About a week ago, we showed you images of what we thought was the Ashok Leyland Dost Express, the passenger carrier version of the Dost. We were a bit skeptical that time as it could have been the work of a private body builder. However, today we can confirm that it is indeed the Dost Express and here are more pictures showing its interior.
Team BHP reports that the Dost Express features a fiber passenger cabin that is mounted onto the regular Dost's chassis, along with the drivers cabin. The passenger shell has been designed by Ashok Leyland, though it is not being assembled by them. Instead, the company sends the Dost with the driver cabin to various body builders located in different parts of the country, who then fit the passenger shell and dispatch it to the dealers.
The passenger cabin can accommodate 12 people thanks to four, 3-seater benches placed on every side. Entry to the cabin is through a single door placed on the left-hand side of the vehicle. Occupants seated in the passenger shell can communicate to the driver and passenger through an opening, as seen in the image.
Further, Team BHP reports that the only feature in the passenger shell is a single tube-light. The 1.5-liter three-cylinder diesel engine will continue unchanged outputting 58bhp and 157.5Nm of torque. Initial price estimates tag the Dost Express in the range of INR 6-7 lakhs.
