The new Toyota Fortuner Epic & Epic Blank variants come only with a 2.8-litre diesel mill
Japanese automaker Toyota has unveiled two new variants of its popular seven-seater SUV: Fortuner Epic and Fortuner Epic Black. The special edition Toyota Fortuner models were introduced in South Africa and could be filtered down to more markets in the coming months. It is a bit early to comment on its Indian debut.
The new Fortuner Epic and Epic Black variants are available with just a 2.8-litre diesel motor. In the South African market, the Epic editions replace the regular Fortuner model. Changes are limited to the cosmetic department and we would still pick the regular variant if looks were the only factor in concern. The Epic models come in four colours: Glacier White, Chromium Silver, Graphite Grey and Avant-Garde Bronze.
On the outside, Toyota’s new Fortuner Epic and Epic Black sport a factory-designed nudge bar (not to be confused with a bull bar) with ‘Epic’ written on it. While the Epic variant gets the bar in chrome, the Epic Black variant wears a gloss black example. The Toyota Fortuner Epic Black features some extra bits such as new 6-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-tone paint scheme and blacked-out ORVMs.
On the inside, either edition packs ‘Epic’ branded floor mats and sill plates. Other notable features include full-LED headlamps, dual-zone automatic climate control, powered driver seat, parking camera, 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system and more. These were already available in the regular version.
The 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel engine churns out 174bhp and 450Nm of torque while mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The Black and Epic Black variants are available in both RWD and AWD formats but there’s no option for a manual transmission.
In India, the Toyota Fortuner (which is currently in its BS6 specification) is sold in both diesel and petrol formats. The 2.8-litre diesel motor is in a similar tune as its above-mentioned South African counterpart. However, in the 6-speed manual format, it makes 30Nm less. The low-demand 2.7-litre NA four-cylinder petrol motor is good for 164bhp and 245Nm of torque. Power is sent to the rear axle via a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission.
India’s automotive industry is currently going through immense struggles due to COVID-19. Many dealerships are at the verge of shutting down. Being a pandemic, COVID-19 has affected industries worldwide and major automakers are facing substantial losses each day. A lot of uncertainty revolves around the outbreak and everyone is in the hopes that the current state of affairs settles down soon.
