Fiat Toro 7-Seater SUV in the Works?
A report claims that the Fiat Toro pickup truck based 7-seater SUV is under consideration which might be launched towards the end of 2017. No clarity on its India launch however.
- Vikas Yogi
- June 7, 2016
The Fiat Toro pickup based SUV could be suggested in both five and seven seat options.
The Italian carmaker Fiat is reportedly working on a 7-seater SUV that will be based on the Fiat Toro pickup truck. The details have been exposed by Autos Sergredos, a Brazil automobile portal. The report claims that the carmaker has already asked its R&D team to accelerate the speed up the Fiat Toro SUV’s development process. The fresh Fiat SUV could have both five and seven seat options, says the report.
Upon its launch, the Fiat Toro SUV could come as a replacement to the next-generation Freemont which is indeed the rebadged Dodge Journey. The publication have also rendered the SUV to explain how it might look. If renderings are to be trusted, the Trio/4th of the car will look more or less similar to the Toro pickup. Tho’ its rear-end will be all-new.
The Fiat Toro SUV’s cabin too is expected to look similar to its pickup sibling, tho’ might have extra features. Features that the Toro SUV might carry forward from the pickup are – remote begin, central multimedia UCONNECT touchscreen navigation with 5-inch display, LED instrument cluster, keyless entry, seven airbags, anti-lock braking system, electronic brakeforce distribution, tire pressure monitoring system, hill descent control, parking sensors, etc.
Similar to the pickup, the Fiat Toro SUV will be suggested with two engine options – a 1.8-litre E-TorQ ripple fuel engine and a Two.0-litre multijet diesel. While the ripple fuel-engined version (Four×Two) gets a 6-speed Aisin automatic transmisssion, the top-of-the-line Two.0-litre multijet feature a ZF-sourced 9-speed automatic gearbox. The Two.0-litre model could come in both Four×Two and Four×Four options.
The vehicle might be launched in Brazil in 2017, however there is no clarity if the company is exploring other markets too. Considering the tremendous growth of the SUV segment in India, it makes a lot of sense for the company to launch it here. If it comes to India, it will rival products like Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour, Hyundai Santa Fe and others in the premium SUV category.
Fiat Toro SUV Launch in Brazil
Since the development work will take at least on year, we expect it to be launched towards the end of 2017. However there is no confirmation on its launch in India, it will not happen before two thousand eighteen even if it comes.
Fiat Toro SUV Engine Options
Fiat’s upcoming fresh 7-seater SUV could get the same engine options that do duty in the Toro pickup as well.
1.8-litre Flex-fuel petrol – 135bhp (Four×Two with a 6-speed auto)
Two.0-litre multijet diesel – 168bhp (Four×Two/Four×Four with 6-speed manual/9-speed auto)