High and mighty

Away from the glamour, but important nevertheless

Volvo and Eicher introduced the Eicher VE series of heavy duty vehicles at the Expo. These include vehicles from 16 to 40 tonnes GVW including 4x2, 6x2, 8x2 rigid haulage trucks, 4x2 tractor-trailer and 4x2 and 6x4 tippers. One such vehicle was the Terra 25 6x4 rigid tipper, a platform that can also be adapted for concrete mixers.

Mercedes-Benz India launched its 3-axle Intercity coach. The bus incorporates new-age technology to improve safety, comfort and reliability. Step into the plush interiors and rows of seats mounted higher than the aisle, greet you. A roof-mounted AC system cools things down and the two LCD screens should keep the passengers as happy. The bus is available at a price of Rs 85-95 lakh, depending on seating configuration.

Mahindra Navistar launched two trucks, the MN31 and MN25, which are all-new vehicles. The new trucks that have been launched are cab-forward models, which have been designed mainly with Indian engineering skill, with assistance from Navistar’s North American and Brazilian resources. A great emphasis has been placed on driver ergonomics and the company interviewed more than 500 individuals and drove over 10,000 km with them in order to understand what exactly HCV customers desired from their vehicles.

The Volvo 8400 CNG City Bus features a high-performance CNG engine and a new Ecolife transmission which promises a more comfortable drive. The intelligent automatic gearbox offers better mileage, while an even stronger retarder system ensures a jerk-free ride. The bus also features a host of safety systems including electronic braking system, anti-roll system, disc brakes, anti-skid protection, hill start aid with gradeability, poor brake performance warning, etc.