[GTO]

Funny times, we find ourselves in. In this age of information overload, every brand wants to stand out & gather attention. In what is a first, Volvo's PR team just emailed across pics of its own camouflaged truck being tested .

Email received:

VECV new Vehicle spotted at Indore road

VE Commercial Vehicles is currently working on a new multi axle heavy duty truck. A camouflaged Eicher heavy duty tractor was recently seen driving at Indore roads. This soon to be launched new variant bears a distinct appearance and looks more powerful than ever before. This would be a part of the Eicher Pro series of heavy duty trucks, manufactured at their facility in Pithampur.

I predict these are lined up next:

- Volvo's PR leaks interior pics of the said truck.

- They will then leak the price before its official announcement, along with watermarked pics of the brochure & specs.

- Finally, Volvo PR will write a review of its own truck and share it for publication .

[SmartCat]

I always knew camouflaging an automobile during road testing is to attract attention from publications and road users. What exactly can a rival manufacturer do by looking at the design of competition? Absolutely nothing.

[silversteed]

The truck in the original post is an Eicher - the muffler has the name and logo hotstamped. VECV is probably testing one of their new engines for BS6 compliance, or maybe a new BS4 tractor. VECV already has the Pro-8049 tractor in their product portfolio

* * * * * *

Originally Posted by smartcat

I always knew camouflaging an automobile during road testing is to attract attention from publications and road users. What exactly can a rival manufacturer do by looking at the design of competition? Absolutely nothing.

Rival manufacturers, nothing. But there are enough copycats in the unorganised sector, making frontages and bodies that look like the original.

Scania Metrolink bi-axle - original vs clone:



MAN Mammoth - original vs clone:



The camouflage helps the manufacturer keep the exclusivity in appearances till product launch at least

[ritz3645]

Nice to see a Volvo badge truck, if it is.
I have stopped seeing Volvo badge truck on road. Distinctly remember the red color one may be 10 years back and that too, many and often. I also have a soft spot for Volvo buses. For years I will tailgate Volvo buses on my bike, and admire the beauty of its rear engine noise, especially once turbo kicks in and it starts to speed.

[TusharK]

If I'm not mistaken, this is an Adblue tank, which indicates that it most likely has a BS6 compliant diesel engine.

[VKumar]

Originally Posted by GTO

along with watermarked pics of the brochure & specs.

Going by the effort they are putting, you better be prepared to receive the pics watermarked with 'www.team-BHP.com' from their end itself, and you bet, they will do it as good as you would have.

[sandeepmdas]

You might want to edit the title of this thread.

Can't be called spy pics, May be "teaser" or "leaked" pics? Or "spy" (incl. quotes) to highlight the pun?

[silversteed]

Originally Posted by TusharK

If I'm not mistaken, this is an Adblue tank, which indicates that it most likely has a BS6 compliant diesel engine.

The BS6 engine is only a possibility. VECV has engines with SCR option too for BS4 compliance, alongside their EGR solutions. Bharat Benz and Mahindra are the only two players who have not gone the EGR route to meet BS4 norms.

[Hawkeye269]

Originally Posted by smartcat

What exactly can a rival manufacturer do by looking at the design of competition? Absolutely nothing.

Not much... unless said rival manufacturer is named Landwind!!!
(See: China's copycat cars are reducing Land Rover's use of concepts).

Of course, Landwind does not stand alone. Other (ahem) innovative Chinese companies include Zotye, Hanteng, JMC and BAIC (See: Chinese copycat cars of the 2017 Shanghai motor show).

[Sanzen]

Originally Posted by silversteed

The BS6 engine is only a possibility. VECV has engines with SCR option too for BS4 compliance, alongside their EGR solutions. Bharat Benz and Mahindra are the only two players who have not gone the EGR route to meet BS4 norms.

Rightly said, Sir. VECV is using AdBlue in BS4 SCR engines namely VEDX5 & VEDX8. This might not necessarily be BS6 compliant.

[ajmat]

It is a strategic leak to:

1. Reassure shareholders that new products are on the way
2. Reduce the pressure on scoop prevention, JLR, Rolls Royce, Porsche, BMW engage in this
3. Pre-empt what the competition will plan to do

[RavenAvi]

It would seem in all probability that Volvo-Eicher might be christening their new multi-axle heavy-duty tractor as the Pro 6049 - denoting the modular Pro 6000 Series platform underneath, and their entry into the 49 Ton tractor trailer segment.

This new tractor trailer is powered by SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) tech.

Thanks to my good friend AutoSpy from Pune for the snaps.

[silversteed]

Originally Posted by RavenAvi

Pro 6049 - denoting the modular Pro 6000 Series platform underneath, and their entry into the 49 Ton tractor trailer segment.

As mentioned earlier, Eicher already has the Pro-8049 tractor in their portfolio. The 6049 would probably use non-reactive rear suspension while the 8049 uses bogie suspension on the rear axles, and possibly a lower power rating for the engine - in addition to the distinguishing features between the Pro-8000 and Pro-6000 series such as cab, air-conditioning, PTO etc. These differences would result in a cheaper 49T tractor than the 8049.