EICHER POLARIS MULTIX
Underneath this pick-up lies an ATV
EEICHER MOTORS AND Polaris India joined hands to develop an affordable mobility solution for the Indian market in 2012. The idea was to create a car that could double up as a load carrying commercial vehicle when needed and the result is the vehicle you see in these pictures. The Multix took five years to develop, is completely built in India and is specifically made for farmers and people who run small businesses.
Built ground-up at the company’s manufacturing plant in Kukas, near Jaipur, it has a tubular frame that makes it simpler to construct at a low cost. The unique design looks compact from the outside but it can comfortably seat a family of five. And when needed, the rear seats can be removed easily, which results in a massive 1918-litre loading bay, for something that is just 3.2 metres in length and 1.6 metres wide. It can carry up to 450kg (that’s 20 bags of grain) with the rear seats removed. The Multix is available in two models MX and AX+, the only difference being the latter does not come with doors or windows.
Even though it has a small footprint, it has enough space on the inside. The Multix comes with a host of accessories, the major highlight being the X-Port. This allows customers to use the Multix to generate electricity. With the help of a rotating shaft, the Multix can be connected to a generator, which can provide around 3kW of electricity (using 0.75 litres of fuel per hour), enough to provide electricity for a small household.It can also be connected to water pumps, small capacity wind mills and other electric appliances. All these accessories are available at the company’s dealerships across the country. With so many power cuts in Pune city, you wouldn’t need to invest in an inverter or a generator if you owned a Multix.
Powered by a 650cc, singlecylinder diesel engine, the Multix makes around 12.8bhp at 3000rpm and 37Nm of torque between 1600rpm-2000rpm. It gets a simple 4-speed gearbox to keep costs in check. The gear ratios are really short and on an open stretch, you will be able to get up to around 55kmph in top gear. This is essentially
because the owners will expect good efficiency out of it and so shorter ratios will encourage driving in a higher gear. Being a single-cylinder, refinement and NVH levels aren’t the Multix’s strongpoints. Vibrations can be felt in the cabin through the gear lever and the steering wheel, but having said that, it is very efficient and returns a claimed 27kmpl, which should keep operating costs low.
We got a chance to drive the MX model at an off-road course at the Polaris Experience Zone in Mumbai and I was quite impressed by the way the little vehicle handled. Thanks to the high 225mm ground clearance (without any load) and the independent suspension (courtsey Polaris), the Multix tackled various obstacles with ease. It clambered over logs, through ditches and over mounds with ease. It offered a surprisingly smooth ride, especially when loaded and did not scrape its underbelly even once. I could not get a chance to drive the Multix on tarmac, but I am sure it can be used to ferry people around in smaller cities and rural areas with more comfort than the current crop of three-wheeled vehicles or tractors that many use as personal transport.
Priced at `3.19 lakh and `3.49 lakh for the AX+ and MX models respectively, the Multix is an interesting vehicle. It offers loads of space for passengers as well as for storage and loading. With its X-Port feature and independent suspension it has high utility for small business owners and farmers. The Multix is a first-of-its kind vehicle with a target to simplify businesses with its unique set of USPs and EicherPolaris is working to set up around 170 dealerships across the country to get this personal utility vehicle a wide audience.L
Ryan Lee (@ryanlee814)
Even though it has a small footprint, it has enough of space on the inside