The Fortuner can survive for decades but here’s an old brute brilliantly repackaged to look like the latest model
The Toyota Fortuner is one of the most popular SUVs in India, which is desired by many instead of it priced at a high premium over its peers. It is the reliability and brand image of Toyota which has kept it in immense demand in all these years.
We have seen a lot of examples in the recent past, in which people have tried to rejuvenate their old Fortuners by customizing them. Here is one such example in which a first-generation Fortuner gets the visual appearance of the second-generation Fortuner.
Overview
The entire video of customizing this Type 1 Fortuner (first generation pre-facelift model sold between 2008-2011 in India) is uploaded by the YouTube channel of Mumbai-based auto-customizer ‘Autorounders’.
The front end of the SUV is transformed to make it look like a Type 3 Fortuner (second-generation pre-facelift model sold between 2016-2021). In addition, there are more substantial changes, which have completely transformed, thus making the SUV appear like an all-new vehicle.
Old to new Fortuner changes
Well, Autorounders have done a fantastic job and has transformed old-gen SUV to new one
The original SUV had a custom chrome-paint job, which is in a subtler and familiar pearl white colour option. All the elements of the front profile, including the front hood, bumper, headlamps, grille and fenders, are swapped by custom-made panels and lights. All these panels look very similar to those of the Type 3 Fortuner.
The front end has a horizontal air scoop, while the front bumper has custom fog lamp housings with LED fog lamps and C-type chrome garnish. While the headlamp housings here look like those of the Type 3 Fortuner, they come integrated with an exclusive quad-LED projector layout with unique daytime running LEDs on their upper outer corners. The trapezoidal grille has an all-black finish with blacked-out lower and side bordering and a chrome garnish above it. The horizontal inserts give it the front fascia of a Range Rover.
There are still signs of the old car at a few parts
Moving to the side profile, this customized Toyota Fortuner has slightly different looking front fenders with trapezoidal wheel arches. Even the 6-spoke machined alloy wheels look the same as the standard alloy wheels in the Type 3 Fortuner. Moving towards the rear, this Fortuner retains its original look.
However, it comes with a revised set of tail lamps with custom LED inserts and a glowing ‘Fortuner’ lettering on the chrome garnish between the tail lamps.
Cabin of the new Fortuner looks exotic
And it gets special luxurious seats
On the inside, the customized Toyota Fortuner comes with a dual-tone black and white upholstery, with an all-black roof lining, quilted white leather seats and door pads and a white finish for the lower dashboard.
Are such transformations legal?
But overall, the car looks brand new and completely different from the older model
Such modifications lie in a grey area. According to the law, one cannot do structural changes to the vehicle and also cannot change its identity. However, in this transformation job, the customisation job has only upgraded the looks to the new version.
What do you think about this transformation job? Do let us know in the comments below.
Keyword: If You Think This Is A Second-Gen Fortuner; Think Again