs) taking the lion’s share of sales.

Inside the cabin, this latest Fortuner will share the latest cockpit look and feel that we have seen in the current Corolla Cross with a digital instrument cluster and a large touchscreen infotainment unit. Apple Car Play and Android Auto connectivity with a premium sound system will be included of course and the complete suite of Toyota Safety Sense features to keep up with the rivals. 

As the region moves to electrification at a fast pace, Toyota will have to keep up and this is why a hybrid diesel engine will be used in the 2023 Fortuner. This will be the first ever hybrid diesel for ASEAN and Toyota. 

Rumors coming from Thai motoring media states that it will be a mild-hybrid that will assist in climate control and during heavy traffic driving. This engine will be a by-product of the 1GD-FTV 2.8L that works with a unique alternator that will provide added torque to reduce fuel consumption.

More information on the new Fortuner will be shared in coming months as it comes from the factory in Thailand.  

Also read: 5 things you should know about the upcoming Toyota Veloz