Mahindra Automotive Australia introduced an updated version of its Mahindra Pik-up today with a refreshed front end and interior that possibly preview what U.S. buyers can look forward to.On the outside, Mahindra has strengthened the looks of the front bumper and given its corporate logo a more prominent spot on the grille. The headlights are also a bit more stylish.
Inside, the Australian pickup receives new driver and front passenger airbags, wider seats, power-operated mirrors, a new AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system with USB and SD-card ports, and four cupholders -- something Mahindra's U.S. distributor, Global Vehicles USA Inc., had promised would be a high priority.
Other than the right-hand-drive steering wheel and manual transmission (the U.S. version will be a six-speed automatic), is this what the Mahindra pickup truck's exterior and interior will look like when it goes on sale here late this year?
"The Australian truck looks very close to ours," GV USA spokesman Mike Geylin told PickupTrucks.com this afternoon.
The U.S. pickup, likely to be called the TR20 or TR40, depending on two- or four-door cab type, will use a slightly modified version of Mahindra's 'mHawk' 2.2-liter inline-four-cylinder clean-diesel engine instead of the 2.5-liter CRDe four-cylinder turbo-diesel in the Australian Pik-up.