The Foton Tornado Philippines 2023 is a series of light commercial vehicles that aims to assist Filipinos with their businesses. It is available in various body configurations including F-Van, Refrigerated Van, MPV, Dropside, Fuel Tanker, among others. As for pricing, the light commercial vehicle (LCV) is offered with a starting price of Php 755,000 for the 2E E3 Dropside and goes up to Php 1,690,000 for the 4.5C Telescopic Crane. Under the hood, two engine options are made available. One is the 2.8-liter Cummins ISF turbodiesel engine, while the other is a larger 3.8-liter Cummins ISF turbodiesel mill. Either a 5-speed manual or 6-speed manual transmission is connected to the engine.
In terms of dimensions, the Tornado has various body configurations. But the largest, which is the Tornado M5.2 F-Van, is 6,955 mm long, 2,270 mm wide, and 2,340 mm long, with a wheelbase and ground clearance rated at 3,800 mm and 234 mm, respectively. In the local market, this Chinese LCV goes up against the likes of the Isuzu N-Series and Hyundai HD36L,
Launch
Foton Motor Philippines first introduced the Tornado light truck variant in 2017. Since then, the brand has incorporated modifications in the truck’s safety features to cater to the growing demand for commercial vehicles in the country. Pricing of the latest generation line-up of the Tornado in the Philippines currently ranges from Php 755,000 to Php 1,690,000.
Featured on the video is the Tonado M Series F-van
Exterior
The line-up of light-duty trucks generally follows the design of typical hauling commercial vehicles. MPV’s, Dropsides, and the Telescopic Crane come in a white finish while some van variants have a silver box behind the driver’s cabin for the cargo. On the front fascia is the brand’s signature black grille with the Foton emblem on the center. The Tornado Philippines is equipped with 15- to 16-inch wheels, depending on the variant.
Interior
Since the Tornado 2023 falls under the commercial vehicle category, the cabin isn’t decked with extravagant finishes and extra comfort features. However, the 2-door vehicles can seat 3 people comfortably with ample legroom, high headroom, and dual overhead compartments. Seats are wrapped in gray fabric and the cabin is covered in black matte plastic material. The dashboard is straightforward and simple, which makes it easy for the driver to get used to it.
Technology & Safety Features
All variants of the Foton Tornado 2023 come with rear parking sensors, power steering, and power windows. It is equipped with the bare necessities such as an air-conditioning system and a basic entertainment system capable of playing AM and FM radio, CDs, and MP3 devices.
Platform & Chassis
The line-up of light-duty trucks come with non-independent longitudinal elliptical leaf spring front suspension mated with hydraulic dual-acting telescopic shock absorbers. At the rear are non-independent longitudinal elliptical leaf spring with auxiliary leaf springs and the same shock absorbers as the front. The newer versions of the Tornado come with a steel chassis that enables the trucks to carry a higher payload safely with more stability.
Engine & Drivetrain
Powering the Foton Tornado variants are 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel engines of varying capacities. The top range variants come with a 3.5-liter engine that produces 310 Nm of torque, while the 2E models run on a 2.0-liter engine that powers out 172 Nm of torque. Its engines are attached to a 5-speed manual transmission. The diesel engine has a fuel capacity of 70 liters.