Toyota Fortuner, Innova Crysta, and Hilux Deliveries Resume in India

A couple of weeks back, the Japanese automaker Toyota delayed dispatches of its three diesel engines and the models that utilise these mills due to abnormalities detected during certification testing in Japan. The investigation revealed that the mass-production units' ECU software was not the same as the one used in the testing units. Toyota India likewise stopped shipping the impacted Innova Crysta, Hilux, and Fortuner units after a global statement came in from Japan. Nonetheless, the manufacturer was still accepting new orders for the mentioned cars. Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO), a division of Toyota Motor Corporation, the company's international branch, affirmed this. In a recent development, the brand has reiterated that the suspension has been lifted and the diesel engines comply with Indian regulations. 

The firm had previously assured its customers that even if there were anomalies in the certification tests, these engines' peak performance and torque were unaffected, and owners of vehicles fitted with these diesel engines may continue to use their vehicles. It is important to note that there will be no delays in the production of these diesel-powered cars going forward, as the company has resumed sending these engines out of Japan. Moreover, there will be no changes to the waiting periods for the Innova Crysta, the Fortuner, and the Hilux. 

The Issue

Potential inconsistencies in certification were to be investigated by a special investigation committee. Through internal inspection, the diesel engines' "smoothing" of the power and torque curves was found to be inconsistent. This possibly would affect the engines' power delivery, thereby impacting the drivability. It was found during the investigation that the impacted units had an ECU that was not the same as the one meant for these models. Toyota has guaranteed that this will not hamper the affected vehicles' safety or emissions. In India, the carmaker offers two different diesel engine options: a 2.4-litre unit for the Innova Crysta and a 2.8-litre one for the Fortuner and the Hilux. Up to ten different Toyota vehicles are powered by these two motors worldwide. 

Toyota Innova Crysta, Fortuner, and Hilux: Powertrain Options

The Innova Crysta's 2.4-litre, 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine is mated with a five-speed manual transmission. The oil burner puts out 360Nm and 148bhp. The Crysta diesel comes in a variety of paint jobs, including Silver, Superwhite, Attitude Black, White Pearl Crystal Shine, and Avant-Garde Bronze.

Mechanically, the Fortuner offers two engine and transmission options. A 2.8-litre turbocharged diesel engine produces 201bhp of maximum power and 500Nm of peak torque in automatic variants and 420Nm in manual versions. The second engine option is a 2.7-litre NA petrol engine that develops 245Nm of maximum torque and 164bhp of peak power. It can be coupled to either a six-speed torque converter automatic or a five-speed manual transmission. The diesel engine can be equipped with either a six-speed torque converter automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. The diesel version has four-wheel drive along with an auto-limited slip differential and a lockable differential. 

Under the hood, the Hilux comes with a 2.8-litre, four-cylinder, turbocharged diesel engine that can be paired with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The MT models deliver 420Nm of maximum torque and 201bhp of peak power. The AT variants, on the other hand, produce 500Nm while retaining the same power output as the MT versions. Furthermore, the Hilux offers a 4X4 drive system with front and rear electronic differential locking. It is available in five monotone colour options: Emotional Red, White Pearl Crystal Shine, Super White, Silver Metallic, and Grey Metallic. Recently, Toyota showcased a modified version of this popular model at the maiden Bharat Mobility Expo. It was displayed as a Rapid Intervention Pickup Truck. 

Apart from the Fortuner, the Innova Crysta, and the Hilux, there are several other products that Toyota currently sells in the domestic market. These include the Glanza, the Rumion, the Urban Cruiser Hyryder, and the Innova Hycross.