He goes on to elaborate that while the instrument panel’s structure for the Fortuner and Hilux is the same, the designers have given them each a different look. Moving towards the vehicle’s interior, Nakajima recaps that the previous Fortuner/Hilux iteration shared a common instrument panel, which made them appear similar from the driver’s point of view. VIDEO: All-new Toyota Fortuner – Interior The Fortuner’s visual belt line, for example, is an artistic device used to enhance the “cool” part of its image. The chief engineer says that a “tough” look is important for portraying off-road ability, while at the same time maintaining the “cool” factor as most customers use the vehicle on the road. Our design concept was mainly “tough” and “cool”,” Nakajima says. “We also needed to improve the “cool” factor of the SUV. To take care of that, Toyota decided to give the Fortuner its own unique front fascia while maintaining the same parts commonisation ratio as the previous models’, said Nakajima.ĭespite utilising the same hood panels, front pillar area, windscreen glass and front doors as the new Hilux, the designers have managed to give the Fortuner a different frontal look, he adds. Nakajima notes that customers mentioned that considering the SUV’s higher equipment levels and consequently higher prices relative to the Hilux pick-up truck, the Fortuner’s styling was perhaps too similar to that of the Hilux.
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Executive chief engineer for the recently-launched Toyota Fortuner, Hiroki Nakajima tells the tale of what went into the making of the Japanese automaker’s body-on-frame SUV.