Toyota SA unveiled its new Urban Cruiser at its State of the Motor Industry event. Image: Motorpress
Toyota SA’s plans for 2023: New Urban Cruiser, updated Fortuner and all-new Vitz on the way
Toyota SA unveiled several new models at the State of the Motor Industry (SOMI) event including the new Urban Cruiser and updated Fortuner.
Toyota SA unveiled its new Urban Cruiser at its State of the Motor Industry event. Image: Motorpress
Toyota SA hosted the sixth edition of the State of the Motor Industry (SOMI) event and The South African’s motoring journalist Sean Parker attended the event at the Kyalami race circuit.
Japanese carmaker Toyota unveiled several new models at the Kyalami Grand Prix circuit in late January. The second-generation Urban Cruiser, updated Fortuner, new Vitz and 16th-generation Crown will all go on sale this year.
TOYOTA SA SOLD OVER 130 000 VEHICLES IN 2022
The company is looking forward to 2023 after finishing as market leader for the 43rd consecutive year. Toyota (including the Lexus and Hino brands) posted132 035 new-vehicle registrations in 2022, Motorpress reports.
President and CEO of Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) Andrew Kirby predicts that a total of 570 000 vehicles for the overall market will be sold in South Africa this year – including 375 642 for passenger, 161 317 for Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) and 33 041 for others.
UPDATED FORTUNER AND NEW VITZ SET TO MAKE A SPLASH
Toyota SA fans have a lot to be excited about with the announcement by TSAM’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing Leon Theron that the new budget hatch Vitz will replace the Agya. According to TimesLive, the Vitz will be Toyota’s most affordable car sold locally.
In addition, the second-generation Urban Cruiser will go on sale in the second quarter while the updated Fortuner will be available in showroom from February.
According to Toyota SA: “The refreshed Fortuner sports an aggressive new styling with revised LED headlamps, front grille and bumper treatment. There is also an added red and black interior trim option.”
Arguably the most exciting vehicle shown at SOMI was the 16th-generation Crown. It’s the first time Toyota SA will sell the luxury sedan locally and Theron confirmed the Crown will be only in limited numbers.
Theron says: “This all-new model sedan is only available as a sample introduction until a few units retail this year. Under the bonnet, the Crown 2.5 E-Four Hybrid boasts a total system output of 176kW and fuel consumption of 4.4l/100km.”
