Foton Thunder

Foton is very confident about Thunder’s performance on the roughest of terrains, owing to an All-Wheel-Drive feature. The automaker’s vision and confidence can be clearly seen in the interior design, which is articulated in such a way that all the occupants enjoy a stress-free ride. Talking about the interior aesthetics, the cabin space is well insulated for noise reduction. The seats are shielded with fabric upholstery but the higher variants get leather covers to give the plush feel.  The AC is manual, though it is powerful to its core. Other ubiquitous features inside the cabin are four speakers for the audio system, AM/FM player, CD player, and AUX connectivity. The higher model gets Bluetooth handsfree connectivity too. Additionally, the rear row has an under-seat storage space.

Taking about the exterior fascia of Thunder, it looks exactly how a pick-up truck should look like. The front face looks bulky, huge, and masculine. It has a hint of a rugged style about itself. At the front, the headlamps look very minimalistic in design, though the illumination is pretty good. The fog lamps are also placed at the lower downside of the bumper. Thunder rides on 16-inch alloy wheels and they have a meaty and bulky profile. These wheels offer god suspension and allow the driver to take on the roughest of terrains without haste. Thunder is a five-seater pickup truck, along with four doors and double cab. 

Taking about the ride quality the Thunder has to offer, it is more on the linear side, all credit goes to the equal power distribution along with the entire revolution range. The pickup can spark up to 100 kmph in just 13.5 seconds. It also has a good ground clearance of 230 mm, making it more comfortable on any sort of road journey. Additional standard handling features include power steering and control buttons mounted on it. 

Foton thunder runs on a 2.8-liter diesel engine (2,800cc) which has four-cylinders and a turbocharger. The engine is powerful enough to spark 113 PS of power at 3,600 rpm and a peak torque of 365 Nm. The power is transmitted to the wheels via a 5-speed manual. The total power output remains at 161 PS at 3,600 rpm and a peak torque of 360 Nm at 1,800 rpm. For the transmission, there is an optional 5-speed automatic or 5-speed manual. The Foton Thunder just has one engine option provided for all the variants. The Foton Thunder has a very responsive engine because of high tuning and the groan of the engine is high enough to pull the weight of the pickup.

Foton Thunder also fulfills the checklist for standard braking and safety features. It has dual front airbags, Anti-Lock Braking System and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution. The braking features help the truck to get stability and control while the pickup is running at high speeds. Keyless entry is a usual feature that is also incorporated in the pickup. Apart from this, the other safety measures included are seatbelt reminders, child safety lock, and reverse sensors, remote control power windows, and leather seats. 

With all given features, we assume the Foton Thunder to be a great option amongst the existing rivals in the pickup van segment. The 4x4 drivetrain makes it a hardcore offroader and the automatic transmission gearbox allows an effortless journey without jolts, even at higher speeds. Thunder is available in four variants (all diesel) and the prices start from PHP 840,000 and extend up to PHP 1,248,000 for the 4x4 trim. For this price, it might prove to be a good bet for the businessmen.