S IVI O CIT
Page 37
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
ROUGI
When they're working on the seating plan for the Marketing Hall of Fame, we predict that the guys behind the seemingly endless growth in the popularity of 4x4s will be on the shortlist for the top table. And like all the best marketing men, they've worked their magic by inventing a brand new niche, and filling it.
Time was when the only 4x4 in town (or more likely village) was the farmer's battered Land Rover. Nowadays it seems that no Sloane Ranger would contemplate an expedition to Harrods without an all-terrain vehicle.
This is of little use to Unimog, because not even the most hopeless style junkie could kid themselves that kit as serious as this belongs in Knightsbridge. Fortunately for the Mercedes-Benz subsidiary, the growth of privatisation has led the serious 4x4 buyers— primarily councils and utilities—to reach for their cheque books.
Unimog already dominates the heftier end of the off-road market in continental Europe: it's now making a concerted effort to raise its profile in the UK. Current sales of 100 units a year into such a specialised niche are respectable enough, but how far can the Unimog extend its appeal?
• PRODUCT PROFILE Commercial Motor's test vehicle is a U130; one of two models in the the Series. Its short (2.83m) wheelbase e a GVW of 7.5 tonnes; its Medium R. blemate, the 140L, has a 3.47m vu with an 8.5-tonne GVW The Light S has two models: a 4.8-tonner on wheelbase and a 6.2-tonner with a .w of 3,22m.
The Heavy Series comprises fivc with wheelbases from 2.65m to GVWs from 10 tonnes to 14 tonnes. models are 4x4s, but for real me Unimog does a 6x6 on a wheelbase with a GVW of a full 17 tonnes.
The U130 is powered by the Eurc (103kW) charge-cooled 4.0-litre Of four-cylinder diesel out of the 814D U140L, is still available with a Euroof the 0M364 engine, rated at 134hp
In all the Unimog range offers 1 options, with outputs ranging from rally aspirated five-potter's 88hp (f the 237hp (177kW) developed by th cooled six-cylinder unit.
Serious all-terrainers rely on an transmission. In the case of the 1.1