Toyota Fortuner GR Sport revealed

First it was the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series GR Sport and now Toyota has confirmed another off-road model is getting the GR Sport treatment – this time the Fortuner.

What’s next, a HiLux GR Sport? You better believe it.

Launched in the Indonesian market this week, the Toyota Fortuner GR Sport is fitted with a range of cosmetic upgrades including a butch new front bumper design with fresh LED fog lights, but no mechanical upgrades as per most of Toyota’s ‘GR-lite’ models.

The seven-seat Toyota Fortuner has a strong reputation for off-roading and is based on the same rugged ladder frame as the HiLux ute, bringing decent ground clearance and wheel articulation.

Indonesia’s GR Sport version also comes with new-look alloy wheels, a resculpted rear bumper and GR Sport badges on the front, sides and rear.

But it doesn’t get any mechanical upgrades like the LandCruiser GR Sport’s front and rear diff locks or e-KDSS automatic stabiliser bar decoupling system.

Extensive engine and chassis mods are currently reserved for spicier GR models, such as the GR Yaris and upcoming 220kW GR Corolla.

Australian-delivered Toyota Fortuners are powered by the same 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel (150kW/500Nm) as the HiLux, driving all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission, but Indonesia’s Fortuner GR Sport is purely a rear-wheel drive (4x2) vehicle.

It can be ordered with 2.7-litre petrol (120kW/242Nm) or 2.4-litre turbo-diesel (110kW/400Nm) four-cylinder engines, and is priced from around 544 million rupiah ($A51,000) in Indonesia, meaning it is not the most expensive model in the range.

There are no changes to the Fortuner GR Sport’s interior.

While the only GR Sport model Toyota offers in Australia at present is the C-HR compact SUV, there are countless GR Sport models available in overseas markets such as Japan.

A spokesperson for Toyota Australia said the Fortuner GR Sport was "Not on our radar at the moment," and there were no plans to import it here.

"It’s part of the broader global line-up, but there will be more GR sport models that will be made available in Australia in due course, but there's nothing we can announce today."

The brand has previously stated that all models in its portfolio could be given the GR Sport and indeed the GR treatment.

An upgraded version of the Toyota Fortuner is due to arrive in Australia from October 2021 with improved tech and convenience features, including a 360-degree surround view parking camera and a vehicle tracking system, to stay relevant in the face of tougher competition from the likes of the all-new Isuzu M-UX.

Stay tuned for more details as we get them.