Fond farewell with GR Sport

AESTHETIC: LIKELY LAST OF THE 2ND GEN FORTUNERS

- Charl Bosch

If reports are to be believed, November will see the debut of the eagerly awaited if not completely brand-new Toyota Hilux.

Shrouded in more secrecy though is its SUV sibling, the Fortuner, which was last reported in 2023 as making its world showing in 2025.

Not seen or mentioned since a supposed leaked image emerged two years ago, the current second generation Fortuner remains a massive hit for Toyota, but, as with the Hilux, has started showing its age against the Ford Everest and even Isuzu's newly updated MU-X.

Already 10 years in production, again similar to the Hilux, the arrival of the GR Sport earlier this year has been seen as the final encore for the internally named AN150 Fortuner.

Building on the updates applied back in 2023, the GR Sport is also unique to South Africa as it gets the 165kW/550Nm 2.8 GD-6 engine that powers the Hilux GR Sport.

Not offered in any other market where a Fortuner GR Sport is sold, the torquiest Fortuner ever made - the most powerful having been the discontinued 4.0 litre V6 petrol that made 175kW - also launched under the physical barrier of R1 million.

It’s a move made cleverer by using the “unbadged” variant instead of the top-spec VX as a base, the still applicable R999 000 price tag makes the GR Sport cheaper than the admittedly newer Land Cruiser Prado, which also seats eight but makes do with the “normal” 150kW/500Nm GD-6.

For the last two months, The Citizen has been privy to a Platinum White Pearl Fortuner GR Sport, which a total of 2 000km.