ICML plans JV with Great Wall Motors of China for SUVs

International Cars & Motors Ltd (ICML) is in the process of finalising a JV with Great Wall Motors of China for manufacture of two high-end SUVs, on the lines of the Tata Aria, and also two mini-trucks whose likely competitors will be the Tata Ace and Mahindra Maxximo.

The prospective partner, which manufactures cars, pick-ups and SUVs, will bring to the table its design and technological expertise while ICML will provide its existing manufacturing facility at Amb in Himachal Pradesh for rolling out the new product range.

Autocar Professional’s sister magazine Autocar India received the first spy pictures of Great Wall Motors’ Haval H5 SUV from a reader who spotted it testing in Chandigarh. The Haval H5 is also referred to in some markets as the X240 and sold as a five- or a seven-seater vehicle with either manual or automatic gearbox. It sports an upmarket-looking exterior styling. The H5 is 4649mm long, 1810mm wide and 1735mm tall and available in many markets in both 4x2 and 4x4 versions. Its 2700mm wheelbase is same as that of the Mahindra XUV500, a little longer than the Safari Storme (2650mm) and slightly shorter than the Aria (2850mm).

Globally, engine choices include a 2.4-litre petrol engine that develops 134bhp and 20.3kgm of torque and a 2.5-litre diesel which is good for 107bhp and 30.5kgm of torque. However, ICML is likely to launch a diesel variant here. The H5 will be pitched against the XUV, Aria and the Force One.

The SUV will be fitted with ICML's Jeevan series of BS IV engines, also developed for General Motors India’s updated Tavera. These engines will be now tweaked with various capacities to suit the requirements of the SUV and the mini pick-up variant, according to Gaurav Saxena, director of ICML (pictured with the six-seater Oyster double-cab pickup). The light truck is expected to be a 0.75- tonner.

With the SUV and light truck market in India recording good growth, ICML is keep to tap the segment.

ICML reveals Extreme, Windy at the Expo

Meanwhile, at the Expo, ICML displayed its new-look MPVs. The Extreme will be launched around March 2012 with a price tag of Rs 5 to 8 lakh. A new 2.0-litre CRDi 120bhp engine will power the MPV and is claimed to deliver 14kpl. The Extreme has been fitted with a new suspension for improved ride quality. Developed on ICML’s Rhino MPV platform, the interiors have been refurbished. The Rhino, which suffers from engine issues, will be phased out by March. Further, Oyster, a six-seater double-cab lifestyle product for seating people and carrying luggage for weekend travel, will be launched in the next four months. It has been developed in-house at ICML’s Hoshiarpur R&D centre. It sports a new chassis and a new platform and comes fitted with a 2.0-litre CRDi and direct injection diesel engine. It will be priced at around Rs 5 lakh when it is launched in the next quarter.

The Windy, a third vehicle, is a single-cab 1.2-tonne payload capacity pick-up with a 2.0-litre 85hp DI diesel engine. It is fitted with a rigid suspension that facilitates loading operations. The pick-up is expected to be launched within six months and will be pitted against M&M’s Bolero pick-up, the Tata 207 DI and is expected to be priced at around Rs 4 to 4.25 lakh.

World Cars delayed

ICML’s much-awaited saloon and coupé being developed under its World Car project with Italian design house Pinanfarina has been delayed by over a year and a half. It is believed that the design of the coupé has not been finalised and the saloon design is being reworked to make it more cost- competitive. The saloon will be based on a monocoque design and will be more of a crossover.

There’s also news that a small 1.2-litre diesel engine with three cylinders suited for a mini truck and aimed at higher mileage is in the initial stage of development at ICML. It is expected to take another year for final development to be completed.

The company’s Amb facility, where the new crop of vehicles will be manufactured, will see an investment of Rs 100 crore funded through internal accruals for upgrading production capacity from the existing 24,000 units to 50,000 units per annum.

SHOBHA MATHUR