Mahindra continues to diversify using its existing portfolio. First there was Scorpio and then came the Scorpio Getaway. The Bolero also went through the operation to make the Bolero pick up.
There are two versions of the Xylo pickup, one for the domestic market and another for the export markets. Our pals at Motorbeam spied a double cab pickup version of the Mahindra Xylo testing on the Mumbai-Pune expressway. It has a much better road presence thanks to a more uniform construction, chrome inserts, load bay accentuated with a stroke over the wheel arch and what we’d call designer tail lamps considering this vehicle is used to haul cement bags and water cans.
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Our regular reader from Pune, Suresh Deshpande has sent spy shots of Tata Motors Ultra LCV doing the rounds in Pune. The Ultra was showcased at the 2012 Auto Expo in all its glory. However, as Tata Motors still had some testing left, the company did not launch the LCV in Delhi.
The Tata Ultra LCV & ICV range will comprise a series of variants from 5 to 14 tonnes. The range will be powered by new generation 3L (138 HP) and 5L (168 HP) common rail (DICOR) 16-valve engines.
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Coming from a manufacturer known for heavy commercial vehicles that we don’t discuss here on IAB, we did not know our readers would be curious to absorb every detail about the restyled Nissan Evalia AshLey has decided to call Stile (we’ve still not heard Fiat’s reaction to this name!).
The Stile is a product of the Ashok Leyland-Nissan partnership to roll out commercial vehicles in India. It is an attempt to tap into a segment Ashok Leyland has given a miss in the past. The partner LCV (a rebadged Nissan Atlas) is another vehicle that helps Ashok Leyland explore a lower segment. The transformation of Ashok Leyland from being a heavy trucks manufacturer into a cross-segment player started with the launch of the Dost and marches ahead with these vehicles.
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Following the heels of the Dost, Ashok Leyland is on a launch spree. It showcased a range of vehicles at the Expo, but the two capturing our interest is the Stile and Partner. Yes, you know what they are! The Stile is the NV200 or Evalia with a new face while the Partner is the Nissan Atlas badges as Ashok Leyland.
The Stile will take up various assignments in the Indian market. Ashok Leyland has said that a slew of variants such as ambulance, panel vans, courier service vehicle, shuttle bus and hotel shuttles are planned for the Stile. It sports attractive features (for a commercial vehicle) such as sliding doors, two and three row seating configurations and dual tone interiors and will be available in CNG and diesel avatars.
On the other hand, the Partner (spied by our readers Sree Ganesh and SR Vishnuvardan during tests) is a 6-tonne LCV with a tiltable cab. Power is derived via a 120hp CRDI engine. Ashok Leyland has ambitious plans with the Partner. It proposes the release of a range of applications like tippers, containers and refrigerators.
Ashok Leyland is also showing the CNG variant of the Dost at its stall. It will reach the market in 2012 whereas the Nissan-derived models are scheduled for a launch in mid-2013.
Vehicle 1 – Our friends at Motorbeam.com have scooped the On-Test Mahindra Maxximo CNG in Pune. Besides the CNG badge there’s no visual difference on the sub-1 tonne truck. The cabin and load area are the same. Mahindra is toying with various powertrains on the Maxximo, we saw an electric variant on duty at the Pragati Maidan during Auto Expo last year, production plans of which have not been revealed. The platform has been used to body a passenger van dubbed Maxximo Mini Van.
Will Mahindra bring the CNG variant to the Auto Expo next month?
Vehicle 2 – IndianCarsBikes.in’s EarthFusion has snagged the Tata ACE Dicor in Pune. IndianAutosBlog.com was first in putting this project under the spotlight back in September, but this is the first time we have photographic evidence of it testing. The Ace DICOR is powered by a two-cylinder turbocharged CRDI engine.
ICB adds that certain mechanical components from the Ace DICOR engine will funnel down into the Nano diesel project, rumored to touch down next year.
