New Pickup Truck From India

unit731 · July 13, 2008

Indian auto manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. has plans to offer a mid-size diesel hybrid pickup to American buyers by 2010, promising even higher fuel economy figures than the diesel-only truck it will start selling next year. Both powertrains will be available for its 'Scorpio' SUV too.

Last year PickupTruck.com interviewed John Perez, CEO of Global Vehicles U.S.A. (GV-USA), an Alpharetta, Georgia-based automotive import company, who's leading the effort to bring the Indian pickup (and Scorpio SUV) to these shores.

Mr. Perez just provided an update to PickupTruck.com about the truck's status.

"I was just advised that by 2010 we'll have a diesel hybrid pickup (for sale in the US market). It will be available for the two-door and four-door pickups, and the SUV," says Mr. Perez. "Nobody is going to have a truck close to this."

This is the first time a diesel hybrid powertrain has been announced by a truck manufacturer for the U.S. market. Gasoline hybrids have recently been introduced by General Motors for its full size 2009 Chevrolet Silverado and 2009 GMC Sierra pickups, and Toyota recently showed its A-BAT compact pickup concept using a hybrid powertrain.

"We're not able to announce pricing yet (for the diesel hybrid) but we're not expecting it to be, say, $10,000 more (than the diesel-only pickup). Probably several thousand more," says Mr. Perez.

Mr. Perez has previously stated the diesel-only pickup would start at $22,000.

The diesel-only truck will use a slightly modified version of Mahindra's recently introduced 'mHawk' 2.2-liter inline four cylinder diesel engine, that debuted in India in the Scorpio SUV.

Mr. Perez estimates the U.S. version of the mHawk will have power ratings in the range of 145-horsepower to 150-horsepower and approximately 300 pound-feet of torque, though the numbers haven't been finalized. The mHawk was designed in cooperation with diesel engineering firms Bosch and AVL specifically with the American pickup market in mind.

The American mHawk will be paired with a standard six-speed automatic transmission, a floor mounted console shifter, and steering wheel mounted paddles to manually shift the gearbox.

"I'm really happy about this diesel," says Mr. Perez. "This is a market that nobody is going to be in for at least three of four years. We're going to be able to give small businesses a truck that can get 30 to 35 miles-per-gallon, and with a diesel engine that's durable. It's a $40,000 truck that we're going to sell in the mid-$20,000s. This is not Chinese junk."

And it will be able to haul too. Mahindra promises the truck will be able to carry a very sizeable 1.3-ton (2,600-lb) payload in its 7.5-foot cargo box. By comparison, the 2008 Toyota Tacoma has a max payload rating of 1,685-lbs and the 2008 Dodge Dakota has a max payload of 1,720-lbs.

The trucks will come with a 60,000-mile, four year bumper-to-bumper warranty.

Three hundred dealers have signed up to sell the Mahindra pickup, which Mr. Perez thinks will be called the 'Appalachian', after the Appalachian mountain range in the eastern U.S., by the time it goes on sale in mid-2009. Most dealerships will be store-in-a-store, paired with existing auto franchises, but 24 stand-alone Mahindra stores are planned. One is already under construction in the midwest.

Dana_15 · July 13, 2008

We're going to be able to give small businesses a truck that can get 30 to 35 miles-per-gallon

And it will be able to haul too. Mahindra promises the truck will be able to carry a very sizeable 1.3-ton (2,600-lb) payload in its 7.5-foot cargo box.

The trucks will come with a 60,000-mile, four year bumper-to-bumper warranty.

Very interesting. Decent mileage, very good warranty and a hefty payload....nice combo.

tobias · July 14, 2008

wlvrn1215 · July 14, 2008

like the tractors?? I know Mahindra tractors are made in the USA

mkelly · July 14, 2008

Something tells me that this truck will not see american soil in out lifetimes.

There is a huge difference between safety and emmision requiremetns in india and the US. The entire truck would have to be re-designed just to be able to be sold in the US.

Hell, even mercedes vw and bmw have had a hard time cleaning up diesels enough to be sold in the US.

Jackson · July 14, 2008

mkelly · July 14, 2008

Jackson · July 14, 2008

that's the ugliest thing I've ever seen....

mkelly · July 14, 2008

Seperated at birth?

tobias · July 14, 2008

Looks like Taco San has a secret Indian lover.

SoCalChris · July 14, 2008

And it will be able to haul too. Mahindra promises the truck will be able to carry a very sizeable 1.3-ton (2,600-lb) payload in its 7.5-foot cargo box. By comparison, the 2008 Toyota Tacoma has a max payload rating of 1,685-lbs and the 2008 Dodge Dakota has a max payload of 1,720-lbs.
The trucks will come with a 60,000-mile, four year bumper-to-bumper warranty.

That's a good payload. I wonder if they'll have a "Seating for 40" option that you can order?

tobias · July 14, 2008

And it will be able to haul too. Mahindra promises the truck will be able to carry a very sizeable 1.3-ton (2,600-lb) payload in its 7.5-foot cargo box. By comparison, the 2008 Toyota Tacoma has a max payload rating of 1,685-lbs and the 2008 Dodge Dakota has a max payload of 1,720-lbs.
The trucks will come with a 60,000-mile, four year bumper-to-bumper warranty.

That's a good payload. I wonder if they'll have a "Seating for 40" option that you can order?

Jackson · July 14, 2008

And it will be able to haul too. Mahindra promises the truck will be able to carry a very sizeable 1.3-ton (2,600-lb) payload in its 7.5-foot cargo box. By comparison, the 2008 Toyota Tacoma has a max payload rating of 1,685-lbs and the 2008 Dodge Dakota has a max payload of 1,720-lbs.
The trucks will come with a 60,000-mile, four year bumper-to-bumper warranty.

That's a good payload. I wonder if they'll have a "Seating for 40" option that you can order?