Mahindra diesel pick up update

Threeweight · **Joined:** Mon May 14, 2007 5:57 pm **Posts:** 679

Saw this over on the VW TDI forums a while back:

http://www.peformanceautonews.com/xenon ... rsion/2220
Mahindra Truck’s Arrival Scheduled For 4Q 2009

I’ve been tracking the progress of a new to America pickup truck, the Mahindra Pikup, for several months now expecting that the Indian automaker would soon announce its plans for distribution. Mike Geylin, who is the public relations contact for Global Vehicles — the exclusive US distributor for Mahindra Ford Motor Company& Mahindra produced vehicles — passed along a progress report about the truck’s introduction, revealing the following:

From the onset, the company will offer a diesel-powered pickup truck in two- or four-door versions. This will be a completely federalized and revised (for the U.S. market) version of the truck sold which is known as the PikUp in India. The U.S. naming for that vehicle has yet to be announced nor has pricing information except to say it will be competitive to others in the small pickup class.

Quoting Mike Geylin, “Federalization and government certification is not completed, so we do not have final EPA fuel-economy numbers, but your estimates are close.

“As to other products beyond the pickup truck (which should be in the market during the fourth quarter of 2009), we plan an bringing a diesel-powered SUV in about a year after the pickup. Mahindra has discussed a diesel-electric hybrid for its market, but beyond that rests pure speculation.”

Mahindra & Mahindra is familiar to many American farmers who buy the company’s tractors through its established U.S. dealer network. Global Vehicles’ operations will be separate from the company’s tractor operations, with some 325 dealers already lined up across the US to handle distribution.

I’m glad that the awful PikUp model name won’t be used in the U.S. market. Lacking originality, PikUp reminds me of the pre-Tacoma Toyota Truck as well as the Isuzu P’up. American drivers want a much more memorable name, one that they can easily identify with, not something they’ll be forced to mutter underneath their breath.

If you’re interested in test driving the yet to be named Mahindra model, you can get a sneak peak of the truck sometime during 2009. I’ve already registered for that opportunity and will report back to my readers my findings sometime before the truck’s official release next year.

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Wed Dec 03, 2008 11:40 pm

Interesting! Keep the info coming.

Terry

Uffe · **Posted:** Thu Dec 04, 2008 3:38 am

LOL!

Quote:

This will be a completely federalized and revised (for the U.S. market) version of the truck sold which is known as the PikUp in India.

Pik means co_ck in danish, haha

Sorry...

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Thu Dec 04, 2008 7:09 pm

I hope they sell so fast that they can’t build them fast enough. Seriously, the Mahindra diesel is the type of truck that many of us have been waiting for. Options include either a two door or four door pickup, special editions of each, 119.7 inch wheel base, inline 4 common-rail diesel, six speed automatic transmission, independent front suspension and rear solid axle. What a perfect truck for those who want to tow a small utility trailer, who want to commute to work, who want exceptional fuel economy, who want a truck that fits into a garage, and it caters to those of us who want a 4X4 with optional lockers for backcountry travel. Ford, Chevy, and Dodge can whine like babies.

geordi · **Posted:** Thu Dec 04, 2008 9:07 pm

And you know they WILL whine like children.

Would you believe I saw a report that blamed their current woes on the CAFE standards, which "forced the big three" to sell the import's stuff, since they had NOTHING even remotely close?

oh PLEASE.

GM needs to streamline their processes. The biggest problem right now is that nobody will offer the BUYER any financing, so the BUYER can't buy any car, from anybody. GM and Ford are BOTH in a position to rectify this problem, with GMAC and Ford Motor Credit. Except for one problem: They aren't asking the Govt for money for THAT, they are asking for money to CONTINUE to build things that people can't buy.

Why did I say GM needs to streamline? B/c they have over 20 different engine choices spread across their entire line. That is frelling RIDICULOUS. Cut that down to ONE or maybe two engines in each major size category, 2.x I4, 3.x I6, 3.x V6, 4.x V6, 5.x V8... And then the diesels: 2.8 I4 (VM Motori) and the current offerings in the heavy trucks.

Bingo - No more tooling and parts for 20 engines, now it's down to 7. I've been wrenching on cars for a while now, and they REALLY are not that different. The power and performance of engines is so variable these days, that a single engine can EASILY power several different vehicles in a similar weight range.

