Before you wonder, GR-S stands for Gazoo Racing Sport. It’s what Toyota uses to differentiate a uniquely tuned iteration over the rest of the range. But, come to think of it, the Japanese carmaker has never sold a GR-S model in India. Until now. The wait for the Fortuner GR-S is over. Carrying a sticker price of INR 48.43 lakh, it is the most expensive variant in the SUV’s portfolio.

Simple math reveals that the GR-S version demands a premium of INR 3.80 lakh over the most costly Legender derivative. And what do you get for the extra? The Fortuner GR-S packs a different grille and tweaked front and rear bumpers. The shiny alloys give way for a set of black ones, and there’s GR branding on multiple panels. Indoors, there’s an all-black interior with contrasting red stitching, GR logos on the headrests, a new instrument cluster and sporty-looking pedals.

Thankfully, that’s not all. In GR-S form, the Fortuner also gets a differently tuned suspension. And although I haven’t driven it yet, the new suspension setup should allow for some sporty driving. The rest of the package is pretty much the same. So, it comes with features like a JBL sound system, an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a wireless mobile charger, DRLs and a hands-free opening system for the powered tailgate. As for the safety blanket, that includes seven airbags, ISOFIX anchorages, Vehicle Stability Control with Brake Assist, traction control and Hill Assist Control.

There’s only one powertrain option for the Fortuner GR-S. It comprises the 2.8-litre turbocharged diesel mill (201bhp/500Nm), a 6-speed automatic transmission and a 4×4 system. And that means the newcomer offers no extra oomph than the standard Fortuner with the same setup.

In India, the Toyota Fortuner competes with the MG Gloster. Soon, the Jeep Meridian will join the party to make things more interesting. But before that, here’s a question – do you think the Fortuner GR-S is worth it?