Rhino = Qualis?

Steeroid · 1st September 2007, 18:24

Mods - if this specific topic has been discussed before, please merge.

Saw a Rhino up close today as I was wandering around while my Beast was getting fresh alloys.

What struck me was that panel for panel the damn thing is an EXACT copy of the Qualis except for the front and the rear.

Is this why Toyota stopped the Qualis altogether - because they'd sold the dies of the erstwhile Kijang (our Qualis) to ICML?

If you recall, the Sonalika chap had talked about exports at the launch of the new 100 bhp Rhino. The markets he mentioned (Indonesia, etc) are the Kijang's home markets earlier.

Did they buy an old engine off Rover and an old body off Qualis to start their passenger vehicle business?

musicmanaman · 1st September 2007, 18:31

Well I don't know if the above is true, but there is a lot of similaraties between the Qualis and the Rihno, infact they almost look the same. Do we have any Rihno owners on the forum, if yes, please share your experiences.

speedzak · 1st September 2007, 18:39

It's quiet a well known fact that Rhino is a mimic version of Qualis. The profile of the vehicle was very similar and from day one, there have been a lot of effort to hide it's similarities by tweaking here and there. But, it still remains very identical.
There were some initial refusals from the management about it being a Qualis clone. Then there was not many questions raised nor answered. It was mooted a lot by the automotive media of it being the first indigenous vehicle. They were repeating the fact that Tata vehicles were designed by foreign companies whereas, Sonalika built this vehicle from scratch. As time revealed, it happened to be like something what Toyota, Mahindra and Rover ate last night.

If chinese can make cars by importing engines and body dies from various companies, can't we too?

badboyscad · 1st September 2007, 19:11

ICML RHINO S2:

Engine:2000cc, 4-cylinder, inline four turbocharged intercooled
Bore x Stroke: 84 x 90 mm
Compression Ratio: 21:01
Max Power: 75 PS @ 4200rpm
Max Torque: 152Nm @ 2500rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Suspension:Independent double wishbone (Front), Semi Elliptical Leaf Spring (Rear)
Tyres: 205/65 R15
LxWxH: 4440x1645x1885mm
Ground Clearance: 170mm
Min Turning Radius: 5.6m
Kerb Weight: 1603 kgs
Fuel Tank Capacity: 50 litres
Price (as tested, OTR Punjab): Rs 5,90,000

Akshay1234 · 1st September 2007, 20:10

the power has gone up to 100bhp now.

Mpower · 1st September 2007, 20:12

If they did then ICML would be TOm TOmming this in their ads to sell their product. This seems more like how Cherry copied the Daewoo Matiz

Akshay1234 · 1st September 2007, 20:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

If they did then ICML would be TOm TOmming this in their ads to sell their product. This seems more like how Cherry copied the Daewoo Matiz

as far as i know its not a copy but the matiz itself.

Steeroid · 1st September 2007, 20:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by akshay1234

as far as i know its not a copy but the matiz itself.

Mpower was talking about Chery, not Chevy. The Chery QQ is a copy, the Chevy Spark is the original Matiz.

Akshay1234 · 1st September 2007, 20:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steeroid

Mpower was talking about Chery, not Chevy. The Chery QQ is a copy, the Chevy Spark is the original Matiz.

oh sorry Mpower. i read it as chevy.

JayD · 1st September 2007, 20:35

@steeroid, u saw a rhino in cochin?? or somewhere else??

Steeroid · 1st September 2007, 20:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayD

@steeroid, u saw a rhino in cochin?? or somewhere else??

Yes I saw it in Cochin. The same MH registered one I've seen before - high-end version with leather and stuff like that.

Sankar · 1st September 2007, 21:40

The profile, especially the hood line and how it merges with the windscreen, looks very similar to the qualis. And the doors and the tailgate everything has that Qualis watermark on it.

I believe that the Toyota had sold the Qualis dies to the ICML, Toyota wouldnt want to stop the production of a well selling product like Qualis and waste the dies used for it's production. They must've sold it to ICML to cover some of the costs incurred in developing/procuring them. It makes sense that way. Even the fit and finish of the Rhino looks good. And that could be attributed to the high quality Toyota dies.

bigman · 1st September 2007, 22:24

Has a similarity with a metrocab as well.

CrAzY dRiVeR · 1st September 2007, 22:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steeroid

Yes I saw it in Cochin. The same MH registered one I've seen before - high-end version with leather and stuff like that.