At the International Busworld fair 2011 in Mumbai, Tata Hispano displayed a Hybrid urban bus capable of running on Diesel, CNG or electricity. Designed by Tata Motors, the company says that this bus offers an optimal ecological efficiency.
Madrid has placed an order for ten buses last year. The dual purpose served at this Expo is the bus is a medium to showcase the technologies developed by Tata Motors and as batteries are expected to reach a lower price point over the next few years, sending the important message out on to the market that Tata Motors is future-ready.
Tata has listed the merits of the CNG-Diesel hybrid model in a press release and they include
- Electric traction system from Siemens employed in over 2000 buses worldwide.
- A full electrical model, possible for zero emission operation, for short distances.
- Common hybrid drive for Diesel-Electric and CNG-Electric, which can be extended to Pure Electric, CNG micro turbine and hydrogen fuel cell buses.
- Overall cost over the lifetime of the vehicle is lower, due to savings in running costs. Procuring cost is significantly higher.
- Regenerative electronic braking allows reuse of energy dissipated during braking.
- Very low and transient engine operation.
- Electrically driven auxiliary systems.
- Automatic Electric mode.
- Lithium-Ion battery pack provides better performance compared to Lead Acid pack.
- Smaller engine gives rise to less noise.
- Energy management strategies allows tuning to suit specific customer requirements, depending on the operations.
Now that the Sunny is launched, Nissan India is focusing on the testing activities on the NV200. So many of our loyal readers have sent us spy pics of completely uncamouflaged NV200 doing testing rounds in Chennai. Nissan India is betting big on the NV200 as it hopes to kill the kingpin of MPVs – the Toyota Innova.
However, Nissan’s LCV partner Ashok Leyland also has similar ambitions and wants a pie of the MPV segment. Ashok Leyland has recognized the growing demand for people movers in India and is reportedly working on an MPV based on the NV200 platform. If everything goes well, this new MPV will mark the foray of Ashok Leyland brand in the passenger segment.
This does raise a question of will there be rift between Nissan and Ashok Leyland as they are both targeting the same segment. However Dr V Sumantran, executive vice chairman, Hinduja Automotive said that their MPV will be completely different from the NV200 and will be targeted towards commercial use rather than a family car. The company is targeting tour operators and taxi operators with their new MPV.
The new MPV will be positioned below the Mahindra Xylo and is at least 12 – 15 months away from its debut. This also acts as a buffer period for Nissan as it has ample time to market the NV200.
The Toyota Innova has enjoyed a dominant run in the Indian MPV segment. However, as more and more manufacturers are diverting their attention towards the MPV segment, the heat will be more intense. The major contender for now seems like the R3 from Maruti Suzuki. Force Motors is also planning an MPV based on the Mercedes Viano. General Motors is testing many Chinese MPVs in India from its SAIC Wulling partnership. At the same time, Chevrolet is all set to refurbish the Tavera with a new BS4 complaint engine by the end of 2011.
As the competition heats up, Toyota better get the Innova facelift out fast.
Recently, Ashok Leyland launched their flagship LCV Dost in Mumbai at a price of Rs. 3.79 lakhs to Rs. 4.37 lakhs.
The Dost platform is co developed with Nissan and will transform into many Ready-to-Use Vehicles (RUVs) such as Refrigerated containers, Steel containers, Ambulance, Aluminium Fixed Side Decks and Service-At-Site vehicles.
However the company has major plans to launch a Van based on the Dost.
This is not something new to the Indian Automotive scene. Many LCVs have transformed themselves in van for commercial uses. A few that come to our mind are Tata Ace and Mahindra Maxximo.
These vans are very effective runabouts in rural India which demands a robust car which can handle rough usage. What can be more tough than a modified pick up truck right?
During the launch of the Dost, Dr V Sumantran, executive vice chairman Ashok Leyland commented that it will be an 8 seater van and will be launched very soon. SRK, our in-house design genius, has speculated what this upcoming van may look like.
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Mahindra continues to diversify using its existing portfolio. First there was Scorpio and then came the Scorpio Getaway. The Bolero also went through the operation to make the Bolero pick up.
