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Indian Army Now Gets Its Hands On The Toyota Hilux Pickup Off-roader


The Toyota Hilux was added to the army’s Northern Command fleet range after undergoing rigorous terrain and weather testing

Toyota Hilux inducted into the Indian Army fleet

  • The Hilux is a capable off-roader based on the Fortuner’s ladder-on-frame platform.

  • It is equipped with the Fortuner’s 204PS 2.8-litre diesel engine; gets 4×4 as standard.

  • The Indian Army is also looking to introduce the 5-door Maruti Jimny to its fleet to replace the existing and ageing Gypsy.

  • Mahindra recently shipped an additional 1,850 units of the Scorpio Classic to the Indian Army.

If you have been following the automotive updates related to the Indian Army in recent years, you would know that it was on the lookout for newer, capable models. This came on the backdrop of the army retiring its much-cherished workhorse, the Maruti Gypsy, and has now added some units of the Toyota Hilux to its Northern Command wing.

Reasons To Pick The Toyota Pickup

Toyota Hilux in Indian Army's fleet

Given the tasks and duties the Indian Army performs, it’s natural for its squad to require tough, body-on-frame off-roaders, which have mostly been restricted to SUVs. Since the Hilux is based on the Fortuner’s ladder-on-frame architecture and offers 4×4 capabilities, it is among the best modern vehicles for our men in camouflage. The pickup aspect is also useful for transporting supplies and carrying extra personnel in the large storage bay.

Toyota Hilux

The Indian Army has put the Hilux through rigorous terrain and weather testing before accepting it in its lineup.

What Gives The Hilux Its Power?

The Toyota Hilux gets the same 2.8-litre diesel engine (204PS/up to 500Nm) as the Fortuner, paired with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic. It has two drive modes: Power and Eco. The Hilux gets a 4×4 drivetrain as standard, increasing its utility as a vehicle for the army.

Also Read: Upping The Coolness Quotient Quite Literally: Cars With Dual Zone Climate Control Under Rs 30 Lakh

Other New Cars For The Indian Army

Maruti Gypsy

Shortly before being launched, there were reports that the 5-door Maruti Jimny – the Maruti Gypsy’s spiritual successor – will be replacing the latter. However, the carmaker seems to be still studying all the possibilities and the modifications required to make the Jimny into an army-spec SUV.

Mahindra Scorpio Classic for the Indian Army

More recently, an additional 1,850 units of the Mahindra Scorpio Classic were inducted into the Indian Army’s vehicle fleet. The Scorpio Classic does not come with a 4WD option for the average consumer, but since the pre-facelifted version used to offer that capability, Mahindra could have modified these units to fit the army’s requirements.

Also Read: Indian Army Wants To Add More Electric Cars To Its Fleet, But Only In Key Areas Such As This State

Read More on : Hilux diesel

Motorsport

Aston Martin Valour Configurator Is Now Available With a Wide Range of Color Options

The Aston Martin Valour made its debut just yesterday, and the British automaker wasted no time in adding the model to its online configurator. With only 110 units available, the chances of actually purchasing one might be slim, but this is an opportunity to play around and design your dream version.

Aston Martin provides a plethora of paint choices, categorizing them into Blacks & Greys, Purples & Blues, Greens, Reds, Bronzes & Oranges, and Silvers & Whites. The available colors range from dark and understated to vibrant and attention-grabbing. We opted for the striking Digital Violet.


Motorsport

2025 Lamborghini Huracan Successor Spied For The First Time [UPDATE]

Update: Added 12 additional photos in a new gallery, available below.

Lamborghini is busy with the launch of the Revuelto V12 plug-in hybrid supercar and finalizing the Urus PHEV. Additionally, they are also testing the replacement for the Huracan. Car paparazzi recently captured the baby Lambo being tested on public roads. Surprisingly, the prototype seems to have the production body rather than provisional panels typically found on early test mules.

