Mahindra ready to axe
India is all set to get its first high mobility multipurpose-wheeled vehicle or the Humvee, christened Mahindra Axe. Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) indian Humvee is ready to serve the Indian army’s and shortly for the civilian space too. First we will check out what is humvee and why it is so popular?
the Humvee..
The Humvee was first built in the 80s by American Motors for defence purposes and a civilian variant, the Hummer, came into being in the 90s. In 1998, the Hummer brand name was sold to General Motors, and while the US auto major markets and sells the brand, the Humvee is still manufactured by American Motors. There are variants the world over for Humvee like the Greek and Russian Kornet or the Toyota-crafted Megacruiser, but none so far from the subcontinent. The commercial Hummer vends in American showrooms from $30,000 to $55,000, depending on the variant — roughly between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 22 lakh. In 2005 General Motors tested a hydrogen powered Humvee called H2H. The H2H uses the Hummer H2’s standard 6-liter V8 engine, which delivers 134 kilowatts (180 horsepower) under hydrogen power with the addition of a supercharger. The 350-bar compressed hydrogen fuel system includes three carbon-fiber fuel tanks, storing a total of 5.5 kilograms of hydrogen. Despite all that fuel storage, the 2950-kg vehicle can go only 97 km (60 miles) after a fill-up.
Desi humvee from Mahindra:
Let’s check out the Indian humvee! M&M’s Axe is the Indian answer to the iconic Hummer, It’s muscular and capable of navigating through any terrain. Totally ,the Axe is Nothing short of a America’s Hummer and it will replace the Indian Army’s Mahindra Jeeps. According to Brigadier Khutub A Hai, CEO, Mahindra defence systems the Axe was designed with help from an overseas designer. An absolutely new platform is used for developing the Axe and it is developed to suit the Indian needs. Axe has been developed totally indigenously and it soft top. Mahindra has developed a petrol version of the axe for the special forces of a foreign country while the diesel one is for the Indian Army. Mahindra will initially import the engines for the Axe later it will strap its own engine into the Axe. Axe’s petrol version uses a more than 4 litre GM Votec engine (which powers the Chevy Blazer) while the diesel uses a 2.7 litre Ssangyong diesel (which powers the Rexton). Mahindra has been testing the axe ranging from 150hp to 300hp to 400hp. The transmission system for the Axe is a Mercedes Benz one. According to Mahindra The diesel axe offers around 8-9 km per litre while the petrol axe offers 6/7 km per litre. The Axe has a payload of 120 kg with a 3500 GVW. Axe’s biggest USP is its suspension system (it’s an all-wheel independent suspension vehicle) which gives its extreme mobility. Mahindra has already bagged an order from a foreign army for 215 units of Axe which 15 are being shipped right away. Mahindra is looking to export this axe to countries like malaysia next year (diesel version) and for Africa, Gulf, UAE, Jordan.
images:Mahindra Axe’s rear/interiors/exteriors
images from www.militaryphotos.net
Mahindra’s new plant:
Mahindra is in the process of setting up a new arm, Mahindra Special Military Vehicles Ltd. The new plant will make and supply defence vehicles like the Axe and any future military specific models developed by Mahindra. Mahindra’s new company will have its own manufacturing plant outside Delhi in Faridabad on a 6-acre plot. Initial investments are pegged at about Rs 50 crore.
Axe civilian version:
Mahindra has a long and successful record designing Jeeps and SUVs for military and civilian use. There’s a lot of visible commonality between the Axe and a several of Mahindra’s own SUVs.Hence not alone the Indian army is gifted, we too! Yes, Mahindra is planning a civilian version of the Axe.The civilian version of axe will be ready by 2009 with an automatic transmission. Axe’s civillian version will be homologated with styling and other changes. But it will use a Mahindra driveline. The basic characteristic of performance will be the same but the looks will be different like the Humvee and Hummer. For the civilian version of axe the engine displacement will be lowered and there will be cosmetic changes on the dashboard. But the Mahindra wants to keep the suspension and platform will be unchanged. Axe civilian verison will be only diesel and with automatic transmission. Mahindra will showcase the axe at the 2008 delhi Auto Expo. Mahindra’s commercial Axe is expected to be priced roughly between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 22 lakh.
Mahindra eyes American market:
We have already reported that Mahindra is seriously planning to make an American debut. With the axe in Mahindra’s hands, it is making the dream comes true. Infact as Mahindra plans to enter the world’s toughest market United States it is developing automatic transmission for its future SUV range(possibly for Mahindra’s ingenio and Scorpio eagle 2.2L CRDe). This transmission(automatic) will be used for the axe as well. Mahindra will begin selling its SUVs, axe civlian version and pick-up trucks in the United States from 2009 through Global Vehicles USA Inc. Mahindra has already formulated its plans to introduce the scorpio getaway in the US in 2009. A nightmare for the america’s big trio – Ford, Daimlerchrysler and General Motors is on the way.