Commercial vehicle specialist FOTON stole the spotlight at the ongoing Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) with the unveiling of the full-size Tunland pickup trucks.
The FOTON exhibit at SMX Convention Center was part of a double display for the brand as various FOTON models were also present—and available for a unique test drive—at the UAAGI Performance Center at World Trade Center, also in Pasay City.
It is the first time that show organizer Worldbex is holding MIAS over two venues, the better to accommodate the fast-growing number of car brands in the Philippines as well as the ever-growing number of auto show attendees.
FOTON was the first Chinese car brand to enter the Top 10 automotive companies in the country in terms of sales, way before the recent new Chinese brands entered the country. And it’s continuing to consolidate its market and product strength with the entry of the humungous Tunland V7 and Tunland V9 pickups.
While FOTON’s current Thunder pickup is already among the largest pickup trucks available on the market today, the all-new Tunland pickups are much closer in size to the gigantic V8-powered American pickups—but with powerful yet fuel-efficient diesel hybrid engines instead.
Measuring a massive 5,617 millimeters in length, 2,090 millimeters in width and 1,910 millimeters in height, and with a ground clearance of 240 millimeters, the Tunland V9 and V7 far exceeds the dimensions of most other diesel pickups on the market today.
Both trucks boast bold and mean-looking exterior styling with front ends that are among the most aggressive you’ll find on the road today. The Tunland V9 flaunts a huge all-black honeycomb grille bracketed by glaring quad headlamps, on top of which is an expansive hood with a powerful hood bulge. The side view is equally menacing with muscular blacked-out fender flares over huge 265/70R18 off-road tires on 18-inch alloy wheels.
The Tunland V7 is even more brutish, with an even bigger black grille and stacked quad headlamps. Its massive façade looks like it belongs to an 18-wheeler truck.
“The new Tunland V7 and V9 pickups will set new size and styling benchmarks in the Philippine lifestyle pickup truck scene,” says FOTON Motor Philippines Inc. General Manager Levy Santos.
“Not only will they be the undisputed kings of the road in terms of size and style, they also offer world-class technology, value, and performance—backed by a solid 5-year/150,000-km warranty,” Santos added.
The new Tunland pickups are powered by a state-of-the-art Bosch 48V Hybrid System + Aucan 4F20 Diesel Power that generates 161 horsepower and 450 Newton-meters of torque. The powertrain is mated to a 8-speed automatic for both Tunland V7 and V9.
The Tunland V7 and V9 are also available in 4×2 & 4×4 variants.
The rugged, heavy-duty suspension is via front independent double wishbones for both trucks and a rear leaf spring rigid axle for the Tunland V7. The Tunland V9, meanwhile, boasts a five-link integrated-axle rear suspension.
Their advanced truck body construction is a high-tech mix of high-strength steel with lightweight and energy-absorbing materials and design.
Inside their highly spacious cabins, the Tunland V7 and V9 feature luxurious orange or black-and-brown leather interiors, power-adjustable seats, a leather-wrapped multi-functional steering wheel, full LCD instrumentation, and a gigantic 14.6-inch multimedia touchscreen infotainment system with Carbit and Bluetooth wireless and USB connectivity, among many more luxury, comfort, and convenience features.
FOTON Thunder 4×4 A/T Outback Edition
FOTON did not overlook its dependable Thunder midsize pickup, unveiling the new Thunder Outback Edition, which comes only as a 4×4 A/T variant.
The Thunder Outback Edition underscores FOTON’s midsize pickup as an ideal companion for weekend adventures, while effortlessly meeting their owners’ day-to-day requirements, making it a perfect fit for personal or leisure pursuits. The Thunder Outback provides comfort with its sumptuous and spacious interior, advanced entertainment system, and powerful AC features, among many others.
It has the build quality and capability to conquer challenging terrains. The Thunder Outback Edition boasts 18-inch Black Rhino Outback wheels, high-performance Nitto Terra Grappler tires, front lift, nudge bar, Outback door graphics, and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System.
Like its big Tunland brothers, it is covered by a comprehensive 5-year/150,000-km 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.
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 FOTON Thunder range is built with the latest Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Antilock Braking System (ABS) from world leader, Bosch. It has a total of 6 airbags comprising front, side, and side curtain airbags.
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.