I want one

Mahindra Appalachian

Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. will shake up the U.S. truck market next year when it introduces a new midsize pickup called the Appalachian sporting a 2.2L four-cylinder diesel engine producing around 150 horsepower and 300 pound feet of torque. Speaking with Mike Levine from Pickuptruck.com, John Perez, the CEO of Atlanta-based importer Global Vehicles U.S.A. that's aiding Mahindra's entry into the U.S. market, revealed that the truck will deliver 30 to 35 miles per gallon and cost in the mid-$20,000 range. It will be paired with a six-speed automatic that's controlled via a floor-mounted shifter or paddle shifters(!), have a class-leading payload of 2,600 lbs. and feature a 60,000-mile, four year bumper-to-bumper warranty.

If that's not enough to strike fear in domestic and import truck makers alike, Mahindra has also revealed plans to sell a diesel hybrid version of its pickup by 2010. If it happens, the diesel hybrid Appalachian will be, as far as we know, the only diesel hybrid on sale in the U.S. market and achieve fuel economy figures even higher than its diesel-only counterpart. Imagine a midsize pickup in the low-$30,000 price range capable of 40+ mpg.

30 - 35 miles a gallon, from a pickup. Not only that, but its 2600 pound payload capacity beats out every compact, mid-size (its class), and full-size pickup on the market, American or Japanese. And not by a few pounds either, but by many hundreds of pounds. For comparison, the Ford F-150 has a payload capacity ranging from 1500 to 1800 pounds and gets, at best, 20 miles per gallon. The Ford Ranger, meanwhile, has a payload capacity of under 1300 pounds but has a maximum fuel efficiency of 26 miles per gallon. But then, the Ranger doesn't have 300 pounds of torque, nor does it hit hit that 26 mpg with an automatic transmission, or four-wheel drive. This thing even has external tie-downs! Is the Mahindra the most attractive truck? Nope, but damn, is it useful. I'll take a crew-cab, thanks.