Next-Gen Toyota Fortuner Already On The Road Before Official Launch: We Explain
Toyota unveiled the ninth generation Hilux in Thailand in November 2025. It is known to be working on the next-generation Fortuner, which is expected to borrow many of its styling cues from the new Hilux. A recent video from Thailand shows a Fortuner with Hilux-like front fascia. This made many ask ‘Did Toyota just launch the new-generation Fortuner?’. Well, what you see in the video is NOT the new Fortuner. Someone just installed a new Hilux-like body kit on the current-generation Fortuner.
The video shows a Fortuner with new Hilux-like front fascia rolling through the streets of Thailand. We can see the front, side and rear views. From the front, it looks a lot like the new Hilux. It has the same sharp and aggressive front fascia. In case of the Hilux, Toyota calls this the ‘Cyber Sumo’ face, as it looks like the pre-combat Shikiri stance of a Sumo wrestler.
We can see sleek LED headlamps with integrated DRLs, an aggressive front bumper, Black grille section, Gloss Black strip connecting the headlamps on which we can see ‘TOYOTA’ spelled out. The front bumper has a skid plate and small circular fog lamps.
It remains unclear if this is a custom-made kit or original spares of the new Hilux. It anyway, looks good on the Fortuner. In the front view, the transformation is convincing enough to fool most people.
The rest of the SUV remains untouched. The side profile and rear section remain the same as the regular SUV. It also rides on large off-road tyres. The Hilux kit has increased the road presence of this vehicle. It looks imposing and attractive.
Many aftermarket brands and accessory makers have reportedly started manufacturing new Hilux-based conversion kits for the Fortuner and older Hiluxes. These can be shipped across borders and we may soon see them reaching Fortuner owners in India as well.
Design changes on the new-generation will not be limited to the front fascia. The side profile and rear will also see significant restyling. Even inside, the new Fortuner will get major styling changes, quality improvements, and more features. The company will bring it more in line with other products in its segment.
The current-generation Hilux and Fortuner are based on the IMV ( Innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicle) platform. This is a rugged body-on-frame architecture. Some reports suggest that the next-generation Fortuner will move to the more advanced TNGA-F modular platform. Time remains before we see the actual direction that Toyota will take with this.
If it decides to keep the next-generation Fortuner on the IMV platform, the suspension setup will see major improvements. For perspective, higher variants of the ninth generation Hilux comes with a ‘Dynamic Cloud’ suspension system.
Another interesting detail is that the TNGA platform is much more advanced and expensive than IMV. A transition to it will reflect in the Fortuner’s prices as well. Even now, this Japanese SUV is priced steeply.
Powertrains are likely to be borrowed from the current model. If so, it will come with a 2.7L naturally aspirated petrol engine and a 2.8L turbocharged mild-hybrid diesel engine. The latter remains the more popular choice, comes with a variable geometry turbocharger, and makes 201hp and 500Nm (on automatic variants).
Transmission options on the outgoing model includes a six-speed automatic and a manual units. 4x4 and 4x2 configurations are both available on the current model. The next-generation will likely use these. Taking the upcoming CAFE norms into consideration, the next-generation SUV may also be introduced with a petrol hybrid powertrain.