While You Were Sleeping: Toyota Fortuner SUV for Oz, More Airbag Recalls and Stowaways Hide in Maseratis
Published: May 22nd, 2015
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In addition to the go-anywhere Toyota HiLux, it looks like Australia will get a Fortuner reprise.
Here’s what happened overnight.
- Confirmed: Toyota Fortuner SUV is go for Australia (GoAuto)
“We haven’t secured or announced anything, but it’s going to come.” - Toyota Tundra subject of “enormous” Australian demand (CarAdvice)
Aussies want bigger trucks. - Mazda, Subaru, Mitsubishi add 710,000 cars to Takata air bag recall (Reuters)
And the tally keeps climbing… - Vettel: The new Marlboro Man (F1-Insider.com [Warning: German])
Quick Seb appears in Marlboro advertisements around Monaco. - BMW Compact Sedan rendered based on Fiat Aegea (Theophilus Chin)
While it would never happen, it’s interesting the Fiat’s lines work so damn well as a BMW. - Goldman Sachs sees $45 oil by October (USA Today)
Surplus of crude and capital will drive oil prices down after recent rebound. - Iconic Fast And Furious Supra Fetches $185,000 At Auction (CarScoops)
The F&F Supra from the first movie in the franchise has sold for stupid money. - A vehicle was spotting that looks like an Uber self-driving car, but the company denies it (Business Insider)
“This is not a self-driving test car. This vehicle is part of our early research efforts regarding mapping, safety and autonomy systems.” - Parallel Parking On Driving Tests Is Pointless (Jalopnik)
There’s not enough time during a test to waste on skills that won’t save your life. - Holden issues forced redundancies at Elizabeth plant (CarAdvice)
Up to 90 jobs forcibly cut after identifying voluntary layoff opportunities. - Stowaways found in new Maserati sports cars in Surrey (BBC)
Who knew there were first class tickets for human trafficking?
Favorite Picture or Random Thing from Yesterday:
Posted on Hooniverse in Last Call: Blueprint for Success Edition. [Source: Go Away Garage]
More by Mark Stevenson
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I would love to see more full size pickup from the US in Australia. But, to increase the chances of success realistic diesel versions are required. They also will not sell in huge numbers. The article on the demand for full size pickups is inaccurate in calling them work trucks. They would be mainly used as toy haulers and for towing 5th wheel campers. Toyota and Nissan have neglected the larger pickup segment for work trucks as many people are now buying the newer, larger and more powerful midsizers. The Fortuner look ugly. It will most likely be a competent off roader, but from what I have seen the Colorado 7, Izuzu M-ux and the up an coming Ford Everest are far more pleasing aesthetically than the fugly Toyota. What made the 4Runner/Surf attractive was is was attractive and refreshing to look at and a capable off roader for it's time.
Just returned from a trip to the Carribean where the Hilux appears to be quite popular. I like it, it's "not too big and not too ugly", unlike most of Toyota's North American products. I'd love to see a Hilux based SUV offered in North America. There's nowhere to go but up in the styling department over the current 4Runner and would be closer in size to the just-right gen 3 4Runner sold in NA in the mid-90's. If they also offered it with their new Atkinson-cycle V6 and a 6MT they'd have a winner.