Commercial vehicle specialist Foton took centerstage at the recently concluded Manila International Auto Show (MIAS), held last week at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, with the unveiling of the all-new Thunder 2.0 pickup truck. The unveiling was part of a double celebration as the brand marked its 15th year of operations in the country, not just as a distributor, but also as a manufacturer.
Foton is the first Chinese car brand to enter the Top 10 automotive companies in the country (in terms of sales). While the previous Thunder models took a backseat to its more popular competition, the all-new and bigger Thunder 2.0 boasts a bolder and more rugged design whose compelling front end is quite evocative of the flagship pickup truck of its competitors.
“The all-new Thunder 2.0 exhibits nothing less than a durable unit to drive you at the convenience of modern car-like features combined with an efficient powertrain and masculine sporty style. We are proud to say that with help of Filipino skills, craftsmanship, and competence this new durable vehicle has taken shape,” says United Asia Automotive, Inc. (UAAGI)/Foton Motor Philippines Inc. President Erroll Dueñas.
Like all other Foton models, the new Thunder is proudly assembled by Filipinos at the Foton plant in Clark, Pampanga. The new truck is powered by a strong yet fuel-efficient 3rd-generation 2.0L CRDi diesel engine engineered and manufactured by Foton Motors. It has a power output of 160hp at 4,000 rpm and torque rating of 390Nm and has a 1-ton payload capacity.
The all-new Thunder 2.0 comes standard with rollbars, cargo hooks, large LED taillamps, LED DRL foglamps, and a large sporty grill bearing prominent FOTON branding. Its state-of-the-art truck body construction is a rugged mix of high-strength steel with lightweight and energy-absorbing design.
Inside the Thunder 2.0’s spacious interior is a 6-way power-adjustable driver seat in exquisite stitched leather, a 10.25-inch floating LCD touchscreen to satisfy your infotainment needs, a 6-inch digital LCD instrument panel to display vital vehicle parameters, and an interior lamp whose light changes color, according to your mood.
Modern car-like comfort and convenience features include Engine Start/Stop button, intelligent key feature with Passive Keyless Entry and Passive Start (PEPS), Car Finder Button, and Automatic Climate Control.
The all-new Thunder 2.0 is built with the latest Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Antilock Braking System (ABS) from the world leader, Bosch. It has a total of 6 airbags comprising front, side, and side curtain airbags.
To top off the entire package, the all-new Thunder 2.0 comes with a 3-year/100,000km warranty. This is further backed by Foton’s extensive customer service program that includes the first-in-the-industry on-site service, EC Mobile Truck.
Foton also boasts hassle-free parts availability through Foton EC Parts, where large quantities of spare parts (as many as 65,000 line items) are stored in a 4,100-sqm area dedicated exclusively for storing FOTON spare parts.
For inquiries, visit your nearest FOTON dealer or call the FOTON sales hotline at 0999-999-9998. You may also explore and reach FOTON PH on various digital platforms via https://linktr.ee/FOTONPhilippines.