http://www.leftlanenews.com/mahindra-appalachian-2010.htmlMahindra is gearing up for a 2010 model year launch here in the States, but we caught this test vehicle undergoing cold-weather testing in northern Scandinavia. Sitting on Mahindra’s Scorpion platform, we’ll be seeing 2-door and 4-door trucks in both two-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive versions arriving on our shores in late 2009. And a Mahindra SUV will follow about a year later – likely for the 2011 model year.
Our lightly camouflaged pictures show a facelift for the Indian and European markets. The U.S. version will have a unique grille – different from what’s attempting to hide under the black vinyl in these photos. Power for the U.S. versions will come from a urea-based 140-hp common rail diesel, and all the vehicles will have a 6-speed automatic transmission.
Earlier reports have speculated the Appalachian name for the truck, but our sources are anticipating the model name will be made up of simply letters and numbers - alphanumeric names.
Mahindra had planned to build the Appalachian in Ohio from launch, but the initial batch of trucks will be imported from India fully assembled.
The Appalachian was expected to hit the market in late 2009, but the truck’s U.S. importer says the program is ahead of schedule and will bow this fall.
