MAHINDRA South Africa may have put the cat among the pigeons with the launch of its new 1,2-ton Genio bakkie.
At the Johannesburg International Motor Show in October last year this elongated, snub-nosed workhorse attracted a lot of attention, with many bakkie buyers surprised to learn that only a handful of half and one-ton bakkies can actually carry such payloads.
Ashok Thakur, executive head of Mahindra SA, said the Genio is a very important new model for Mahindra, as this is the first vehicle designed by the company from the outset as both a domestic and an export model range.
“What makes the Genio different from the competition is its 1,2-ton load capability and the large load box. Moreover, it is engineered to be as rugged and robust as the other members of the Mahindra family, such as the Bolero, Scorpio and Thar, which have already proven themselves in local conditions,” Ashok said.
The Genio range consists of both single and double-cab bakkies with the option of 4x2 and 4x4 transmissions. Mahindra SA has made sure they are well equipped in terms of specifications against their rivals, as well as being keenly priced. These are vital requirements as the Indian company’s local subsidiary seeks to use the Genio to substantially increase sales and market share in SA.
Initially, only 4x2 models are available, with the 4x4 models to follow later in 2012.
The single-cab Genio comes to Pietermaritzburg less than six months after its international launch in India. Peter Hilton, dealer principal at Mahindra in the city, told the Weekend Witness that the double cabs have not yet landed, but buyers are welcome to place orders.
Introductionary prices start at R149 900 and Hilton said they will remain constant for a while. The Genio is powered by the mHawk turbo diesel engine, which is a joint development between Mahindra and Austrian power train engineering specialists, AVL.
For South Africa, the common-rail power unit has been tuned to produce 88 kW of power (that is a team of 75 British horses for those still trapped in the 18th century) and 290 Nm of torque.
Being custom-built for the Indian market, where drivers buy vehicles on their cents-per-kilometre number, Mahindra claims “particularly good” fuel economy from its oil burner.
All the models in the current Genio range have a five-speed manual gearbox. Initially, only the 4x2 models will be available. The 4x4 models arrive later in the year.
All the models have power steering, air conditioning, immobiliser, electric windows, rear fog lamps, central locking, seat-belt pre-tensioners, child-proof door locks, rear- window demister and 74-litre fuel tanks. The single-cab model has a high level of equipment as standard, including an audio system, cruise control, a digital information system, electrically adjustable exterior rear-view mirrors, outside temperature sensor, ABS brakes, remote locking, steering wheel-mounted controls for the audio and information systems and the cruise control, seat belt and door-ajar warning lights and front fog lamps.
The double-cab Genio’s specification also includes remote locking, keyless entry, outside temperature sensor, audio system, cruise control, digital information system, ABS brakes, steering wheel-mounted controls for the audio system, cruise control and information system, cubby hole lamp, seat-belt and door-ajar warning lights, under-seat lockable storage box, folding tray in seat back, map pocket on front seat back rest, inboard folding armrest for driver and front fog lamps.
The Genio is made at Mahindra’s manufacturing facility in Chakan, which was completed in November 2009 with an initial capacity of 300 000 units a year with the potential to double this output in the future.
Launch prices:
Genio 4x2 single cab R149 900
Genio 4x2 double cab and R189 900
All models are backed by a three-year/100 000 km warranty and roadside assistance for one year, while a three-year/ 60 000 km service plan is an optional extra.
