Foton Philippines is looking to grow its passenger car lineup with the introduction of the all-new Thunder. The Chinese marque showcased the new midsize pickup truck at the 2022 Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) with a new rugged design that now looks at par with its mainstream rivals in the local market.
All-new Foton Thunder
Exterior-wise, the all-new Foton Thunder is designed with a more muscular finish from the front to the back. Chrome trims chief the front end which can be found on the FOTON wordmark on the grille and across the lower bumper. It is contrasted by black trims on the grille surround.
To the sides, the pickup truck gets a set of 18-inch wheels with disc brakes up front and drum brakes at the rear. As for the rear end, the tailgate is also embedded with the FOTON wordmark, along with restyled taillights by its sides.
It comes with a more muscular design
The interior of the all-new version looks way more modern as compared to the outgoing Foton Thunder. It comes with leather seats, a revamped steering, a revised dashboard, and a floating-type 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen. Additionally, the dashboard is finished with a full-width chrome strip and carbon fiber-like trim.
In the safety department, the Foton truck is equipped with six airbags, an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), traction control, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), hill descent control, and hill hold control.
A beefier workhorse vehicle from Foton
Under the hood, our previous report appeared to be true as the new model now uses a smaller 2.0-liter AUCAN turbodiesel engine good for 161 horsepower and 390 Nm of torque. It does make 25 Nm more torque as compared to the outgoing 2.8-liter mill. A 6-speed manual transmission is connected to the engine.
No official pricing has been disclosed by Foton Philippines just yet. But interested individuals could be looking at a starting price of around P1.1-million for the Thunder 4x2 with the manual gearbox. An automatic gearbox and 4x4 drivetrain will be unveiled soon.
Philkotse.com delivers the latest 2022 MIAS updates.
Know more about Foton Thunder 2024
Foton Thunder is the latest midsize pickup truck from the said brand. Locally, it has six available variants with a starting retail price of Php 1,080,000.
Size-wise, the all-new Thunder is 5,340mm long, 1,940mm wide, and 1,870mm in height. It also has a wheelbase length of 3,220mm for the 4x2 trims, and 3,110mm for the 4x4 trims. It then features a ground clearance of 220mm.
Under the hood of the Foton Thunder is a 2.0-liter diesel AUCAN inline-4 engine. At the most, this engine can make up to 160 horsepower and 380 Nm of torque. Torque figures for the 4x4 are then rated at 390 Nm.
Available gearbox options for the Thunder include a six-speed manual gearbox for the 4x2 and 4x4 versions. Only the 4x2 version may come with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The local competitors of the 2024 Foton Thunder include the Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi Strada, Isuzu D-Max, Nissan Navara, Ford Ranger, Mazda BT-50, Maxus T-60, among others.
>>> New and used Foton Thunder 2024 for sale in the Philippines
Foton Thunder Launch
The 2024 Foton Thunder’s variants were launched at different major events spanning the years 2022 to 2023.
First off is the Thunder 4x2 MT, which was introduced at the 2022 Manila International Auto Show. This was then followed by the Thunder 4x2 AT, which was presented at the 2022 Philippine International Auto Show.
The last to be revealed is the Thunder 4x4 MT. This occurred at the 2023 Foton Big Show.
Foton Thunder Exterior
The 2024 Foton Thunder’s appearance strikes a good balance between macho, and utilitarian.
All trims come with projector headlamps and LED front fog lamps. Likewise present on this model is a side-step board, and a sports bar (4x4). The Thunder then comes standard with a cargo bed liner, as well as LED taillights.
Completing the look of this Foton pickup truck is a set of 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels.
Foton Thunder Interior
Step inside the Thunder and you’ll be greeted by a straightforward, but comfortable interior built for up to five occupants.
Present inside are diamond-stitch patterned leather seats and soft-touch surfaces on the interior door cards. Silver trims are likewise fitted onto the dashboard and center console. Extra comfort for the rear passengers is provided with a deployable elbow rest.
