Mahindra Armada

Mahindra Armada

Manufacturer	Mahindra and Mahindra Limited
Production	throughout the 1990s
Class	Multi utility vehicle
Body style(s)	4-door MUV
Engine(s)	2.5L Diesel
Transmission(s)	4-speed manual, optional 4-wheel drive
Wheelbase	105.5 in (2,680 mm)
Length	4305 mm
Width	1720 mm
Height	1783 mm
Curb weight	1465 Kg (2WD) 1580 (4WD)

The Mahindra Armada was a sports utility vehicle (SUV) and multiutility vehicle (MUV) based on the jeep. It was produced in India in the 1990s. It led to production of the "Armada Grande" and the Mahindra Bolero.

Origin

The design of the Armada began with the Jeep. In the mid-1950s, American Motors Corporation made the "CJ-5" Jeep. From this vehicle, the MM540 Jeep was developed. The automotive firm, "Mahindra & Mahindra", developed the Commander and Marshal series of steel-bodied saloons with a long wheel base and 5 doors. The Armada was the 'upscale' version of these cars and a flagship model.

Design

The Armada had 15 inches (38 cm) wheels and lower-profile tires which gave it a lower stance and center of gravity. Thus, it was suited more to on road driving. (Later models had disc brakes). A 2.5 L Peugeot engine gave the Armada a maximum speed of 120 km/h.

External

External design features included the bolero style roofline; rectangular headlamps; body graphics; tacked-on plastic or fiberglass pieces in the grille area and on the wheel arches and bumpers.

Internal

The Armada internal features included air conditioning; molded plastic dashboards with an effectively placed instrument cluster; and an 8 passenger seating arrangement with the option of fold-down front and rear seats. The Armada likely represents the first attempt by any Indian firm to offer to the public what later became known as an MUV / SUV - an incrementally more upscale, comfortable, and road-oriented version of what had been a spartan, rugged, dirt-track utility vehicle.

Armada Grande

The Armada was superseded by the more luxurious Armada Grande. It had power windows and power steering; revised interior features and grille plastic; and an electro-mechanical 4x4 selector.

Mahindra Bolero

The Armada Grande was replaced by the Mahindra Bolero. It had a completely new design in front-end bodywork; independent front suspension (on the two wheel drive models); a five speed gearbox; and much improved sound insulation. It was considered more upscale even though it was missing simple features such as a windscreen defogger.