The test vehicle is easily recognizable with yellow “high-voltage” stickers, indicating its use of a hybrid powertrain. To add some amusement, Lamborghini placed stickers on the headlights to deceive the casual observer into thinking they are Gallardo headlights. However, closer inspection reveals the real lights are located lower. The front bumper features massive air intakes and incorporates hexagonal daytime running lights.


News

Caterham unveils lightweight electric sports car for 2026

Jannarelly explained that the new car is like a soft sheet draped over the chassis. He emphasized the importance of the visible architectural elements of the Seven, stating that its enduring appeal is due to its form following its function. For the electric version of the Seven, Caterham is working with Swindon Powertrain. The prototype, weighing just 700kg and equipped with 322bhp, will be showcased at Goodwood to demonstrate Caterham’s commitment to agility and speed. Caterham has established a new business unit, called ‘Caterham EVo,’ to oversee the Project V related matters.

Q&A: Bob Laishley, CEO, Caterham

Can Project V be profitable?

According to Laishley, the business case for Project V shows it can be profitable. While they need to sell more cars than the Seven to achieve a return on investment, the numbers are still within a reasonable range. The investment required for Project V is significantly higher than what Caterham has spent before but much lower than what big automotive manufacturers typically spend.

Why is it important to attract new customers?

Currently, Caterham sells 600 cars with a production capacity of 500 cars. This sustains the current business, but to profit from Project V, they need to increase sales. Initially, they are targeting annual sales of 2000 units, with the potential for growth over time. Laishley acknowledged the need for growth but also emphasized the importance of maintaining credibility and not exaggerating projected sales figures.

How will Project V be positioned in the market?

Laishley expressed frustration with the constant need to compare pricing and features to other cars. He believes purchasing a sports car is an emotional decision rather than an objective one based on practical considerations. Therefore, direct comparisons based on specific features or price savings may not accurately capture the appeal or value of a sports car purchase.

Motorsport

2024 Renault 5 Spied With Production Body For The First Time [UPDATE]

[UPDATE] Additional high-resolution spy shots have been added at the beginning of the gallery.

Renault is bringing back the 5, a supermini that was discontinued in 1996, in a new electric form. Set to launch next year, the small hatchback will exclusively have electric powertrains, replacing the Zoe. Spotted for the first time with its production-ready panels, the camouflaged prototype resembles the concept car and features final lights. The prototype is also expected to have stylish alloy wheels with aero panels, a design trend seen in many electric vehicles. Notable additions compared to the original concept include larger side mirrors and a shark fin antenna.


Motorsport

Gran Turismo 7 Adds Three New Cars And The Ability To Swap Engines

In the latest update of Gran Turismo 7, three new enthusiast cars have been added: the 1967 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT Veloce, the 1971 Ford Maverick restomod by Greening Auto Company, and the 1990 Nissan Skyline GT-R Nismo. These new vehicles offer something for fans of every era to admire.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT Veloce is one of the automaker’s most famous and desirable sports cars. Despite its 105-horsepower engine, the car weighs only 2,100 pounds, resulting in an enjoyable driving experience. The updated version of the Giulia still maintains the same driving pleasure as its predecessor.

1967 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT Veloce
1967 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT Veloce

The Ford Maverick, although nowadays more well-known as a hot-selling small pickup, was the Blue Oval’s entry in the compact car class 50 years ago. Unlike its infamous Pinto sibling, the Maverick had some performance thanks to its available 4.9-liter V8 engine, which produced 210 horsepower.

However, the Greening Auto Company 1971 Maverick takes performance to a whole new level with its twin-turbocharged 7.0-liter Ford V8, generating a whopping 1,200 horsepower. This special Maverick, which won the “Best In Show” award at the 2018 SEMA GT Awards, reached a top speed of 202.6 mph in 2019 before being digitized for the game.

