New Foton PUVs showcased at 2019 LTO Motor Show

Foton Motor Philippines, Inc. (FMPI), showcased its latest offerings for commuter vehicles on the 107th Anniversary of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) that happened at East Avenue, Quezon City last May 21 to 24, 2019. The Foton vehicles were showcased under the banner with the quote of “Para sa ‘Pinas! The modernized Foton jeepney”. 

Various workhorses of various purposes were showcased at the show. The F-Jeep, Foton’s version of the modern-day jeepney, was displayed and will serve as the brand’s entry to the government’s Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) modernization program. The next model that was showcased was the Foton Gratour TM MPV. The vehicle serves its purpose as a people hauler and a cargo vehicle for small and medium enterprises. The TransVan HR is a minibus designed to serve as a private minibus or a luxurious transport service. 

About the F-Jeep, Foton tells us that it is derived from the brand’s light-duty truck, the Tornado 2.4C. The rear of the body was designed in part by Centro Manufacturing Corporation. The CRDI 4-cylinder diesel engine beats at its heart and it is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. It is also rated under Foton’s Blue Energy Euro 4 compliant vehicles, and designed for cleaner and more powerful mobility. 

The interior is fitted with stainless fixed bench seats. The cabin of the F-Jeep can hold a total passenger capacity of up to 24 passengers, with 16 sitting down and 8 standing up. Foton has kitted the interior with modern amenities for operators. With a CCTV, GPS Navigation, and a dashcam are just part of the features that the F-Jeep holds. Available for the occupants is the Wi-Fi connection and entertainment system. Also worth mentioning is that the model comes with a cashless payment system. – Oh, and the icing on the cake: air conditioning. 

For the other vehicles on display, the Gratour TM MPV comes with a 14-passenger carrying capacity and can bear a total of 1455 kg worth of payload. It comes with side-facing benches and a 1.5L gasoline engine that is connected to a 5-speed manual transmission. 

The TransVan HR meanwhile is on the upper end of the spectrum. The model on display was more for luxury tours than everyday public commuting. The market for this vehicle would be for resorts or as a private owner looking for a very spacious and large scale vehicle to kick back and relax in. It’s equipped with a 2.8L turbo-diesel engine, can be configured to seat up to 16 passengers.