Foton Tunland’s ‘Monster Trucks’ coming to Malaysia

Quick look

• These ‘American sized’ trucks are larger than a Toyota Hilux and have been on sale in markets like Brazil, South Africa and Australia.

• Two models – the V7 and V9 – will be assembled locally with estimated prices starting from RM128,888. They will be launched in mid-May.

Foton Motor (a 30-year old subsidiary in the BAIC Group) has been operating in Malaysia for about 15 years, during which time its focus has been on light and heavy commercial vehicles.

Soon, it will venture into the pick-up truck segment long dominated by Japanese brands with its Tunland brand. To avoid challenging the established models head-on, Handal BCM (the local importer of Foton vehicles) has chosen the V7 and V9 models which are in a larger category typically associated with America trucks like the Ford F-150 and Dodge Ram.

Larger than Hilux
The dimensions of both models, for example, are 5617 mm long with a wheelbase of 3355 mm. That’s about 300 mm longer than the Toyota Hilux, with the wheelbase being 270 mm longer. They’re also taller at 1955 mm – 140 mm over the Hilux.

These ‘Monster Trucks’ are expected to appeal to a specific niche of buyers who require the utility of a workhorse with the imposing road presence of a cruiser.

Both the V7 and V9 are powered by a 2-litre turbodiesel engine with a 48V mild-hybrid (MHEV) system. This 161 hp/450 Nm powertrain with an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission is designed to address the common criticisms of large-displacement diesels by offering smoother low-end acceleration and improved fuel efficiency, with claimed consumption of up to 12.5 kms/litre.

Two suspension choices
The suspension differs on the 2 trucks, which effectively defines their intended use. The V7 has a multi-leafspring rear suspension, while the V9 is fitted with coil springs and a rear multilink suspension system.

The V7 is thus engineered for tougher demand as a workhorse, while the V9 offers better comfort with a SUV-like experience and can be a dual-role vehicle for business and personal transport.

CBU first, then CKD
The initial batch of vehicles will be CBU imports but thereafter, they will be assembled locally at a plant in Johor. Estimated prices are RM128,888 for the V7 and RM148,888 for the V9 (first 888 buyers will get an Early Bird package). A warranty of 7 years/200,000 kms is offered.

More will be known about the V7 and V9 when the models are launched at the Malaysia Commercial Vehicle Expo next month.

The current phase of Foton’s history in Malaysia marks their most ambitious shift yet. Moving away from purely utilitarian workhorse vehicles, the brand is now targeting the lifestyle pick-up segment that began in the mid-1990s.

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