Foton PH’s Toano goes premium

By Alvin Uy June 28,2017

The Toano can be reconfigured into specialty vehicles like rescue and ambulance vans.

It has been a prolific year for large capacity vans this year. In this year’s Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) held last April, several carmakers introduced large capacity vans and seem to have set a trend that these vans have become part of their lineup of vehicles.

The Foton Toano created a stir in the Foton booth pavilion at the MIAS and was among the large capacity vans that were unveiled during the show, along with Hyundai’s H350 and Volkswagen’s Crafter van.

Even CNN’s James Deakin and ANC’s Paolo Abrera also talked about this trend during their coverage at the recently concluded international auto show.

The Toano is Foton’s addition to its lineup of passenger vehicles.

The 15-seater Toano van’s flexible seating and spacious layout, together with its high ceiling, allow various configurations for commercial or passenger transports.

It is a much bigger and more powerful version of its cousin, the View Traveller.

With a higher roof and spacious interiors, one can practically stand up inside the vehicle powered by a 130-hp Cummins 2.8-liter engine with 360 Nm of torque, mated to a 6-speed manual transmission.

Equivalent to 120 kw, its engine consumes a factory-rated average of 8.7 liters of fuel per 100 km, and is Euro-IV compliant.

Teutonic design

The Toano was designed by its R&D team in Stuttgart, Germany, and its Teutonic design roots could explain why it bears an uncanny resemblance to Mercedes-Benz’s Sprinter van.

On the outside, the Toano’s clean lines complement its minimalist interior finishes with subtle touches of chrome throughout the cabin.

From its aerodynamic front with a simple two-bar chrome grille and LED lighting packages including the headlamps and turning lamps, the Toano is a premium-looking van that exudes a very elegant Euro-designed appeal.

Its classic four-meter layout is supported by a rear polyurethane cushion block that comes with a variable stiffness design, improving maneuverability and smoothness of the vehicle even while carrying partial load.

Its two-piece variable section leaf spring suspension is made of high strength steel that gives a higher carrying capacity than conventional leaf springs.

The dashboard adopts a traditional T-shaped structure, giving it a simple, symmetrical and user-friendly layout.

The air-charged oil shock absorber with tensile damping spring and large stabilizer bars are adopted to improve the driving stability as well.

The rear axle of the Toano uses an integral design with a carrying capacity of 2.4 tons, while the front suspension is a McPherson that greatly improves ride comfort.

Foton Philippines is targeting the private sector with the Toano by giving its clients a more premium business or leisure mobile solution.

Customizers like Atoy Customs have already worked on the Toano as a platform for its custom van transports.

Manila-proofed

Dubbed as #manilaproof, it is the concept of using large capacity vans and customizing them as a daily urban and out-of-town transport that is “Manila-proofed” against the rigors of traffic and extended hours of commuting.

From mobile audio-video entertainment systems to plush seating layouts and other amenities including folding tables and even Wi-Fi connectivity, these customized vans allow one to comfortably commute around town or travel distances while entertaining passengers or even using it as a place of work.

These works well for businessmen who are always on the go or for celebrities who need a place to rest in between shoots or while traveling, or for families who use it for weekend out-of-town leisure trips. The possibilities are endless.

ANC’s Paolo Abrera tries out the Foton Toano van.

Its affordable price tag allows the owner the flexibility to add on custom features and personalize their Toano vans.

In terms of safety, it has as standard three-point pre-tensioner seat belts for all seats with neck and back support.

The body framework made of high strength steel plates gives it a body stiffness that is 20 percent better compared to traditional vehicles of its class—to better resist the impact load.

It is also fitted with an anti-collision beam at the front to enhance the body strength and scatter the impact force.

In the event of a collision, its energy-absorbing steering column allows it to collapse in multiple locations in order to prevent the intrusion of the steering wheel into the cab and to prevent it from injuring the driver.

On board, safety electronics include a 9th generation Bosch anti-lock brake system (ABS) with enhanced data processing capacity and faster reaction compared its previous ABS system.

The EBD can automatically adjust the proportion of braking forces for front and rear axles based on the load condition of passengers within the vehicle, and work with the ABS to realize best braking efficiency and effectively shorten the braking distance, which is especially critical for vehicles with high load variation like the Toano.

The Toano comes in 3 colors: Aurora White, Metallic Silver, and Amber Bronze.

For inquiries, call 459s2121 or (0999) 999-9998. You may visit www.foton.com.ph or www.facebook.com/FOTONPhilippines.

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