Rhino Rover - Anyone?!

sushmair · 5th January 2006, 09:16

This is supposed to be the 5-6L range SUV - I think I read somewhere that International Cars and Motors (ICM) and CK Birla HM are to bring this here. Its supposed to have a 2 litre Isuzu diesel engine. Built with Rover of UK. It is gonna be unveiled at the Auto Expo.Anybody with some dope on this?! I couldnt find any pics of this too.

Thanks,
Sushmair.

autopsyche · 5th January 2006, 12:08

sushmair thats correct, the RHINO built by ICML in collabration with Rover UK, would be launched at the Auto Expo. Should be in the 6lac range. I do have pics of the car but cant post it until its launched.

Arush

directinjection · 5th January 2006, 13:08

[SIZE=2]I had came across a picture in one of the auto magazines some months back. The vehicle is not an SUV but a people carrier and closely resembles the Toyota Qualis.[/SIZE]

quicksilver · 5th January 2006, 14:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by directinjection

[SIZE=2]I had came across a picture in one of the auto magazines some months back. The vehicle is not an SUV but a people carrier and closely resembles the Toyota Qualis.[/SIZE]

Now that sounds like the made some cosmetic changes to the HM Trekker (hope I got the name right)0 and plonked an Isuzu 2.0 engine that was used on the Contessa and the later Ambassadors. No complaints about the engine though it is dated, it sure is rock solid.

Autopsyche, can you atleast tell us if the design is fresh and good looking ?

Insane Devil · 5th January 2006, 22:05

hey guyz, which company is launching it in India?

Mpower · 5th January 2006, 22:10

[SIZE=2]Is this the one from Sonalika group. How is CK. Birla connected with this. [/SIZE]

tsk1979 · 12th January 2006, 09:09

Mods please change the topic to NOW LAUNCHED

The price is 5.45 lakhs and it will be available by jan end.

Rtech · 12th January 2006, 10:03

Just saw a photo of this MUV in the TOI. Lets just say that the Scorpio/Tavera/Innova are not threatened in any way.

GTO · 12th January 2006, 15:49

Quote:

Just saw a photo of this MUV in the TOI. Lets just say that the Scorpio/Tavera/Innova are not threatened in any way.

And I fell off my chair when I saw the picture!! Is Sipani involved in this, because Rhino seems to follow the Sipani philosophy of making a car from parts of other outdated cars.

GTO

bigman · 12th January 2006, 15:59

Is it really that bad ? Can someone post some pictures ?
Sipana....you sure that DC never had an input on this Rhino thing.

falcon · 12th January 2006, 16:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rtech

Just saw a photo of this MUV in the TOI. Lets just say that the Scorpio/Tavera/Innova are not threatened in any way.

Found the article on the epaper but no photo...
Which page is it on ?

Tarun · 12th January 2006, 17:37

I think this was in Car & Bike show on NDTV, yesterday.
Though not at all appealing, however has loads and loads of internal space. The rear has 3 split seats, can be arranged in front too. Has glove box like X-trail, the speedo console is in the middle with slight tilt towards the driver.
Also has the flexibility of removing rear seats, which provides space big enough to play carrom with 4 ppl. The price for the base model is expected around 5.45 lacs.

Tarun.

falcon · 12th January 2006, 20:26

Extract from TOI epaper page 19 (Business Times)

