interesting small diesel truck

B

B~C

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An Indian company named Mahrinda is fixing to import a small diesel pickup....looks interesting, I can't find any tow ratings but it's reported to be able to handle a real payload. It would sure be nice to have one vehicle that you could afford to drive to work every day and would be able to tow the boat

http://www.mahindrana.com/
 
While it does not give info on towing capacity, it has a 2.2L, 4 cylinder diesel. For comparison sake, a 09 Ford F-250 diesel (smallest Ford diesel truck) has a 6.4L 8 cylinder engine and has a maximum loaded trailer weight of 12,500 lbs. I don't know enough to adjust for engine displacement and cylinders but the Indian truck is roughly 1/3 the engine displacement and half the cylinders. The laws of physics, thermodynamics and a whole bunch of other laws (including those administered by the EPA) apply to both vehicles so one would suspect that the Indian truck would have modest towing capacity, perhaps not enough to tow a CD-22 set up for cruising.

Another comparison point is a Honda CR-V which has a 2.35L, 4 cyl. gas engine and a towing capacity of 1500 lbs. While there are many factors that limit the CR-V's towing capacity including transmission and construction, I suspect that the engine is partly a factor.

Perhaps one of the gear heads on the List can take a better guess at towing capacity.

Also, remember that virtually all of the light diesel engines sold for truck and marine propulsion applications these days are common rail as is the engine on this truck.
 
I think this would fill a niche in the market that has been missing. I loved the Izuzu diesel pickup and have been waiting for one since. This could be it.
 
Although the tow capacity has not been released, the payload is over a ton. Compare with the earlier 2.7L Dodge Sprinter 2500, which had a tow capacity of 5000 lbs, and the 3.0 L 2009 Dodge Sprinter 3500 with a tow capacity of 6500. I have corresponded with several Sprinter owners who have been towing loads equal to the C Dory 22 in Western mountains--a bit slow up the grades, but no problems. One of my concerns would be the weight of the tow vehicle--being a bit light to tow 4500 lbs. But I wouldn't be surprised if this 2.2 L engine might be able to tow 4000 lbs, if properly geared.
 
Mercedes offers both the ML and GL SUV's with a 3.2 liter turbo diesel. The engine produces 210hp and 398 lb/ft of torque driven through a 7 speed automatic. Both are rated to tow 7,200 lbs and return mid to high 20's on the highway when not towing. The ML diesel starts at about $50k and the GL at $60k, no doubt very expensive.

Volkswagen is reportedly going to offer the Touareg with a V6 diesel starting in January. It will be able to tow 7,700 lbs and will start in the low $40k range.

Small diesels are very powerful and capable of carrying and towing heave loads, but you won't break any speed records. It will be interesting to follow this small truck, but Id be weary about buying an Indian (or Chinese) car at first.
 
Anita Marie":1jcs8x4o said:
I think this would fill a niche in the market that has been missing. I loved the Izuzu diesel pickup and have been waiting for one since. This could be it.
Click to expand...

Hope so. Sub 5k lbs tow rating I'm sure, but if the payload of the 2 door truck is 2500 lbs, and with that 6 speed tranny, it may surprise us. Did you sign up for a ride, David? Looks sturdy enough and I like the fact it's got almost an 8 ft. bed.

Don
 
Hi guys, I too have been waiting for a properly powered replacement for the Izusu, Toyota, Nissan, and VW trucks. I will be watching this one closely. I did sign up for any updates and will pass them on here when the time comes.

I was very intrigued by a Jeep Prototype w/ their 3.7L CRD. They called it the Gladiator and had retro styling back to the 1950s Willys trucks. Unfortunately, the prototype did not go anywhere and is probably not going to w/ today's truck market tanking.
 
It has a 20 gallon tank. It will be interesting to see what the mpg's are loaded and empty. It might have quite decent range with 20 gallons.
 
This new Mahrinda diesel truck from India may well find a niche in todays energy crisis.

If Detroit can't or doesn't answer, however, there go some more jobs overseas!

Anyone know of an efficient diesel bicycle or tricycle for old guys?

Joe. :lol:
 
What I can't understand is Ford and GM have diesels in europe they could bring over from europe ,Ford has a ford focus that get 65 mpg .These American Auto companies have to WAKE up . Forget the hp wars and bring out economy cars and trucks .

I to am waiting for a diesel truck or suv that will tow about 5000lb then I'll trade in my 06Honda pilot. I've been reading that GM and Ford will bring out some smaller diesels with their half ton trucks but we don't know when?? I think most Americans want to buy American.
 
Ever wonder why they do not simply just put in two speed transmission switches in smaller rigs? We used them with other work trucks.

Will be interesting to follow this.

Not sure what the towing capacity of the 2009 VW Jetta wagon is with the updated TDI. I guess this ride is all about mileage...

Byrdman
 
Jeep came out with a small diesel in their Liberty series SUV's. A friend of mine had one and had all sorts of problems with it. Ultimately Jeep took it back under the lemon law. I understand they discontinued this option. I say this to warn anyone who may be considering a small used Jeep diesel. Seemed strange to me as I understand it was engineered by Mercedes who have been building diesels for a long time.
 
WE were interested in the jeep also it was a Italian built mercedes design diesel . I've heard they are discontinued in the Liberty series . They do have a mercedes 3 litre jeep now for sale also the Sprinter 3litre I believe its the same eng. I'm hoping that GM and Ford come up with somthing in the next yr or two .
 
How many remember the VW diesel pickup made in 1982? I have a friend with one and it gets 45 MPG. It's not really a truck as it's on a frame similiar to the old El Caminos. His has over 300,000 mile and still going strong. It has I think only a 1.6 liter engine so wouldn't do for hauling to large a boat. Those things were made in America sadly they didn't catch on. Maybe it's time to open that factory back up.
I've read up on the new Grand Cherokee diesels and they are getting good reviews aside from the transmissions some say aren't geared properly. They claim 24 MPG which is pretty good in a true full time four wheel drive. Perhaps next years model will address the gearing problem . I would expect that if more diesels were in use the price of fuel would come down?
 
I am an ardent diesel proponent, based on years of experience with compression ignition engines. I drove about 1-million miles in Cat and Cummins powered 18-wheelers. I've owned a '79 VW Rabbit diesel, a '95 Mercedes 300d, and best of all - I had an '06 Mercedes E320cdi. The cdi was f-f-f-FANtastic - smile-inducing ROBUST acceleration and OUTSTANDING fuel economy. I regularly got 26mpg in all-city driving and 37-39 mpg on the highway. And believe me, I was never late to anything due to the car being too slow!

Expanding the clean diesel-powered US automobile fleet would be a huge step forward for the country, both from the fuel consumption standpoint and from the greener-emissions standpoint. Not to mention the option of stretching petro-diesel with varying biodiesel blends. I don't think Americans would reject modern diesels if they drove one. The exhausts don't even smell bad. The list of advantages goes on and on compared to other existing alternatives (don't get me started). I suspect many C-brats are already aware of the benefits.
 
As far as I know, the only thing holding us back is EPA ratings and studies. Most of the stuff overseas won't meet the current spec's. I love my diesel and will probably never go back to gas. I would even consider the yanmar diesel outboards if they would send them to Jenny Craig for a little slimming. I know Les isn't too wild about the current crop of inboard diesels but I think they are making great gains in engineering. I really believe the future looks bright for diesels on the road and on the water.
 
I have a diesel Grand Cherokee ,yes it gets 25 mpg /18 city also 14mpg towing my cd-25. No issues with gears yet . is 5 spd awd., up stevens pass 4th geartowing the 25 apprx 40mph.
 
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