Ashok Leyland FAT 6×6 Test Drive Review – BEAST

Ashok Leyland FAT 6×6 Review

Truck Tested: Ashok Leyland FAT 6×6 ; Road Test No. 1029; Test Location: Chennai

Price: Rs. 1 Crore (est.)

The FAT 6×6 is designed to conquer the roughest and toughest of terrains

We at MotorBeam have got something very special for today’s test drive. It’s not a car and not a bike too. This is something that keeps us safe and is the backbone of the Indian Army’s logistical supply. Say hello to the Ashok Leyland FAT 6×6. FAT stands for Field Artillery Tractor whereas 6×6 means that the power is channeled to all the six wheels.

Motor Quest: Ashok Leyland is the only conglomerate selling a 6×6 to the Indian Army with a Made-in-India engine. Designed on the company’s Super Stallion platform, the FAT 6×6 replaces the fleet of Scania SBAT111S used by the Army.

Exteriors – First, let’s get the numbers out of the way. The vehicle measures 8630 mm in length, 2500 mm in width and 3250 mm in height. That’s the size of an average adult African Elephant (in terms of the height and width though)! That’s super intimidating, isn’t it? At the front, the FAT 6×6 gets halogen headlights with protectors. The bumper houses a self-recovery winch with a pulling capacity of 10 tonnes. The huge windscreens get single wipers each and above it sits a beacon.

The FAT 6×6 looks so intimidating, it is just something else

The side profile is dominated by the massive Michelin tyres and these are self-inflating which means if you press a button, the tyres can be deflated in no time whereas inflating the tyre takes approximately 30 minutes. Also present is a 350-litres diesel tank with a pressure monitor (which is an essential, considering the kind of terrains the vehicle operates in). The rear gets a brownish green soft top which increases the ruggedness appeal of the FAT 6×6 and the tractor wears a camouflage kind of paint scheme which looks really cool.

Interiors – In terms of the cabin, at the front, there is space for four occupants including the driver and in the crew cab, there is space for six people to sit or four people to sleep. Storage spaces are plenty and in fact, at the rear, there is a crane as well as a spare wheel and still plenty of space to keep stuff. The crane has a towing capacity of 2.7 tonnes! Getting inside the cabin is a task in itself but there are lot of handles to hold onto. Once you do get inside, you get a commanding view of the road and are greeted by a massive steering wheel, comfortable seats (the driver and the passenger seats are adjustable in every possible way!) and an eight gauge instrument cluster which shows umpteen information.

The FAT 6×6 gets a host of state-of-the-art safety technologies

The centre console gets a ton of buttons and tell-tale lights for various functions and everything here is long-lasting and has a robust feel to it. In terms of features, you get a fire and smoke detection system, heck this truck also has an infrared rear view camera. Apart from all this, there are AC vents and the FAT 6×6 also gets a telephone inside the cabin.

Performance – This behemoth draws its motivation from a 8.0-litre inline-6 cylinder diesel engine which produces 360 HP of power and 1400 Nm of torque. The drive is more engaging thanks to all that torque bring available from as low 1300 RPM. The oil-burner redlines at around 2500 RPM and the top speed is rated at 80 km/hr. The powertrain has a very narrow power band and has a good amount of low-end grunt. An 8-speed manual gearbox with a 2-speed AWD system takes care of the transmission duties. The gearbox needs a lot of working through and this isn’t a slick unit by any means.

Driving Dynamics – The Ashok Leyland gets a Parabolic suspension at the front and a Bogie unit at the rear. The three independent axles which get differential locks for each one just goes about telling what kind of a capability the FAT 6×6 has. The ride quality is nice and smooth. However, the handling isn’t all that great as you will probably need Sunny Deol paaji ke dhai kilo ka haath to maneuvre the hydraulic (power-assisted) steering. It also needs too many locks to give you a turn. Braking is great and the FAT 6×6 gets pneumatic brakes.

Safety and After Sales Service – Apart from the few safety features mentioned above, the Ashok Leyland FAT 6×6 also gets a bead lock in the tyres to avoid them from slipping off in case of a puncture, tyre pressure monitoring system and an optional emergency steering system. The vehicle is available only for the defence and you or I as a civilian cannot get our hands on it but lucky us, we at least got to drive it!

Verdict – The Ashok Leyland FAT 6×6 is a phenomenal truck. At a cost of Rs. 1 crores (estimated), its got hell lot of features, is well put together and lastly its capabilities would probably sore to the galaxy. It makes us proud for the fact that this is Made-in-India and is available exclusively for our Army troops. The FAT 6×6 offers tremendous value for money and we have become fans of it. Jai Hind!

What’s Cool

* The FAT 6×6 is built to operate in temperatures ranging from -40 degrees to +55 degrees
* The FAT 6×6 can carry a lot of cargo
* The rear also has a crane with a towing capacity of 2.7 tons!
* It has mind-boggling capabilities and features

What’s Not So Cool

* The FAT 6×6 is not easy to drive
* It returns a mileage of 2 km/l
* You cannot buy one

Alternatives: – None

Ashok Leyland FAT 6×6 Specifications

* Engine: 8.0-litre, Inline-6, BS3 Diesel
* Power: 360 HP @ 2200 RPM
* Torque: 1400 Nm @ 1300-1500 RPM
* Transmission: 8-speed MT with 2-speed AWD
* Top Speed : 80 km/hr
* Fuel Consumption: 2 km/l
* Tyre Size: 14.00 R20 (Front & Rear)
* Suspension: Parabolic (Front), Bogie (Rear)
* Brakes: Fully Air Operated, Dual Line System (Front & Rear)
* Safety: Fire & Smoke detector, infrared rear-view camera and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System

Ashok Leyland FAT 6×6 Dimensions

* Overall length x width x height: 8630 mm X 2500 mm X 3250 mm
* Ground clearance: 400 mm
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 350-litres
* Kerb Weight: 13,752 kgs

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