Ashok Leyland has relaunched its Taurus and Hippo truck nameplates, reviving brands that shaped India's heavy commercial vehicle market for decades.
Taurus returns as the high-horsepower tipper range, while Hippo serves as the tractor portfolio flagship. Both use Ashok Leyland's AVTR modular platform and feature 8.0-litre A-Series 6-cylinder engines delivering 360 horsepower and 1,600 Nm of torque.
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Hippo gained prominence from the 1980s to the early 2000s as a heavy hauler. Taurus debuted as India's first multi-axle truck and remains a generic term for such vehicles among operators.
The models target mining, infrastructure, and construction sectors. They include heavy-duty drivetrains, reinforced chassis, Hill Start Assist, and Automatic Traction Control as standard. Hippo offers optional Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and Tire Pressure Monitoring.
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"Taurus and Hippo are purpose-built for heavy-duty requirements of mining, infrastructure, and construction applications. The new truck range is powered by Ashok Leyland's A-Series 6-cylinder engines, now with industry-leading peak torque and power, delivering unmatched durability and reliability, higher productivity and faster turnaround times," Shenu Agarwal, Managing Director & CEO, Ashok Leyland, said in a statement.
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The trucks will roll out via Ashok Leyland's nationwide dealership network, aiming to reinforce the company's position in high-horsepower segments while building on its heritage. This relaunch taps into operator familiarity with the brands. The AVTR platform enables shared components for efficiency, and the A-Series engine provides consistent performance across applications.
Ashok Leyland's move aligns with the rising demand for robust trucks in infrastructure projects. Taurus tippers suit payload-heavy tasks, while Hippo tractors handle long-haul needs. Pricing and exact availability dates were not disclosed yet.