ICML Rhino S2 - Wild Wild Rhino

The reason I took the vehicle out for a good ride after the test track session was that I wanted to get in deep and know more about the vehicle, which had already impressed me with its looks and interior space and car-like feel. But I wasn't expecting two things on the ride, which did impress me a lot. First was the power-assisted steering wheel that was a joy to use. Around the tight corners, all it took was a little effort to almost turn the steering lock to lock. And it had a good amount of feedback too. The second thing happened when I pushed the car to around 80km/h on a longish curve, only to see a Sumo overtaking a bus on the curve coming straight at us. All I could do was jam the brakes and pray hard (what with horrifying memories of an MUV stepping out of line under sudden and hard braking). Nothing happened except that we shed a good 60km/h in around 2 seconds. Yes, she did lock her wheels but held her line.

Running on 205/65 rubber mounted on 15-inch wheels, the suspension does a good job of absorbing potholes and undulating surfaces. In fact, it is set on the softer side and does feel plush. The downside is that she rolls a lot and may be a handful with a full load of passengers. Maybe stiffening up the suspension would do wonders because as it is, most of the Rhinos will be hauling around more people than what I drove it with.

Earlier in the day, I was allowed to have my share of fun on the test track built specially for testing production versions for various parameters. The track included everything from a water wading zone to steep gradients, rough road patches, under-body inspection ramp etc. Although it wasn't possible to take the vehicle above 90km/h on the short straight, it was fun piloting it around the corners and through water. Driving through the rough patches, the car felt well built and never once reminded me that this was probably not even the hundredth vehicle to have rolled out of the plant till date. Speaks a lot!

So where does the Rhino fit in? After the death of the Qualis, a vacuum had been created in the lower MUV segment, which has been to an extent filled by the Mahindra Bolero and Force Motors' Cruiser and a little bit by the Chevy Tavera and Tata Sumo. ICML hopes to capture a fair amount of share in this segment and we believe it won't be hard for them. The Bolero now comes with a turbocharged DI engine, whereas the Cruiser has no competition when it comes to the number of seats. The Rhino will have to compete with them big time and use its trump card, i.e., low pricing, to the 'T' in order to shake up this segment. Yes, it looks good and has a car-like feel from inside but then the company has to work on the mechanicals a bit. The good thing is that the company claims 17-18kmpl on highways at speeds between 90-100km/h and around 14kmpl on hills, which is very impressive to say the least. And if customers are actually able to extract this much, let me assure you that the Rhino will prove itself in no time and grab the MUV segment by its horn...err. literally.

You can choose the Rhino from three variants, base S1 with no air con (however, atacho, power steering, running floor boards are included), the mid S2 (the blue one pictured here) and the deluxe (with goodies like alloys, rear roof mounted A/C vents, roof mounted DVD player etc). The Super Deluxe featured on the facing page will make it to production soon too. At a starting price of Rs 5,45,000 (OTR Punjab), the Rhino is very good value for money.

It's now up to ICML to work on firming up its dealership network because that is virtually non-existent in the major part of the nation. The potential to carve a niche in the low end MUV segment exists and the Rhino has the right ingredients to go about making this segment its very own. How quickly it can do this remains to be seen.

Super Deluxe Rhino

THE SPORTY LOOKING INCARNATION OF the Rhino you see here is the Super Deluxe variant that will be put into production in the coming months. First showcased at the Auto Expo in Delhi in January, this variant did attract a lot of attention and prospective buyers. Priced at just above seven lakh rupees, this version will be available in only a dark shade and we believe it will look good too. Exterior changes include fatter 215/50 rubber on smart looking six-spoke alloy wheels, roof rails, RVM integrated indicators and that oh, so cool, looking luggage rack.

But the main changes are those on the inside. Done up by AGM Technologies of Delhi, the car has a luxurious feel that can put many a D-segment car to shame. Effortlessly. The theme is beige and leather. Up front, the whole feel of the facia has changed. Fake wood replaces aluminium and the steering wheel feels great to grab. The drive and the co-driver get a small box-cum-arm rest for putting in small nick-knacks. There is also a sunroof to impress the fair sex and keep the kids happy. In the middle row, things become better with LCD screens mounted in the back of the headrests, fully adjustable captain seats and arm rest-cum-glass (wine!) holders. But the most interesting thingamajigs are in the rear. A mini refrigerator and a PC! This can very well be your mini business cabin on the move. ICML, why not pep up the power too along with the looks?

Source: Car India April 2006.