Sonalika unveils Rs 5.5 lakh MUV

TIMES NEWS NETWORK
New Delhi: The already overcrowded passenger vehicle market in India witnessed the entry of a new price warrior on Wednesay. Sonalika group—a leading players in the Indian tractor market—drove into the high-growth multiutility vehicle (MUV) segment with a home-grown product Rhino, sporting an entry-level price of Rs 5.45 lakh.
The Rhino, powered by a 2-litre Isuzu engine sourced from Hindustan Motors, will be available for commercial sales from Januaryend, Sonalika group chairman LD Mittal said.
“We will start sales in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh and move into the Delhi market by April 2006,’’ he said.
“We will be sourcing the Isuzu engines from HM for Rhino. In addition, we are also developing our own common rail direct injection (CRDi) engines, which will be introduced in the Rhino by the end of the year,’’ Mittal said.
The vehicle is being produced by Sonalika group’s utility vehicle making arm International Cars and Motors (ICM). The Rhino will be available in three versions with the top-end variants being priced at Rs 6.85 lakh.
The company, which has set up a Rs 200 crore plant in Himachal Pradesh for manufacturing the Rhino in technological collaboration with the UK’s MG Rover, said it hoped to sell 5,000-6,000 units in the first year itself.
Mittal also announced that Citi group has bought 20% stake in ICM and another 10% in its tractor-making arm International Tractors, but refused to divulge details about the transactions.
The Rhino-Rover will be the first made-in-India SUV to be priced in the Rs 5-6 lakh range. In comparison, the Mahindra Scorpio and Tata Safari both sport an entry-level tag of around Rs 7-7.5 lakh. While Scorpio’s top-end versions cost around Rs 8.5 lakh, the Safari’s tag runs up to Rs 12 lakh.“We have always been known as the price warriors in the market. With this aggressive price tag, we are trying to replicate our success in the tractor market,’’ Mittal said.

Sonalika Group managing director L D Mittal, (2nd from left) with the soon to be launched Rhino MUV at Auto Expo in New Delhi

Aditya · 12th January 2006, 21:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigman

Is it really that bad ? Can someone post some pictures ?
Sipana....you sure that DC never had an input on this Rhino thing.

You haven't seen it?
Good. Just keep it that way because too much laughter may result in a heart attack!

What the hell were they thinking when they made that thing?

kbk_75 · 6th March 2006, 03:18

I would like to quote from page 81 of March Autocar...

"Apart from looks and feel of the majestic 78 bhP RHINO, its time tested 1999cc turbo-charged with inter-cooler engine makes it a high performance vehicle"

The guy who wrote that (Shakun Narang from Ozone) was definitely stoned. Come to think of it, he must have also been sitting on his brain!

First of all, in which decade was 78 bhp majestic? Not since the 1920s I think. And that engine must be VERY time-tested if it only makes 78 bhp from a turbo-charged and inter-cooled 2 Litre engine. As for making it a high-performance vehicle...I'm speechless. I bet it won't even get to 100 Km/h in 20 secs. I'm absolutely appalled that Autocar let this nonsense be printed in their magazine! The editor must have been on vacation too!

5th January 2006, 09:16	#1
sushmair Newbie Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 8 Thanked: 0 Times	Rhino Rover - Anyone?! This is supposed to be the 5-6L range SUV - I think I read somewhere that International Cars and Motors (ICM) and CK Birla HM are to bring this here. Its supposed to have a 2 litre Isuzu diesel engine. Built with Rover of UK. It is gonna be unveiled at the Auto Expo.Anybody with some dope on this?! I couldnt find any pics of this too. Thanks, Sushmair. Last edited by normally_crazy : 26th November 2006 at 20:49. Reason: Use of font size
	() Thanks

5th January 2006, 12:08	#2
autopsyche Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New Delhi, Indi Posts: 1,519 Thanked: 33 Times View My Garage	sushmair thats correct, the RHINO built by ICML in collabration with Rover UK, would be launched at the Auto Expo. Should be in the 6lac range. I do have pics of the car but cant post it until its launched. Arush
	() Thanks

5th January 2006, 13:08	#3
directinjection Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Faridabad/Delhi Posts: 1,705 Thanked: 782 Times	[SIZE=2]I had came across a picture in one of the auto magazines some months back. The vehicle is not an SUV but a people carrier and closely resembles the Toyota Qualis.[/SIZE]
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5th January 2006, 22:05	#5
Insane Devil BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 987 Thanked: 173 Times View My Garage	hey guyz, which company is launching it in India?
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5th January 2006, 22:10	#6
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,730 Times View My Garage	[SIZE=2]Is this the one from Sonalika group. How is CK. Birla connected with this. [/SIZE]
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12th January 2006, 09:09	#7
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	Mods please change the topic to NOW LAUNCHED The price is 5.45 lakhs and it will be available by jan end.
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12th January 2006, 10:03	#8
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	Just saw a photo of this MUV in the TOI. Lets just say that the Scorpio/Tavera/Innova are not threatened in any way.
	() Thanks