1971 Ford Maverick By Greening Auto Company

The 1990 Nissan Skyline GT-R Nismo was built to homologate a Group A racer. It features subtle yet significant modifications compared to the standard R32 GT-R, such as additional air inlets in the front bumper and removal of the rear windshield wiper and ABS. The car retains the same engine, suspension, and braking system as the non-Nismo GT-R but is about 80 pounds lighter, promising a more aggressive driving experience.

1990 Nissan Skyline GT-R Nismo
1990 Nissan Skyline GT-R Nismo

In addition to the new cars, the GT7 update now allows players to swap engines at GT Auto. However, this feature has limitations and can only be done with certain predetermined vehicle/engine combinations. Nonetheless, this update brings Gran Turismo closer to simulating real-world racing.

ToyotaUk

Toyota Research Institute Unveils New Generative AI Technique for Vehicle Design

New Technique Gives Designers Added Capabilities by Incorporating Engineering Constraints Into Generative AI Models

LOS ALTOS, Calif. (June 20, 2023) – Toyota Research Institute (TRI) today unveiled a generative artificial intelligence (AI) technique to amplify vehicle designers. Currently, designers can leverage publicly available text-to-image generative AI tools as an early step in their creative process. With TRI’s new technique, designers can add initial design sketches and engineering constraints into this process, cutting down the iterations needed to reconcile design and engineering considerations.

“Generative AI tools are often used as inspiration for designers, but cannot handle the complex engineering and safety considerations that go into actual car design,” said Avinash Balachandran, director of TRI’s Human Interactive Driving (HID) Division, whose team worked on the technology. “This technique combines Toyota’s traditional engineering strengths with the state-of-the-art capabilities of modern generative AI.”

TRI researchers released two papers describing how the technique incorporates precise engineering constraints into the design process. Constraints like drag (which affects fuel efficiency) and chassis dimensions like ride height and cabin dimensions (which affect handling, ergonomics, and safety) can now be implicitly incorporated into the generative AI process. The team tied principles from optimization theory, used extensively for computer-aided engineering, to text-to-image-based generative AI. The resulting algorithm allows the designer to optimize engineering constraints while maintaining their text-based stylistic prompts to the generative AI process.

The new generative AI technique optimizes aerodynamic drag in successive iterations based on parameter inputs from the designer.

As an example, a designer can request, via text prompt, a suite of designs based on an initial prototype sketch with specific stylistic properties like “sleek,” “SUV-like,” and “modern” while also optimizing a quantitative performance metric. In the research paper, the team focused specifically on aerodynamic drag. The approach can also optimize any other performance metrics or constraints inferred from a design image.

“TRI is harnessing the creative power of AI to amplify automobile designers and engineers,” said Charlene Wu, senior director of TRI’s Human-Centered AI (HCAI) Division, whose team collaborated with the Human Interactive Driving team on this project.

Vehicle design sketch incorporating the results of TRI’s new generative AI + optimization technique (courtesy of XD : Experimental Design Studio of Toyota).

By incorporating engineering constraints directly into the design process, this tool could also help Toyota design electrified vehicles more quickly and efficiently.

“Reducing drag is critical for improving the aerodynamics of BEVs to maximize their range,” said Takero Kato, BEV factory president, Toyota Motor Corporation.

For more technical details on this new technique, refer to the following two papers, available at:

Interpreting and Improving Diffusion Models Using the Euclidean Distance Function, F. Permenter, C. Yuan, 2023.

Drag-guided diffusion models for vehicle image generation, N. Arechiga, F. Permenter, B. Song, C. Yuan, 2023.

 About Toyota Research Institute

Toyota Research Institute (TRI) conducts research to amplify human ability, focusing on making our lives safer and more sustainable. Led by Dr. Gill Pratt, TRI’s team of researchers develop technologies to advance energy and materials, human-centered artificial intelligence, human interactive driving, machine learning, and robotics. Established in 2015, TRI has offices in Los Altos, California, and Cambridge, Massachusetts. For more information about TRI, please visit http://tri.global.