Ashok Leyland Stile

Ashok Leyland has ventured into the passenger car segment for the first time with Stile, which is expected to hit the roads in 2012. It is quite similar to the Evalia offered by Nissan, the Indian company's partner in commercial vehicle segment, though the two cars will target different segments. Unveiled at the 2012 New Delhi Auto Expo, Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV) has garnered attention of auto enthusiasts largely due to its looks and spaciousness. When launched, it will take on the likes of Toyota Innova, Mahindra Xylo and the upcoming Maruti Suzuki Ertiga.

Engines & Specifications of Ashok Leyland Stile

The first passenger vehicle by Ashok Leyland, Stile will be available with two engine options – diesel and dual fuel CNG + petrol. The diesel unit installed in the car will be Nissan's 1.5 L, 1461 cc, 4 cylinder, 8 valve K9K unit that can generate 85 bhp of power and 200 Nm of torque, though the company may also launch an finetuned version of the same engine in the car, which will produce power of 105 bhp and torque of 205 Nm. Details of the dual fuel CNG + petrol motor expected to be assimilated in the vehicle are not known as of now. It is anticipated that the car will come with a 5 speed manual gearbox for smooth gearshifts.

Performance of Ashok Leyland Stile

Ashok Leyland Stile will be presented as a performance-oriented MPV for the domestic market. Its diesel variant will be known for good on-road performance and excellent fuel efficiency, whereas the dual fuel option will boast of lower emission levels. The range extenders present in the latter edition of the environment friendly car will help it cover larger distances. Independent MacPherson struts will help the car absorb shocks, while the power steering configuration will help enhance the driving experience. The company is expected to use disk brakes in the front and drum brakes in the rear of the vehicle, which will help drivers maintain control over it even at high speeds.

Exterior, Interior & Safety Features of Ashok Leyland Stile

The looks of Ashok Leyland Stile floored audiences gathered at the 2012 New Delhi Auto Expo. Even compared to its higher priced sibling Nissan Evalia, Stile was said to be more attractive. Its monocoque frame stands 1690 mm in length, 1690 mm in width and 1880 mm in height. The appearance of the car is quite similar to that of Maruti Suzuki Omni, though the hood is much longer than the van's. It will have sliding doors in the rear, which facilitate easy ingress and egress of passengers.

Spacious interiors of Ashok Leyland Stile make it ideal for a large family, though the car is said to be suited for many commercial applications as well. The interiors of the model exhibited at the 2012 New Delhi Auto Expo looked quite comfortable and offered sufficient leg room and headroom for passengers seated in all three rows. Buyers will be able to choose between two row and three row versions of the car, along with option of seven seater and eight seater models. Low floor, gear level placed on dash console, dual tone theme and excellent driver visibility are other notable features of the interiors of Stile.

The car will lack many safety features, though 5 seatbelts in the rear and fog lamps are expected; its monocoque shell should be able to ensure safety of passengers in case of collisions.