Yet another bump on the increasingly rough road for the Mahindra pickup has emerged,this time in the form of fuel economy figures published by the Environmental Protection Agency.
According to the EPA, the four-wheel drive version of the TR40 with the automatic transmission and four-cylinder diesel; in four-door form, has been rated at just 19 miles per gallon in the city; 21 on the open road. By contrast the hoary old Ford Ranger, gets 14 mpg in the city, 18 on the highway, with it’s prosaic 4-liter V-6. It’s also rated at the same 5000 lb towing capacity as the TR40.
As you look at other pickups, the TR40s mileage is even less impressive – Ford’s full-size F-150 for example, equipped with the new 3.7-liter V-6; gets 16 mpg in the city, 23 on the highway.
The EPA findings come as another blow to the already well-publicized Mahindra/Global Vehicles fiasco. GV has stated for months, that the trucks would get around 30 mpg and fuel economy has been a major aspect of the US marketing campaign. Now with figures released that fail to measure up, the credibility of Global Vehicles is in doubt, and the truck’s chances for success are hampered.
Nevertheless, Global CEO John Perez said in a recent statement. “good fuel economy will be an important part of the truck’s appeal, and we’re eager to see the fuel economy for all of the models, especially the two-door, two-wheel-drive model, which Mahindra told us to expect would achieve close to 30 mpg.”
Perhaps he’s referring to Imperial miles per gallon instead of US measurements – even still, 21 mpg US results in 25 imperial miles per gallon and the Mahindra truck would have to get at least 25 mpg US on the highway to achieve the hallowed 30 mpg (Imperial); there’s also the factor of variables such as climate and different testing conditions to consider.
The MPG fiasco, is just another aspect of this whole thing which smacks of complete disorganization and chaos. For over two years, US buyers have been promised this truck and now with Mahindra and GV tied up in court battles and some 350 dealers having forked out the money for a franchise, so far with nothing in return, things are looking increasingly bleak.
The only potential benefit, is that with Ford; GM and Dodge pulling out of the small truck market, there’s potential room for a few new competitors; whether the TR40 will actually become one of those, still remains to be seen.
[Source: Autoblog]
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