ASHOK LEYLAND FAT 6X6

When a 4x4 isn’t enough, you get behind the wheel of a 6x6

AAS evo INDIA'S resident off-road junkie, I have stood toe to toe with some of the biggest and most badass 4x4s that you can think of. But it seems I have met my match. Staring at the Ashok Leyland FAT – short for Field Artillery Tractor – I feel dwarfed. Just to get in to the driver’s seat I have to climb two feet!

Built specifically for the Indian armed forces, the FAT is intended to replace the company’s Stallion that is currently in active service. The FAT not only resolves on-ground mobility requirements but also serves as a special role vehicle. It has three axles with drive going to all six wheels. You heard right, this is a 6x6. The engine is not at the front and the driver sits just behind the grille, which means he has a fabulous and commanding view of everything ahead.

The driver’s cabin looks similar to a Cessna’s cockpit, with multiple buttons and switches spread across the dashboard which include controls for the lights, air conditioner, winch and tow hook. In the sea of switches there is also a switch to toggle between low and high gear ratios and to engage the differential locks as well (three of them if you please). The cabin also features an intercom phone, connected to the crew cabin and a smoke detector.

Powering this behemoth is the

Built specifically for the Indian Armed Forces the FAT is intended to replace the Stallion