[fifthwheel]

This beauty is part of the AL-NML JV & will be launched under AL brand. Will be avl in 5 - 7 TGVW range. This is actually quite far from any immediate launch according to inside sources.Hope this doesn't meet the fate of another beauty (of it's times), IVECO trucks under AL brand.

[simplyself]

Originally Posted by julupani

Looks pretty nice. My guess is it should be something like a 3 or 4ton GVW vehicle.

What's the point of the mirror above thw winshield though?? Anybody have any idea or at least any decent guesses??

The mirror is to enable the driver to see what is just infront of the bumper, as the seating position is high and the driver may not have good visibility in near situations.

This is same as the mirror at the back of some mini vans which enabled driver to view what is beneath the line of visibility at the back.

[simplyself]

Originally Posted by julupani

I think it will easily manage a 2T payload, may be even nudge the 3T mark in my opinion.

It should be a 4 or 5ton GVW vehicle. Which is a very brave but personally in my opinion a foolish move. They should start somewhere in the 6-10ton range. In the 4ton market, the Tata 407 is just too well entrenched to make a good enough dent in the market to establish a brand. Starting off in the 6-10ton market, where Tata can be competed with more easily, take a year or two to establish the brand and then go into the full LCV range.

May be the JV is banking on Ashok Leyland and Nissan brand names. Also, we do not know the product range of the new JV and assuming they have only one model to offer is presumptuous. Ashok Leyland calling for new dealerships for its LCV market reinforces the point.

By the way, Ashok Leyland is becoming Hinduja Leyland. Whether they rename the vehicles as Hinduja Leyland or continue with the famous Ashok Leyland moniker needs to be seen.

HM's Winner was close to the size of this AL-Nissan JV test mule.

[khan_sultan]

Well, looks like these are still doing the test runs.

Spotted the Nissan LCV on the Chennai - Bangalore highway. The loading bay of both vehicles was loaded with jerry cans -- maybe to simulate load.







The rear of one vehicles had CABSTAR and some chinese/japanese language badging on it.

[agspins]

This is indeed a Nissan Cabstar, lets see under what name and brand it is launched.

[LPT2625]

The test vehicle shown on post No. 15 by 'fz rider' is a light-duty version when compared to the vehicle shown in post no. 34 by 'khan sultan' w.r.t. the no. of tyres on the rear axle. So are they planning to launch two vehicle models?

[teamveevee]

Originally Posted by agspins

This is indeed a Nissan Cabstar, lets see under what name and brand it is launched.

Will be lauched under Ashok Leyland. I believe as per the Nissan-AL JV, CVs will be badged as AL and Passenger vehicles will be badged as Nissan.

[LPT2625]

Originally Posted by teamveevee

Will be lauched under Ashok Leyland. I believe as per the Nissan-AL JV, CVs will be badged as AL and Passenger vehicles will be badged as Nissan.

But then what about the Stile, AL's version of the Evalia? Isn't that a passenger vehicle?

[Ashley2]

Originally Posted by khan_sultan

Well, looks like these are still doing the test runs.

Spotted the Nissan LCV on the Chennai - Bangalore highway. The loading bay of both vehicles was loaded with jerry cans -- maybe to simulate load...

This is indeed Ashokleyland Partner showcased in Auto Expo 2012.Its developed by the JV and has its genes from Nissan Atlas.

Originally Posted by LPT2625

But then what about the Stile, AL's version of the Evalia? Isn't that a passenger vehicle?

Evalia is purely a MUV for passenger car application. Stile with a toned down spec and with different styling will be aganist the taxi market in the MUV - Innova and Tavera yellow boards to watch this space.

[benbsb29]

Bouyed by the success of Dost, Ashok Leyland's answer to Tata's Ace, the company seems to be on it way to launch a new LCV to plug the gap in its current lineup between the Dost and its range of trucks.





Team-BHP spotted this new CV on test on the BIAL road in Bangalore, as it made its way around the city without any hint of camouflage. Looks like they are testing this in city limits these days, after the earlier highway runs that were spotted.



Based on initial impressions, this latest offerring comes across as a fresh face from the current lineup of CVs on sale in India. The striking headlamps add a touch of character to the front, although the rear end treatment is rather boring.



In what seems as a first for the segment, you also find foglamps on the vehicle possibly as standard! Looks like illumination from the headlamps is not going to be a complaint on this vehicle.



The large protruding ORVMs are a recipe for disaster in the hands of those who would bve driving these around the country. They seemingly protrude too much, and are sure to damage themselves as the vehicle is navigated through seemingly impossible openings in traffic.



A big thanks to my wife for clicking the pics while i was driving.

[Redline6800]

Ashok Leyland's (AL) Partner LCV has been spotted testing near Chennai. The pictures posted on indianautosblog.com, were that of Nissan's Atlas/Cabstar which will be badge engineered and sold as the AL Partner. For AL, the Partner will fill an important gap between its ICV/MCV range and Dost LCV.

The Partner (nee Atlas) will come with an International ZD30-DDTi Common-rail Diesel engine (BS-4 compliant) with 120 HP. The modern Euro-Cab comes with power steering and AC and a tilt cabin that aids serviceability. The Partner is based on the F24 platform and India will see truck and bus variants between 5 to 7.5 tonne GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight).

AL at present has a maximum capacity of 55,000 LCV's at its Hosur plant where the Dost is manufactured. The soon to be launched Stile will be made alongside the Evalia at Nissan's Oragadam plant in Tamil Nadu. AL sold 5,251 commercial vehicles in the month of April (compared to 9,695 units in March). Sales of the Dost LCV stood at 2,236 units for the month of April (compared to 4,325 units sold in March).