The Motoring Monthly
Ashok Leyland Partner
The Ashok Leyland Partner is nothing but an Indianized version of the Nissan Atlas, the new name for a now retired nameplate - the veritable Cabstar. On display at the Auto Expo as a refrigerated truck, we expect it to be powered by a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine that produces about 120 bhp. With a rated GVW of about six tons, the Partner will go into production in 2013 as the third product line of the Ashok Leyland-Nissan partnership, after the Dost and Stile. Expect it to come in full box and pick-up options.
Ultra swish
Tata Motors Ultra
Project Y1 at Tata Motors has resulted in this, the Tata Motors Ultra, a next generation 407/710 that could very well take the Partner head on. Powered by 3.0 and 5.0-litre diesel engine options with a power rating of 130 bhp and 160 bhp respectively, the Tata Ultra comes in differing wheelbase sizes, varying from 3550 to 4530 mm. The Ultra is a rather modern product and features six-speed manual gearboxes, disc brakes at the front (a first in the segment, Tata claims) and a fully-tiltable steel cabin. The biggest change though is the way Tata Motors has designed the Ultra - to look as up-to-date with the best in the world, just like the Prima does.
AMW and MAN Force bus
The two companies have been promising their respective buses for a rather long time and now that they are here, they are bound to change the inter-city bus segment for good. Both AMW and MAN Force believe that a front-engined, instead of a rear-engined bus, is not only cheaper, but liberates more room to seat more passengers as well. AMW's 14.3 meter long, 57-seater Magnus bus is of the twin rear-axle variety and is expected to go into production in the next 6-8 months with a Cummins engine to power it. MAN Force's Airobus is a 45-seater with a single rear axle and is powered by a 6.9-litre MAN diesel motor and produces 220 bhp. Expect these buses to be priced more competitively than their rear-engined rivals from Volvo & MB.
The Solo may come across as a mini-bus to many, but it is a premium offering from Ashok Leyland that hopes to offer it as a luxury solution for gated communities, senior executives in large office buildings and even hotels. To be marketed as a niche product, the Solo is designed and manufactured by Optare, a British bus building firm in which Ashok Leyland has a significant stake. The Solo on display was a 21-seater low-floor bus, but it is offered in various lengths and can seat up to 37 persons. Powered by a diesel motor, the Solo might make it to India if there is significant interest for such a product.
BharatBenz
BharatBenz, Daimler's commercial vehicle brand in India (DICV), will launch up to 17 products in the next 12-18 months as it plans to make a serious foray in the LCV, MCV and HCV segments. With its products ranging from 6 to 49 tons, BharatBenz with its 36,000 units-a-year plant outside Chennai hopes to play ball in a segment where the leaders Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland have decades of experience. BharatBenz will launch products that will be based on the Daimler Axor truck platform as well as Mitsubishi Fuso's Canter and Fighter platforms. Just before the Auto Expo, DICV showcased its offering based on the Axor. DICV's products will have high localization content as the company intends to be a serious volume player in India.
New-gen AMW trucks
AMW wasn't only content with showcasing its first bus offering for India, but it was keen on bringing its next-generation trucks as well. The 4928 TR tractor and 2528TP tipper designed by Stile Bertone may come across as a Volvo FH truck to some, but it is very much an AMW product. With a sleek looking aerodynamic cab, the 4928TR and 2523 TP come powered with a 267 bhp Cummins motor that is mated to a 9-speed ZF gearbox. It's not just the exteriors, but the interiors too are pretty much brand new, with a fully-suspended cab, LCD screens for entertainment, GPS and berths for the night cab. All these take it a step closer to the FH, but at a price that may be more reasonable.