Madurai, September 12, 2013: Ashok Leyland has launched the Boss which is targeted at the haulage industry. To be made at the company’s Pantnagar plant, this intermediate commercial vehicle (ICV) will available in LE and LX variants and three tonnage categories: 9.6T, 11.9Tand 12.9T GVW.

“Manufactured on a modern and efficient chassis line and a state-of-the-art cab line using robotic processes and with unmatched comfort-features, we have made every investment to ensure that the Boss delivers on quality, durability and reliability,” said managing director Vinod K Dasari.

He added that the Boss has been specifically engineered to meet buyer expectations in the areas of performance, comfort and reliability. According to Ashok Leyland, with its European-design cab and indigenous driveline, the vehicle offers world-class quality at an Indian cost. The cab is a modified version of the AVIA cab, the company that Ashok Leyland acquired some years ago.

The Boss has several industry-firsts: a best-in-class service interval of 40,000km, a hydraulic power steering system, a best-in-class turning radius of 15.3 metres, a 3-year anti-perforation warranty for the cabin and a 5-year replacement guarantee on the rear LED lights. Ashok Leyland has tested the Boss over close to 10 lakh kilometres on road trials and 24 lakh kilometres of endurance testing.

In the cabin, the Boss gets an ergonomically-designed dashboard with controls and multi-angle adjustable seats. The steering column comes with tilt-able and telescopic movements and a 2-point suspended cabin. The hydraulic cab-tilt mechanism helps easily tilt the cab and allows easy access for easier maintenance.

The LE is fitted with a 120 HP H-series BS3 engine with an in-line fuel injection pump – an industry first – and a 6-speed overdrive gearbox that delivers superior mileage. The LX has another industry-first – an Automated Manual Transmission - that eliminates the need for clutch operation and gear-shifting. To strengthen accident support, ALL has also set up new cab repair facilities at select authorised dealer and service outlets. It will offer a three-year full vehicle warranty and an additional two-year warranty for driveline on the Boss. Last month, Ashok Leyland launched the Neptune engine designed and developed in-house. It will be available in BS III and IVversions and is also upgradable for BS V and VI.

Photograph: Vinod K Dasari, managing director, Ashok Leyland, and R Dinesh, joint managing director, TVS & Sons, at the launch of the Boss.