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Mahindra AXE
Type	Large SUV
Place of origin	India
Service history
In service	Under Evaluation
Production history
Manufacturer	Mahindra & Mahindra Limited
Unit cost	)
Specifications
Weight	2,500 kg curb weight
Length	4.4 m
Width	1.96 m
Height	1.98 m
Engine	5 cyl Diesel
Transmission	Automatic
Suspension	Independent
Fuel capacity	100 L

Mahindra Axe is an AM General High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) like vehicle built by Mahindra & Mahindra, based on an Israeli design originally designed for IDF. Mahindra Axe is being customized to meet Indian Army specifications; the Indian Army is evaluating it as a replacement for the current Mahindra Jeep derivatives.

Two prototypes have been developed for army testing, and is expected to have both open and hard-top versions, and the capability to mount artillery.

[edit] Platform

Axe is built on a new platform derived from an Israeli design originally developed for the IDF and is not derived from existing Mahindra models. According to Brigadier Khutub A Hai, CEO, Mahindra Defence Systems "The Axe was designed with help from an overseas designer." (An interview with Brigadier Khutub A Hai, CEO, Mahindra Defence Systems about Axe can be found at x-trememachine.blogspot.com/2007/09/mahindra-and-mahindra-axe.html)

Mahindra Axe's design team continues to include Israeli designers, and petrol versions of the Axe were built for special forces. The version designed for the Indian Army is to use a diesel engine.

Current Axe variants use either a petrol engine---2.7 L Mercedes derived Ssangyong engine (which powers the Rexton)--or a diesel engine (using 4 L GM Votec engine (which powers the Chevrolet Blazer)). There are plans to have variants using Mahindra's current line of diesel engines.

The transmission system is borrowed from Mercedes-Benz.

Axe uses an all-wheel independent suspension system to meet the "extreme mobility" required of this class of vehicles.

[edit] Fuel Efficiency

According to Mahindra, the diesel Axe offers around 8 to 9 km/L (11.1 to 12.5 L/100 km) while the petrol Axe offers 6 to 7 km/L (14.3 to 16.6 L/100 km).

[edit] Civilian Version

Mahindra has a long and successful record manufacturing Jeeps variants for both military and civilian use, and has a strong brand image in the SUV and MUV market. Mahindra is planning a civilian version of the Axe to exploit this image.

The civilian version of Axe is to be available by 2009 with an automatic transmission with some styling changes and a standard Mahindra power plant. This will be along the same line as the marketing of Hummer using the Humvee image.

For the civilian version of Axe, the engine displacement will be lowered and there will be cosmetic changes on the dashboard. But Mahindra wants to keep the suspension and platform unchanged. Axe civilian version will be only diesel and with automatic transmission. Mahindra’s commercial Axe is expected to be priced roughly between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 22 lakh.

[edit] Sales

Mahindra is to build about 215 units of Axe for an undisclosed foreign army (Israeli?) with 15 being shipped immediately. Mahindra hopes to export Axe to countries like Malaysia in 2008 (diesel version) and for Africa, UAE, Jordan.

[edit] Military Users

 India

• Indian Army^{[citation needed]}

[edit] External links

• Mahindra AXE Video
• Photographs
• [1]An article about the Mahindra Axe.
• [2] An article about the Israeli vehicle from which it is derived.

[edit] See also

• FMC XR311