The Ford Maverick is in the course of its fourth mannequin 12 months available on the market, and surprisingly, it nonetheless has only one direct competitor: the Hyundai Santa Cruz. We are saying that it is stunning as a result of the Maverick retains promoting in sturdy numbers. Ford delivered greater than 130,000 of them final 12 months, virtually 3 times the variety of Rangers, and it is on monitor to promote much more this 12 months. It looks like a market that different corporations could be all in favour of becoming a member of, particularly these with current merchandise that could possibly be tailored. Stellantis is a type of corporations, and it is updating a type of merchandise for 2026: the Toro.
It Appears To Be A Gentle Refresh
Fiat solely launched a single teaser picture of the entrance, in addition to a brief teaser video. The video exhibits a number of extra angles of the Toro together with the rear and the profile. Even from the low-light pictures, it is clear that the truck is simply getting a lightweight replace. We’re capable of affirm that due to a YouTube consumer in Brazil who occurred to identify a brand new instance seemingly already on a showroom flooring, and you may see the video beneath. Fiat gave the truck new headlights, a broad grille with vertical slats, and a few adjustments to different element elements across the automotive, such because the taillights.
Supporting the sunshine refresh thought are the comparatively unchanged inside, and the badges on the facet of the truck, each of which may be seen within the YouTube video. The trim options the quantity “450” within the identify. The numbers in Toro trims in Brazil point out the engine geared up by the use of the quantity of torque in Newton-meters. The truck within the video evidently has the identical 2.2-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder as the present mannequin, which makes about 200 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. Fiat may also in all probability proceed providing the fuel and ethanol-powered turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder, too, which at the moment makes about 176 hp and 199 lb-ft.
We Assume It May Be Possible To Deliver The Toro To America
Introducing a automobile to a brand new market isn’t actually straightforward. There are all types of little adjustments that should occur, equivalent to updating security and emissions tools, and tuning the driving expertise to the goal area’s tastes. All these adjustments add prices that might make it tough to inconceivable for a automotive to be launched and be price it. Whereas this is able to all apply to the Toro, the little truck does have a bonus in that it is on a platform that has already been out there within the US.
It is constructed on the identical platform that has underpinned the Renegade and the Compass, the latter of which remains to be on sale. So, it is clear that this platform may be made to cross American security laws and be arrange in a manner that American prospects would really like. Moreover, it could appear seemingly that the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that is supplied within the US within the Compass would in all probability match. Within the Compass, it makes 200 hp and 221 lb-ft, which might be comfortably in vary of the hybrid Maverick. The Dodge Hornet additionally has a model of the engine making 268 hp and 295 lb-ft, which might compete properly with the turbocharged Maverick. The Compass even had a plug-in hybrid powertrain in Europe, as will its substitute model, which might even be compelling in a truck just like the Toro.
With a confirmed platform and out there engines, it looks like the Toro is just a few improvement time and a rebrand away from being a barely smaller Maverick competitor (it is about 5 inches shorter in size than a Maverick). With a midsize Ram supposedly on the way in which, the Toro may get a Ram badge and absolutely spherical out the truck model in America. It looks like a good suggestion to us, assuming that Stellantis may do it affordably, and even with these benefits, it may nonetheless be tough to make the numbers work, particularly for a automobile that must be priced low.
