Details of the latest Toyota Prado have surfaced in Australia recently and we are confident that many of those same details will feature on the South African Prado which should reach our showroom floors by October. The Prado is a much-loved offering here in South Africa because it blends luxury and capability, so what six things do you need to know about the new one?
- More power: While Toyota SA will confirm the specific details closer to the national launch we know that the vehicle will be powered by an updated version of the current 2.8 GD-6 motor, likely tuned to deliver 150kW (at 3 400 r/min) and 500Nm (from 1 600 to 2 800 r/min). It is also said that the new Prado’s braked towing capacity is expected to be 3 000kg.
- Not just a power gain: According to Toyota, the engine has gained a new ball-bearing turbocharger with a larger turbine and impeller. It also boasts improved engine rigidity and cooling. Toyota also claims improved fuel economy thanks to “optimised” pistons and piston rings as well as changes to the cylinder block and head. The engine also features a higher fuel-injection flow rate and the adoption of some “high-performance” materials for the exhaust manifold.
- More entertainment: In countries such as Japan and Australia the new Prado has been fitted with a new 9-inch touchscreen system complete with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality; as well as various other equipment upgrades.
- That’s a six: Reports from Australia suggest that the new Prado will feature a 6-speed automatic gearbox. Currently, the model available in South Africa features a 5-speed.
- Safety first: The Australian report suggests that the Prado will feature an updated version of the Toyota Safety Sense system as well as the pre-collision. The new (Australian) Prado features an improved lane-departure warning system that will constantly attempt to keep you in your lane. Specifics on this technology are not confirmed for South Africa at this point.
- What about price: Australian sources suggest that the new Prado carries a price tag of between A$59 840 and A$87 030. Throwing those numbers into an exchange rate calculator and it gives a figure of between R720 000 and R1 050 000 (give or take); however one needs to factor in the import duties and other locally added costs.
The new Prado will be arriving in the next few months and we can’t wait to see what the official spec is like on this popular Toyota offering! The Adventure-Avontuur Afrika team is already planning our Prado adventure – watch this space.
