Mahindra Appalachian diesel pickup arrives in US next year, diesel hybrid version by 2010

www.autoblog.com ^ | 02/11/2008 | John Neff

[Red Badger]

Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. will shake up the U.S. truck market next year when it introduces a new midsize pickup called the Appalachian sporting a 2.2L four-cylinder diesel engine producing around 150 horsepower and 300 pound feet of torque. Speaking with Mike Levine from Pickuptruck.com, John Perez, the CEO of Atlanta-based importer Global Vehicles U.S.A. that's aiding Mahindra's entry into the U.S. market, revealed that the truck will deliver 30 to 35 miles per gallon and cost in the mid-$20,000 range. It will be paired with a six-speed automatic that's controlled via a floor-mounted shifter or paddle shifters(!), have a class-leading payload of 2,600 lbs. and feature a 60,000-mile, four year bumper-to-bumper warranty.

If that's not enough to strike fear in domestic and import truck makers alike, Mahindra has also revealed plans to sell a diesel hybrid version of its pickup by 2010. If it happens, the diesel hybrid Appalachian will be, as far as we know, the only diesel hybrid on sale in the U.S. market and achieve fuel economy figures even higher than its diesel-only counterpart. Imagine a midsize pickup in the low-$30,000 price range capable of 40+ mpg.

The Appalachian has yet to go through U.S. certification for emissions and safety, but the company is spending $80 million to ensure its truck passes with no issues. After that, production will begin in India on March 15, 2009, but the trucks will finish assembly at a plant in Ohio to avoid high import taxes. After that, customers can visit a 300-strong dealer network with 24 standalone dealerships, one of which is already under construction.

[Popman]

All the while learning how to become a modern country.

There's the key.

China will be left on the dung heap of history in about 30 - 50 years because of their fertility rate currently @ 1.75 children born/woman (2007 est.)and the large difference in male / female ratio.

The only people left in China to work in 40 years will be single old men

India OTOH will be full of better educated younger people who live in a democracy.

Everything in the USA will be stamped "Made in India"

[Red Badger]

http://jalopnik.com/349021/the-indian-humvee-mahindra-axe

[ltc8k6]

The payload is considerably higher than any other pickup of it’s size, actually. It will have crew cab models as well.

If it ever gets built, that is.

Mahindra has a poor reputation with vehicles, but a good one with farm tractors.

[Retired COB]

While everyone is worried about the Chinese, India is rapidly upscaling to take on the world.

And oh, by the way, Ford just sold Rover and Jaguar to the Indians.

[DocH]

Mid TWENTY-THOUSAND range for an INDIAN vehicle?

I'll stick to more reasonably priced "Squishies".

[Red Badger]

And how much would a comparable Japanese or American vehicle cost with a diesel?............$30k+

[ltc8k6]

If it has a payload of 2,600 pounds and can manage 35mpg on the highway, and is built well, it will sell, imo.

It has a lot of hurdles to get over. The biggest one being meeting emissions standards.

[Red Badger]

It has a lot of hurdles to get over. The biggest one being meeting emissions standards.

Yeah, that Curried Rice smell is hard to get rid of.......

[Hatteras]

Now, you’ll have to modify the .50 calibre mount in the bed or else you’ll just swing around and cut the roof right off that sucker...

[Red Badger]

Instant Moon Roof!.........NO EXTRA CHARGE!..........

[TDA2]

Just what I need to pull my 35 foot Carriage trailer.

[BobinIL]

All the domestics need to do is buy the licensing agreements and partner with them to market them under ford or chevy names and away we go. I am chomping at the bit to buy a mid size to full size pickup with a diesel engine.

[RoadKingSE]

Apparently Mahindra is going to build this Scorpio PU and market it in the US as the American Eagle. Not too bad if they will get rid of the nauseating orange color.

[chadwimc]

“...It has a lot of hurdles to get over. The biggest one being meeting emissions standards...”

With 80 million dollars to spend on politicians, I think even the most fruity of liberals will come around. We have the best government money can buy...

[uglybiker]

Sorry, but real men only drive American trucks.

Would these be the American trucks built in Canada or Mexico?

Or maybe the ones built in the U.S. with Japanes name badges on 'em?

[Cecily]

When are they going to send us some of these?

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Not only that, but India doesn't have a repressive communist regime to contend with. Since they are a democracy, capitalism can flourish...............

There's a flip side to this in efficiency, though. China isn't a democracy, but the Communists know the only way they hang on to power is by keeping China's young elites happy and the new wealth growing - since citizens have no say, there can be no NIMBYism, no demands by powerful lobbies. China restricts freedom of movement and can keep the rural poor out of it's shining new cities like Shanghai - there won't be any slums building up there.

India, meanwhile, is a democracy. It has to answer the demands of millions of inefficient rural farmers with expensive subsidy programs for power and water, because the farmers vote. Infrastructure projects vital to a modern economy like highways, airports, dams and power-plants can be held up for years by environmental groups or politicians from opposing parties. People can go where they please, and millions of poor people from rural areas arrive at the cities, hoping to find work and completely unable to afford any housing, building up slums.

Dictatorship is inherently unstable - China is not going to be able to sustain it's growth under the Communists. But in the short term, I'd bet Indian businessmen sometimes look enviously at their neighbors and how easily things get done in that dictatorship.

[decimon]

When are they going to send us some of these?

Once they've worked out the aerodynamics of the thing.

[Sender]

I like this truck. That’s what I have been looking for; a brand-new 1980’s compact truck with a small diesel. We’ll have to see about Mahindra quality and service though. I keep hoping for a diesel Ford Ranger.

[Red Badger]

From all I’ve read on Mahindra, they are quite popular wit their farm tractors and related equipment here in the US. Over 300 dealers all over the country..............