It seems our good friends over at Autos Segredos (Auto Secrets) have discovered some new changes coming for the FIAT brand’s popular C-segment Toro sport utility pickup (SUP) for the 2024 model year.
According to the Brazilian automotive site, the Toro will have its popular 2.0-liter Multijet II inline-four-cylinder turbodiesel engine reduced to just the western-themed Ranch trim. It’s no surprise as Stellantis continues to move away from diesel powertrains, as it has shown with the discontinuation of the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 in the Ram 1500 and Jeep® Wrangler Unlimited.
For those who are familiar with the Toro, you have been required to purchase the Multijet II turbodiesel in order to equip the compact pickup with four-wheel-drive (4×4) capability.
Autos Segredos has informed us that the turbocharged 1.3-liter “FireFly” inline-four-cylinder engine (which is part of the Stellantis Global Small Engine or “GSE” family), will be available with 4×4 going into 2024 for the first time. The 1.3-liter will be paired with the ZF-sourced 948TE 9-speed automatic and will be equipped with the same 4×4 system found currently on the Jeep Renegade.
Autos Segredos says the Renegade’s Jeep® Active Drive 4×4 System, will be given the task for both the Volcano and Ultra trim levels. The Active Drive 4×4 System transitions from 4×4 to fuel-saving front-wheel drive for added efficiency. Jeep uses its “Selec-Terrain® Traction Management System” to adjust traction settings like Auto, Snow, Sand, and Mud, for optimum traction on multiple sources.
An off-road package could bring the Jeep Active Drive Low 4×4 System from the Renegade Trailhawk to the lineup, giving the Toro an electronic rear locker and a 20:1 crawl ratio. The Active Drive Low 4×4 system also adds a Rock mode, for adventurous rock climbing trails.
The Toro Endurance and Freedom models will still come standard with front-wheel-drive (4×2) and a 6-speed AW60T automatic transmission sourced from Aisin.
The Toro continues to be an important part of the success of the FIAT brand in Latin America (especially in Brazil). Ram even uses the Toro in several Latin American countries under the Ram 1000 nameplate.
Many people have wondered why Ram hasn’t brought the Toro to North America to combat the success of the Ford Maverick pickup.
