It’s easy to think of Foton as just another Chinese automaker among others from the mainland, contending for their own share of the Philippine market.
While it has its own range of passenger models for lifestyle use, where Foton makes its mark is in commercial vehicles for corporate and fleet purchases.
Despite the lockdowns and restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, Foton has been quite visible in rolling out the various offerings in its lineup.
Just recently, the brand marked a major milestone with total global sales of 10 million vehicles that meet a range of transport and mobility requirements for customers.
At least 10 million Foton vehicles are now plying roads all over the world
In the Philippine market, Foton has become synonymous with robustness and power at an affordable price point.
A number of Foton models benefit from its joint venture partnership with American engine manufacturer Cummins, featuring 2.8-liter and 3.8-liter displacement engines for the carmaker’s light-duty trucks.
Foton F-Jeepney
Among these is the F-Jeepney, Foton’s modern take on the iconic king of the road. This line offers an air-conditioned cabin with ample seating from 11 to 29 passengers.
Convenience features include an automatic fare collection system, handrails, an LED TV screen, and onboard WiFi. A GPS tracker and CCTV cameras add safety for commuters, while a 3.8L Cummins diesel engine provides 154 hp and 500 Nm of torque.
Foton Harabas TM 300
Another powerhouse model in the Foton lineup is the Harabas TM 300 that caters to the needs of the enterprising Filipino. The range comes in wing van, F-van, MPV, and dropside configurations.
A 2.2L turbocharged diesel engine delivers 87 hp and up to 220 Nm of torque, complementing the vehicle’s 1.1-ton payload capacity.
Foton Tornado
For more sizable jobs, there’s the Foton Tornado selection of light-duty trucks, with power units ranging from 2.8L to 3.8L Cummins diesel engines with turbocharging and common-rail direct-injection technology.
The Tornado line ranks third among the top light-duty trucks in the country, comprising 44.22 percent of total sales in the category.
“Providing mobility solutions with our FOTON units for more than a decade, we’re confident in offering our vehicles’ world-class technology and wide breadth of capabilities that suit an even broader range of transportation needs for companies, businesses, government units, or families,” said FOTON Motor Philippines, Inc. (FMPI) President Rommel Sytin. “We are proud to have become one of the trusted commercial vehicle partners in the country.”
We’ll get you sold on our industry updates at Philkotse.com.
Know more about Foton Tornado 2024
The Foton Tornado Philippines 2024 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 915,000 and goes up to Php 2,510,000 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.
>>> New and used Foton Tornado 2024 for sale in the Philippines
Foton Tornado 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.
Foton Tornado Exterior
The line-up of light-duty trucks generally follows the design of typical hauling commercial vehicles. MPVs, 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 in the center. The Tornado Philippines is equipped with 15- to 16-inch wheels, depending on the variant.
Foton Tornado Interior
Since the Tornado 2024 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 2024 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 comes 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 springs 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.
Foton Tornado 2024 Price List
Let's check out the Foton Tornado 2024 price in the Philippines.
| Variants | Price |
|---|---|
| Foton Tornado M2E E4 Cab and Chassis | ₱915,000 |
| Foton Tornado M2E E4 Dropside | ₱985,000 |
| Foton Tornado M2E E4 MPV Single AC | ₱985,000 |
| Foton Tornado 4.5C Dropside | ₱1,030,000 |
| Foton Tornado M2E E4 FVAN Rivetless | ₱1,070,000 |
| Foton Tornado M2.6C Cab and Chassis | ₱1,120,000 |
| Foton Tornado M2.6C Dropside | ₱1,190,000 |
| Foton Tornado M2E E4 MPV Dual AC | ₱1,200,000 |
| Foton Tornado M2.6C FVAN Rivetless | ₱1,275,000 |
| Foton Tornado M4.2C Cab and Chassis | ₱1,285,000 |
| Foton Tornado 4.4C Mini Dumptruck | ₱1,310,000 |
| Foton Tornado 4.4C Water Tank | ₱1,310,000 |
| Foton Tornado M4.2C Dropside | ₱1,355,000 |
| Foton Tornado M2.6C MPV Single AC | ₱1,360,000 |
| Foton Tornado M2.6C MPV Dual AC | ₱1,405,000 |
| Foton Tornado M5.2C Cab and chassis | ₱1,440,000 |
| Foton Tornado M4.2C FVAN Rivetless | ₱1,490,000 |
| Foton Tornado M5.2C Dropside | ₱1,545,000 |
| Foton Tornado M6.1C Cab and Chassis | ₱1,595,000 |
| Foton Tornado M5.2C FVAN Rivetless | ₱1,675,000 |
| Foton Tornado M6.1C Dropside | ₱1,775,000 |
| Foton Tornado M2.6C Refrigerated Van | ₱1,795,000 |
| Foton Tornado M4.2C Fuel Tanker | ₱1,805,000 |
| Foton Tornado M6.1C Fvan Plain | ₱1,900,000 |
| Foton Tornado M4.2C Refrigerated Van | ₱1,925,000 |
| Foton Tornado M5.2C Telescopic crane | ₱2,125,000 |
| Foton Tornado M5.2C Self Loader | ₱2,160,000 |
| Foton Tornado M6.1C Telescopic crane | ₱2,255,000 |
| Foton Tornado M4.2C F-Jeepney | ₱2,510,000 |
Foton Tornado Pros & Cons
Pros
- Comes in various body configurations
- Reliable engine
- Good payload capacity at a maximum of 5,200 kg
Cons
- Long-term ownership can be a hassle
₱ 755,000 - ₱ 1,690,000
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