PICKUP OF THE YEAR
Nominees: a) Ashok Leyland Bada Dost b) Tata Yodha 1700 c) Tata Winger BSVI d) Isuzu D-Max Super Strong e) Isuzu D-Max S Cab
Enjoying the participation of global and local players, pickup trucks have carved out a niche for themselves on the virtue of their ability to address demanding applications like dairy, vegetables, fish, poultry and construction sit duties among others. Coming to cater to a well-defined clientele, they are about performance, efficiency, payload, robust construction and faster turnaround time. Working their was past regulatory challenges like the BSVI emissions, pickup trucks have come to be quite customercentric, re-inventing themselves in the process and to the extent of bench marking them similar offerings in markets abroad. While some of them are already found in foreign markets, some are on the way, highlighting their ability to be economical to operate; be reliable, efficient and robust. The winner this year, the Ashok Leyland Bada Dost, is had in two variants with a GVW of threetonne and 3.5-tonne respectively. Higher modular in nature, the vehicle is powered by a 80 hp, 1.4-litre BSVI turbocharged diesel engine. It is car-like to drive, and capable of seating three people officially in its cabin. Marking the company’s IPR, the Bada Dost has been engineered to help with higher productivity and comfort.