Mahindra Axe
Encyclopedia
Mahindra Axe is a Light Military Utility Tactical Vehicle built by Mahindra & Mahindra. Mahindra Axe is being customized to meet Indian Army
specifications; the Indian Army is evaluating it as a replacement for the current Mahindra Jeep derivatives.
Two prototypes have been developed for army testing, and is expected to have both open and hard-top versions.
Mahindra Axe's design team continues to include new versions of the Axe which built for special forces. The version designed for the Indian Army is to use a diesel engine
.
Current Axe variants use either a diesel engine (a 2.7 L Mercedes derived Ssangyong engine, which powers the Rexton
) or a petrol engine (using 4 L GM Vortec engine
, which powers the Chevrolet Blazer
). There are plans to have variants using Mahindra's current line of diesel engines.
The Axe uses an all-wheel independent suspension system to meet the "extreme mobility" required of this class of vehicles.
.
, UAE, Jordan
.
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
specifications; the Indian Army is evaluating it as a replacement for the current Mahindra Jeep derivatives.
Two prototypes have been developed for army testing, and is expected to have both open and hard-top versions.
Platform
Axe is built on a new platform , derived from existing Mahindra models. According to Brigadier Khutub A Hai, CEO, Mahindra Defence Systems "The Axe was designed with help from an overseas designer.Mahindra Axe's design team continues to include new versions of the Axe which built for special forces. The version designed for the Indian Army is to use a diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
.
Current Axe variants use either a diesel engine (a 2.7 L Mercedes derived Ssangyong engine, which powers the Rexton
SsangYong Rexton
The SsangYong Rexton is a sport utility vehicle based on the Mercedes-Benz M-Class, initially released in Korea by the SsangYong Motor Company in late 2001. This vehicle offers standard appointments such as quiet on-road performance, car-like handling, and off-road capability, and can be configured...
) or a petrol engine (using 4 L GM Vortec engine
GM Vortec engine
Vortec is a trademarked name for a line of piston engines for General Motors trucks. The name first appeared in 1988 on a 4.3 L V6 that used "vortex technology" to create a vortex inside the combustion chamber, creating a better air/fuel mix. Now its used on a wide range of different engines...
, which powers the Chevrolet Blazer
Chevrolet Blazer
Chevrolet Blazer can refer to one of several SUV models from General Motors:* The full-size Chevrolet K5 Blazer, based on the C/K pickup chassis and built from 1969 to 1994....
). There are plans to have variants using Mahindra's current line of diesel engines.
The Axe uses an all-wheel independent suspension system to meet the "extreme mobility" required of this class of vehicles.
Fuel Efficiency
According to Mahindra, the diesel Axe offers around 8 to 9 km/L (11.1 to 12.5 L/100 km) while the petrol Axe offers 6 to 7 km/L (14.3 to 16.6 L/100 km).Civilian Version
Mahindra is planning a civilian version of the Axe. For the civilian version of Axe, the engine displacement will be lowered and there will be cosmetic changes on the dashboard, but Mahindra wants to keep the suspension and platform unchanged. Axe civilian version will be only diesel and with automatic transmissionAutomatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
.
Sales
Mahindra is to build about 215 units of Axe for an undisclosed foreign army with 15 being shipped immediately. Mahindra hopes to export Axe to countries like Malaysia in 2008 (diesel version) and for AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, UAE, Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
.