And of course, my thought would be to put the VM engine into EVERYTHING that it will fit under the hood in. Especially the smaller trucks, as this is the exact market that Mahindra is targeting, and GM will spend 10 years suing and pissing and moaning instead of handing an engine and a welder to a mechanic... And saying MAKE IT FIT. Innovate? GM? HAHAHAHHAHAHA!

I'm a Ford guy personally, but I find them EQUALLY guilty of gross stupidity in this.

But the real problem isn't the lack of operating capital... It's the lack of available FINANCING, that they are ALREADY equipped to handle, if they would ust ask for the money for the right reason.

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Thu Dec 04, 2008 9:36 pm

They also need to trim down the number of models.

Terry

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Thu Dec 04, 2008 9:38 pm

I also find it interesting that GM and FORD are wanting to close down US plants and build plants in Mexico and overseas, yet they are asking for money? Mahindra will have some sort of assembly plant here in the U.S., and they aren’t asking for money. Oh, and Mahindra will be using the same engine in their truck as in their SUV, which will also be coming to the states. So we will have two diesel vehicles from Mahindra. And, Mahindra is on target to introduce the first Diesel hybrid pickup and SUV in America. When Mahindra’s CEO was interviewed a year ago, he said diesel and diesel hybrid is the way of the future for meeting clean air and fuel economy. He went on to say that Mahindra is trying to target the small US truck and SUV market that seems to be missing. Too bad it takes a company in India to know what America needs. I guess I‘m not surprised, India’s education system is light years ahead of ours so they are probably able to grasp 21 century technology and be progressive about the use of technology. Oh, and I don’t want to forget, many of the good chief engineers have left FORD and GM in the past few years to work for Mahindra. As you can see, I have a lot of issues with Ford and GM. At least Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep have made “some” advances towards diesel and diesel technology and placing value on biodiesel.

mackruss · **Posted:** Fri Dec 05, 2008 5:13 am

Found this quite amusing on the local SA 4x4 forum

http://www.pichost.co.za/v/feoqcCjxTv3y ... PorbpJmxSm

http://www.pichost.co.za/v/dBLOmceXMo6A ... fok2pNsMZF

http://www.pichost.co.za/v/APQWtzxYf7RZ ... NRCjNAUlzp

http://www.pichost.co.za/v/mGZXF5ry2uVL ... 3bgI8qIDuJ

Goedkoop is deurkoop means buying cheap can sometimes become very expensive in the long run translated.

ChileanKJ · **Posted:** Tue Dec 09, 2008 11:32 am

Why is mahindra so expected in the US, they are really the ugliest truck we have here.

mackruss · **Posted:** Tue Dec 09, 2008 11:42 am

ChileanKJ wrote:

Why is mahindra so expected in the US, they are really the ugliest truck we have here.

They have a market especially in the developing countries as their pricing is very good and if you prepared to put up with their build quality and just ride it until it breaks that's also fine. There is no resale, but then the resale on my Jeep is also bad.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Tue Dec 09, 2008 11:43 am

ChileanKJ wrote:

Why is mahindra so expected in the US, they are really the ugliest truck we have here.

Probably one of the ugliest trucks here too - but the only small diesel
The rest of the Diesels here are big 6 or 8 Cylinders.

ChileanKJ · **Posted:** Tue Dec 09, 2008 12:34 pm

Now I see the need, and I see why the big tree are in trouble they don't see the client's needs, we have all kind of vehicles with diesel engines.

mackruss · **Posted:** Tue Dec 09, 2008 1:05 pm

I'm amazed at times to read on this forum what vehicles even from the Jeep stable aren't available in the US.

chadhargis · **Posted:** Tue Dec 09, 2008 1:41 pm

Try being a motorcycle rider.

There are SCORES of motorcycles sold elsewhere in the world that those of us who are moto maniacs are aching for, but we can't get them.

It's all about the demographics. The majority of buyers don't want a diesel.

People like my wife would not enjoy having to deal with waiting for a glow plug light (even though it's a short time). worrying with turbo cool down times, fooling with anything called "Urea", clogged intakes, $100+ synthetic oil changes (because she wouldn't do it herself), fuel gelling, nasty grimy fuel pumps, higher fuel cost, having to search for fuel since not all stations carry diesel, blown CAC hoses, and the whole gamut of issues that stem from diesel ownership.

Now, we all know that these issues aren't big deals because we're gear heads. But to the average, everyday, Joe or Jane driver....they are a real pain in the butt compared to just cranking up their gasser and driving off.