12th January 2006, 15:59	#10
bigman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NA Posts: 1,224 Thanked: 93 Times	Is it really that bad ? Can someone post some pictures ? Sipana....you sure that DC never had an input on this Rhino thing. Last edited by bigman : 12th January 2006 at 16:01.
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12th January 2006, 17:37	#12
Tarun BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: New Delhi Posts: 159 Thanked: 17 Times	I think this was in Car & Bike show on NDTV, yesterday. Though not at all appealing, however has loads and loads of internal space. The rear has 3 split seats, can be arranged in front too. Has glove box like X-trail, the speedo console is in the middle with slight tilt towards the driver. Also has the flexibility of removing rear seats, which provides space big enough to play carrom with 4 ppl. The price for the base model is expected around 5.45 lacs. Tarun.
	() Thanks

12th January 2006, 20:26	#13
falcon BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Mumbai / Goa / UK Posts: 88 Thanked: 4 Times View My Garage	Extract from TOI epaper page 19 (Business Times) Sonalika unveils Rs 5.5 lakh MUV TIMES NEWS NETWORK New Delhi: The already overcrowded passenger vehicle market in India witnessed the entry of a new price warrior on Wednesay. Sonalika group—a leading players in the Indian tractor market—drove into the high-growth multiutility vehicle (MUV) segment with a home-grown product Rhino, sporting an entry-level price of Rs 5.45 lakh. The Rhino, powered by a 2-litre Isuzu engine sourced from Hindustan Motors, will be available for commercial sales from Januaryend, Sonalika group chairman LD Mittal said. “We will start sales in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh and move into the Delhi market by April 2006,’’ he said. “We will be sourcing the Isuzu engines from HM for Rhino. In addition, we are also developing our own common rail direct injection (CRDi) engines, which will be introduced in the Rhino by the end of the year,’’ Mittal said. The vehicle is being produced by Sonalika group’s utility vehicle making arm International Cars and Motors (ICM). The Rhino will be available in three versions with the top-end variants being priced at Rs 6.85 lakh. The company, which has set up a Rs 200 crore plant in Himachal Pradesh for manufacturing the Rhino in technological collaboration with the UK’s MG Rover, said it hoped to sell 5,000-6,000 units in the first year itself. Mittal also announced that Citi group has bought 20% stake in ICM and another 10% in its tractor-making arm International Tractors, but refused to divulge details about the transactions. The Rhino-Rover will be the first made-in-India SUV to be priced in the Rs 5-6 lakh range. In comparison, the Mahindra Scorpio and Tata Safari both sport an entry-level tag of around Rs 7-7.5 lakh. While Scorpio’s top-end versions cost around Rs 8.5 lakh, the Safari’s tag runs up to Rs 12 lakh.“We have always been known as the price warriors in the market. With this aggressive price tag, we are trying to replicate our success in the tractor market,’’ Mittal said. Sonalika Group managing director L D Mittal, (2nd from left) with the soon to be launched Rhino MUV at Auto Expo in New Delhi
	() Thanks

6th March 2006, 03:18	#15
kbk_75 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,233 Thanked: 388 Times	I would like to quote from page 81 of March Autocar... "Apart from looks and feel of the majestic 78 bhP RHINO, its time tested 1999cc turbo-charged with inter-cooler engine makes it a high performance vehicle" The guy who wrote that (Shakun Narang from Ozone) was definitely stoned. Come to think of it, he must have also been sitting on his brain! First of all, in which decade was 78 bhp majestic? Not since the 1920s I think. And that engine must be VERY time-tested if it only makes 78 bhp from a turbo-charged and inter-cooled 2 Litre engine. As for making it a high-performance vehicle...I'm speechless. I bet it won't even get to 100 Km/h in 20 secs. I'm absolutely appalled that Autocar let this nonsense be printed in their magazine! The editor must have been on vacation too!
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