If you were still hoping that Mahindra would end its long delay in bringing its small diesel pickups to the U.S., you might change your mind after seeing the fuel economy ratings of the TR40 model that's intended to be sold stateside.
According to fueleconomy.gov, the four-wheel-drive TR40 crew cab model with a four-cylinder diesel engine and automatic transmission has been rated by the EPA at 19/21 mpg city/highway. By comparison, a 2011 Toyota Tacoma with a gasoline V-6, automatic transmission and four-wheel drive is rated at 16/20 mpg. The TR40's disappointing highway mileage can't even measure up to Ford's 302-horsepower, 3.7-liter F-150 4X2, which is rated at 17/23 mpg.
A spokesman from Global Vehicles USA, Mahindra's distributor in the U.S., told PickupTrucks.com, "Good fuel economy will be an important part of the truck's appeal, and we're eager to see the fuel economy for all of the models, especially the two-door, two-wheel-drive model, which Mahindra told us to expect would achieve close to 30 mpg."
Mahindra's mHawk four-cylinder oil burner was developed for global use with assistance from leading global diesel engineering firm AVL and using a high-pressure common rail fuel injection system supplied by Bosch. It's rated at 120 hp and 240 pounds-feet of torque, though the power ratings for the U.S. version will be higher. Its six-speed automatic transmission will be unique in the American midsize/compact segment.
Mahindra executives have said they have no exact date for a U.S. launch. The Indian automaker and GV USA are in arbitration and in U.S. federal court over delays getting the pickup trucks certified for sale in the U.S.
[Source: Mahindra Planet]
http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2011/02/mahindra-tr40-rated-at-a-disappointing-1921-mpg.html