When you think about it, it's the same thing that's going to hurt any sort of alternative fuel vehicle, even electric, since it's going to force the drive to change their behavior, and most people don't like change.

mackruss · **Posted:** Tue Dec 09, 2008 2:10 pm

chadhargis wrote:

Try being a motorcycle rider.

There are SCORES of motorcycles sold elsewhere in the world that those of us who are moto maniacs are aching for, but we can't get them.

It's all about the demographics. The majority of buyers don't want a diesel.

People like my wife would not enjoy having to deal with waiting for a glow plug light (even though it's a short time). worrying with turbo cool down times, fooling with anything called "Urea", clogged intakes, $100+ synthetic oil changes (because she wouldn't do it herself), fuel gelling, nasty grimy fuel pumps, higher fuel cost, having to search for fuel since not all stations carry diesel, blown CAC hoses, and the whole gamut of issues that stem from diesel ownership.

Now, we all know that these issues aren't big deals because we're gear heads. But to the average, everyday, Joe or Jane driver....they are a real pain in the butt compared to just cranking up their gasser and driving off.

When you think about it, it's the same thing that's going to hurt any sort of alternative fuel vehicle, even electric, since it's going to force the drive to change their behavior, and most people don't like change.

Wouldn't our lives be boring if our CRD's were built perfect.

chadhargis · **Posted:** Tue Dec 09, 2008 2:30 pm

Yeah....

I love my diesel.

In my opinion, it's superior technology than a gasser. Just have to have a passion for it like I do, and it's no problem.

MTB_TDI · **Posted:** Tue Dec 09, 2008 2:38 pm

chadhargis wrote:

People like my wife would not enjoy having to deal with waiting for a glow plug light (even though it's a short time). worrying with turbo cool down times, fooling with anything called "Urea", clogged intakes, $100+ synthetic oil changes (because she wouldn't do it herself), fuel gelling, nasty grimy fuel pumps, higher fuel cost, having to search for fuel since not all stations carry diesel, blown CAC hoses, and the whole gamut of issues that stem from diesel ownership.

When it was time to buy my Jeep, my wife said she didn't want anything unless it was a diesel!

We had our TDI for 4 1/2 years before that and she fell in love with the torque! She got used to the glow plugs. The jeep glow plugs are light years faster than my TDI's.

mackruss · **Posted:** Tue Dec 09, 2008 2:58 pm

MTB_TDI wrote:

chadhargis wrote:

People like my wife would not enjoy having to deal with waiting for a glow plug light (even though it's a short time). worrying with turbo cool down times, fooling with anything called "Urea", clogged intakes, $100+ synthetic oil changes (because she wouldn't do it herself), fuel gelling, nasty grimy fuel pumps, higher fuel cost, having to search for fuel since not all stations carry diesel, blown CAC hoses, and the whole gamut of issues that stem from diesel ownership.

When it was time to buy my Jeep, my wife said she didn't want anything unless it was a diesel!

We had our TDI for 4 1/2 years before that and she fell in love with the torque! She got used to the glow plugs. The jeep glow plugs are light years faster than my TDI's.

With our climate i don't have a glow plug problem at all, in fact my wife just cranks from cold and off she goes, knows nothing about glow plugs or fuel plungers :lol:

nursecosmo · **Posted:** Tue Dec 09, 2008 3:14 pm

chadhargis wrote:

It's all about the demographics. The majority of buyers don't want a diesel.

Aha, but people do want a small diesel SUV. Remember the success that DCX had with the CRD Liberty? Dealers could not get enough of them. DCX stated that they sold more than double the amount originally projected. If businesses did not want an economical mid duty truck the Dodge Sprinter would not be so popular. They would definitely sell. If Honda can sell their atrocious looking Element, Mahindra could certainly sell their better looking, cheaper, better MPG Scorpio.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Tue Dec 09, 2008 3:48 pm

nursecosmo wrote:

If Honda can sell their atrocious looking Element, Mahindra could certainly sell their better looking, cheaper, better MPG Scorpio.

It would be a repeat of the CRD Liberty, and I project that they will sell over their projected sales. Mahindra is already a very popular small tractor in the U.S., their reputation is good, and the fact that they are offering a small diesel "fuel efficient" engine will put them above the rest. The new Mahindra is also using cutting edge diesel technology and comes with a 6 speed automatic. Not to mention their hybrid is right around the corner. Like Nursecosmo said, it will most likely exceed most people’s expectations.

Mahindra diesel pick up update

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