MAHINDRA ROXOR

DIESEL-POWERED CJ DREAM COME TRUE?

How awesome would it be if you could buy a new Jeep CJ with a diesel engine and a manual transmission? Mahindra, a massive manufacturing corporation in India, has heard your prayers and has an answer, but it might not quite what you were dreaming about.

What is a ROXOR?

The Mahindra ROXOR is an all-new off-road-only vehicle mostly manufactured in India and assembled in America. It is being sold through powersports dealers to the UTV market, meaning that it will not be street legal in most states. Classic Jeep styling and proper off-road capability are what the ROXOR is all about.

The ROXOR has an all-steel body, steel boxed frame, solid axles and leaf spring suspension. It is initially being offered with one engine and transmission option, a small diesel with a 5-speed manual. It features a proper selectable 4WD transfer case, hydraulic power steering, front disc and rear drum brakes, 29-inch AT tires on 16inch wheels and a roll cage.

The ROXOR looks very much like an old Willys CJ. It should, as Mahindra got the license to build the Willys CJ3 all the way back in 1947. The large Indian manufacturer has been making a version of the Jeep continuously since then. The one big giveaway that the ROXOR isn’t a Jeep is the 4 ½ slot grille versus the 7 slots you’ll find on every Jeep.

Diesel Powered

The 2.5L, inline four-cylinder turbo diesel found in the ROXOR has been used in vehicles in India for a little over two years. While not on-road compliant in the United States, it is in India. The little diesel puts out 62 hp and 144 lb-ft of torque.

Power is put to the axles through a manual 5-speed gearbox and selectable 4WD transfer case. The transmission is easy to operate and features a traditional “H” pattern and a light clutch pedal. With plenty of torque on tap it is pretty hard to stall this little vehicle, and it should be a great platform for people learning how to drive manual transmission vehicles.

The ROXOR is ripe for performance upgrades. The word on the street is that with a quick flash of the Bosch engine controller the top speed can easily be improved. The normal diesel upgrades— turbo, exhaust, injectors and so on—could also go a long way in pulling the potential out of this tiny diesel engine.

By the Numbers

The top speed of the ROXOR is electronically limited to 45 mph and its “safe towing speed” is only recommended at 15 mph. It can tow an impressive 3,490 pounds. The ROXOR’S GVW is listed at 3,750 pounds, which is 715 pounds above the base vehicle’s 3,035-pound dry weight. It also offers 9 inches of ground clearance, which is just more than a Subaru Outback.

Honestly, most of the published numbers for the ROXOR aren’t that impressive. The reality, however, is that the ROXOR is much more