Saw one in trivandrum. first thought it was a qualis. Same car travelling around kerala?

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigman

Has a similarity with a metrocab as well.

bigman · 2nd September 2007, 01:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Saw one in trivandrum. first thought it was a qualis. Same car travelling around kerala?

Ah well looks like a metrocab to me, with a few of the sharp corners smoothed. The metrocab is also low and they both have a similar boxy shape.

1st September 2007, 18:24	#1
Steeroid Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: N.A Posts: 7,046 Thanked: 2,751 Times	Rhino = Qualis? Mods - if this specific topic has been discussed before, please merge. Saw a Rhino up close today as I was wandering around while my Beast was getting fresh alloys. What struck me was that panel for panel the damn thing is an EXACT copy of the Qualis except for the front and the rear. Is this why Toyota stopped the Qualis altogether - because they'd sold the dies of the erstwhile Kijang (our Qualis) to ICML? If you recall, the Sonalika chap had talked about exports at the launch of the new 100 bhp Rhino. The markets he mentioned (Indonesia, etc) are the Kijang's home markets earlier. Did they buy an old engine off Rover and an old body off Qualis to start their passenger vehicle business?
	() Thanks

1st September 2007, 18:31	#2
musicmanaman BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: kolkata Posts: 927 Thanked: 25 Times	Well I don't know if the above is true, but there is a lot of similaraties between the Qualis and the Rihno, infact they almost look the same. Do we have any Rihno owners on the forum, if yes, please share your experiences.
	() Thanks

1st September 2007, 18:39	#3
speedzak BANNED Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: India Posts: 4,347 Thanked: 27 Times	It's quiet a well known fact that Rhino is a mimic version of Qualis. The profile of the vehicle was very similar and from day one, there have been a lot of effort to hide it's similarities by tweaking here and there. But, it still remains very identical. There were some initial refusals from the management about it being a Qualis clone. Then there was not many questions raised nor answered. It was mooted a lot by the automotive media of it being the first indigenous vehicle. They were repeating the fact that Tata vehicles were designed by foreign companies whereas, Sonalika built this vehicle from scratch. As time revealed, it happened to be like something what Toyota, Mahindra and Rover ate last night. If chinese can make cars by importing engines and body dies from various companies, can't we too?
	() Thanks

1st September 2007, 19:11	#4
badboyscad Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: TN Posts: 1,511 Thanked: 477 Times View My Garage	ICML RHINO S2: Engine:2000cc, 4-cylinder, inline four turbocharged intercooled Bore x Stroke: 84 x 90 mm Compression Ratio: 21:01 Max Power: 75 PS @ 4200rpm Max Torque: 152Nm @ 2500rpm Transmission: Five-speed manual Suspension:Independent double wishbone (Front), Semi Elliptical Leaf Spring (Rear) Tyres: 205/65 R15 LxWxH: 4440x1645x1885mm Ground Clearance: 170mm Min Turning Radius: 5.6m Kerb Weight: 1603 kgs Fuel Tank Capacity: 50 litres Price (as tested, OTR Punjab): Rs 5,90,000
	() Thanks

1st September 2007, 20:10	#5
Akshay1234 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 10,265 Thanked: 12,317 Times	the power has gone up to 100bhp now.
	() Thanks

1st September 2007, 20:12	#6
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,730 Times View My Garage	If they did then ICML would be TOm TOmming this in their ads to sell their product. This seems more like how Cherry copied the Daewoo Matiz
	() Thanks

1st September 2007, 20:35	#10
JayD Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cochin! At last Posts: 3,236 Thanked: 2,568 Times View My Garage	@steeroid, u saw a rhino in cochin?? or somewhere else??
	() Thanks

1st September 2007, 21:40	#12
Sankar Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Location Posts: 5,766 Thanked: 9,054 Times	The profile, especially the hood line and how it merges with the windscreen, looks very similar to the qualis. And the doors and the tailgate everything has that Qualis watermark on it. I believe that the Toyota had sold the Qualis dies to the ICML, Toyota wouldnt want to stop the production of a well selling product like Qualis and waste the dies used for it's production. They must've sold it to ICML to cover some of the costs incurred in developing/procuring them. It makes sense that way. Even the fit and finish of the Rhino looks good. And that could be attributed to the high quality Toyota dies.
	() Thanks

1st September 2007, 22:24	#13
bigman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NA Posts: 1,224 Thanked: 93 Times	Has a similarity with a metrocab as well.
	() Thanks