The driver is then provided with a push-to-start button, an electronically adjustable seat, a tilt & telescopic steering wheel, and power side mirrors.
Keeping everyone inside the Thunder cool is an automatic air-conditioning system. For the 4x4 trim, it gets a drivetrain mode knob.
>>> Read more information about Foton Thunder:
- New Foton Thunder 4x4 MT variant launched at 2023 Foton Big Show
- MIAS 2022: Foton Thunder brings beefier stance, new 2.0 turbodiesel
Technology & Safety Features
Keeping the Thunder’s occupants entertained is a 10.25-inch touchscreen headunit. For connectivity, it gets Bluetooth, USB, and smartphone mirroring.
Safety is then handled by dual front airbags, anti-lock braking, stability control, hill-descent control, ISOFIX child seat anchors, hill-hold control, etc. Added to the 4x4 trim is a front-collision warning system, a pedestrian protection system, and a mechanical differential lock.
Platform & Chassis
The latest generation Thunder model of the 5-seater pick-up is delivered with an upgraded 3-inch suspension lift kit. Front suspension comes in the form of double wishbones with coil springs complemented by leaf springs on the rear. Stopping power comes from front disc brakes and rear drum brakes.
Engine & Drivetrain
Powered by a 2.8-liter Cummins ISF CRDi diesel engine, the Foton Thunder provides the necessary output to perform in almost every type of terrain. The 4x2 AT variant can produce 174 hp and 365 Nm of torque, while the 4x4 MT can yield 161 hp and 360 Nm of torque. Transmission differs for each variant with the 4x2’s engine attached to a 6-speed Automatic transmission and the 4x4 comes with a 5-speed Manual. The engine of the 4x2 sends power exclusively to the rear wheels while the 4x4 Ironman is a four-wheel drive.
The 2024 Foton Thunder is comparable to most pickup trucks in the market when it comes to having a one-ton cargo capacity. It is also on-par with most of its competitors when it comes to engine outputs with some exceptions.
When tech is concerned, however, the Thunder is a bit slim. It doesn’t have much in the way of driver-assistive features, and it doesn’t get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as well.
- Stylish looks
- Peppy engine
- Comfortable interior
- No Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Lack of driver-assistive safety tech.
Foton Thunder 2024 Price List
| Variants | Price |
|---|---|
| Foton Thunder 2.0 4x2 EL MT | ₱1,080,000 |
| Foton Thunder 2.0 4x2 EL AT | ₱1,150,000 |
| Foton Thunder 2.0 4x2 MT | ₱1,180,000 |
| Foton Thunder 2.0 4x4 MT | ₱1,298,000 |
| Foton Thunder 2.0 4x2 AT | ₱1,300,000 |
| Foton Thunder 2.0 4x2 AT SPORTS | ₱1,385,000 |
Foton Thunder FAQs
1. What kind of engine is the Foton Thunder?
The Foton Thunder is equipped with a 2.8-liter turbocharged diesel engine, which is capable of producing up to 174 horsepower and 365 Nm of torque.
2. What is the fuel consumption of the Foton Thunder?
The average fuel consumption of the Foton Thunder is around 7.9 liters per 100 kilometers or approximately 12.7 kilometers per liter.
3. How much does the Foton Thunder cost?
The price of a Foton Thunder can vary depending on the specific model, with prices ranging from around PHP 1,080,000 to PHP 1,385,000.
4. How many seater is the Foton Thunder?
The Foton Thunder is a midsize pickup truck and is typically designed to seat up to five passengers, with two seats in the front and a three-person bench seat in the back.
5. Is the Foton Thunder a good car?
The Foton Thunder is a midsize pickup truck that is known for being affordable, reliable, and capable of heavy-duty work and off-road driving.
₱ 1,180,000 - ₱ 1,350,000
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