Indian Army Now Gets Its Hands On The Toyota Hilux Pickup Off-roader

The Toyota Hilux was added to the army’s Northern Command fleet range after undergoing rigorous terrain and weather testing

• The Hilux is a capable off-roader based on the Fortuner’s ladder-on-frame platform.

• It is equipped with the Fortuner’s 204PS 2.8-litre diesel engine; gets 4x4 as standard.

• The Indian Army is also looking to introduce the 5-door Maruti Jimny to its fleet to replace the existing and ageing Gypsy.

• Mahindra recently shipped an additional 1,850 units of the Scorpio Classic to the Indian Army.

If you have been following the automotive updates related to the Indian Army in recent years, you would know that it was on the lookout for newer, capable models. This came on the backdrop of the army retiring its much-cherished workhorse, the Maruti Gypsy, and has now added some units of the Toyota Hilux to its Northern Command wing.

Reasons To Pick The Toyota Pickup

Given the tasks and duties the Indian Army performs, it’s natural for its squad to require tough, body-on-frame off-roaders, which have mostly been restricted to SUVs. Since the Hilux is based on the Fortuner’s ladder-on-frame architecture and offers 4x4 capabilities, it is among the best modern vehicles for our men in camouflage. The pickup aspect is also useful for transporting supplies and carrying extra personnel in the large storage bay.

The Indian Army has put the Hilux through rigorous terrain and weather testing before accepting it in its lineup.

What Gives The Hilux Its Power?

The Toyota Hilux gets the same 2.8-litre diesel engine (204PS/up to 500Nm) as the Fortuner, paired with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic. It has two drive modes: Power and Eco. The Hilux gets a 4x4 drivetrain as standard, increasing its utility as a vehicle for the army.

Also Read: Upping The Coolness Quotient Quite Literally: Cars With Dual Zone Climate Control Under Rs 30 Lakh

Other New Cars For The Indian Army

Shortly before being launched, there were reports that the 5-door Maruti Jimny – the Maruti Gypsy’s spiritual successor – will be replacing the latter. However, the carmaker seems to be still studying all the possibilities and the modifications required to make the Jimny into an army-spec SUV.

More recently, an additional 1,850 units of the Mahindra Scorpio Classic were inducted into the Indian Army’s vehicle fleet. The Scorpio Classic does not come with a 4WD option for the average consumer, but since the pre-facelifted version used to offer that capability, Mahindra could have modified these units to fit the army’s requirements.

Also Read: Indian Army Wants To Add More Electric Cars To Its Fleet, But Only In Key Areas Such As This State

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