What Drives The Indian Army? Maruti Suzuki Gypsy, Tata Safari And More

The Indian Army has used several interesting cars over the last few decades, notably SUVs and rugged vehicles that can perform well across diverse terrains and landscapes. Here's taking a look at some of the cars used by our men in uniform.

1. Tata Safari- The Tata Safari has always been an intimidating and large SUV with great road presence and power. It has recently become a preferred pick for the Indian Army as well. A special Army edition has been manufactured for the men in uniform, containing several distinct attributes and features. The Safari gets the iconic matte green Army hue, a jerry can holder, and bonnet antenna, spotlight, and pintle rear hook and 4X4 capabilities with low and high ratios. The SUV gets a four cylinder 2.2 litre turbocharged mill dishing out 154 BHP and 400 Nm of maximum torque.
2. Maruti Suzuki Gypsy- The Maruti Suzuki Gypsy is naturally synonymous with the Indian Army over the years. It looks lean and mean, while offering all-terrain ability with its resilient single cylinder 1.3 litre petrol mill that dishes out 103 Nm and 80 BHP.
3. Tata Sumo 4X4- Surprised right? The Tata Sumo is majorly used for ambulance or personal transportation requirements by the men in uniform. This is because the Sumo offers seating capacity for up to 7-9 people on longer travel routes. It gets the CR4 3.0 litre engine that makes 250 Nm and 83.1 hp.
4. Hindustan Ambassador- Another surprise on the list, the Hindustan Ambassador is still used by the Indian Army. It is used in both its diesel and petrol avatars, with the biggest diesel engine being the 2.0 litre mill that makes 52 PS and 106 Nm of maximum torque. It is not surprising that this icon is a favourite of the Army.
5. Mahindra Scorpio 4X4- The 4X4 Scorpio is a natural fit for the Indian Army with its rugged looks, all-terrain abilities, and its powerful four cylinder mHawk 2179 cc diesel mill that makes 120 BHP and 280 Nm.
6. Toyota Fortuner 4X4- The premium Toyota Fortuner 4x4 SUV is used by the Indian Army, for its rugged design and features. The customized version for ITBP and other units in the country gets radio communications abilities and storage capabilities for heavy equipment and weaponry. Only patrolling troops make use of the butch SUV as per reports.

Mitsubishi Pajero- ITBP members also make use of the rough and tough Pajero SUV in the Northeast. There are many examples spotted at the border with China and officers usually drive this on patrolling duty.