WHEN: July 2012
HOW MUCH: Rs 6-8 lakhs
ENGINES: 1.5-litre, three-cylinder diesel (55 PS, 150 Nm), 1.5-litre dual fuel (petrol + CNG)
COMPETITION: Nissan Evalia, Mahindra Xylo, Maruti Ertiga,
The Ashok Leyland Stile will share much of the Nissan Evalia’s chassis, but will have a different “face” and will use different engines. The Stile will be available with both petrol and diesel powerplants. Further, the petrol engine will be a dual-fuel version, which could run on either petrol or CNG.
The diesel engine in the Ashok Leyland Stile is likely to be based on the new 1.5-litre 3-cylinder common-rail diesel that the company has developed for the Dost light truck. This engine produces 55 PS and 150 Nm of torque, which isn’t a lot in specific output terms, but the company insists this engine will provide spectacular fuel economy. Good mileage has always been a strong trait of Ashok Leyland’s engines in any case. However, using an indigenous engine should ensure that Ashok Leyland will be able to price the Stile competitively. If it has elected to use the Renault K9 diesel like the Evalia, it would have been priced out of contention.
The Stile will be developed in both commercial and passenger variants, with the commercial variants likely to be launched first. The Stile will be aimed primarily at the ambulance and goods carrier market. The passenger versions which are due in 2013 will not have the flexible seating plan of the Evalia, or its additional safety features like ESP.
For the price, the Stile will offer a cheaper alternative to other vehicles in the segment, but a question mark hangs over its success as a passenger carrier. Ashok Leyland will have to create a new dealership network for the vehicle, but to its credit it does have a nation-wide network already in place.