If a 62 horsepower, toy-sized off-roader that offers 900 colors and a bunch of accessories wasn't enough for you, Mahindra has taken care of it with the Roxor Roxbox Concept. While the Roxor is a little off-roader for recreational fun, the Roxbox is for people who need a tiny work truck. Mahindra has offered a host of accessories on the Roxbox that make it a capable work truck. That doesn't mean it's not an off-roader anymore; it is even better because you can get the work done on weekdays and have fun on weekends. The biggest advantage the Roxbox holds over the other utes from Yamaha, John Deere, Polaris, etc is its versatility. Although we ruled the Roxor being a threat to the Jeep Gladiator, the Roxbox sure looks like it could be.
2019 Mahindra Roxor RoxBox Concept
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- Model: 2019 Mahindra Roxor RoxBox Concept
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Exterior
The highlight of the Mahindra Roxor Roxbox Concept is that the automaker has used bedliner-type material all over the body which it calls the Rox liner. Upfront, it carries a classic, old-school face that's reminiscent to Jeep's design philosophy. That's because Mahindra was awarded a contract to build Willys military Jeeps back in the 1940s. So, as an ode to that, Mahindra has been carrying this face for decades now on its Indian truck called the 'Thar'. The bumper protrudes out to house a winch kit with ease and to accommodate the wheels that jutter out a lot in the front.
The side profile looks kind of disproportionate, but we are not complaining. This niche truck has all the elements to be qualify as a funky vehicle and we are more than happy. The straight-up windshield is connected to a hard top steel roof and houses an LED light bar that is available as an option on the standard Roxor. This LED bar offers a 360-degree light array that throws light in all the directions. Looks like an enlightened vehicle from the far! Half side doors are present on the Roxbox and the rear view mirrors are placed quite high up.
The rear is where it differentiates from the Roxor. Kudos to the automaker for its attention-to-detail as each one of the cages can fold flat to increase the amount of workspace you have. Under the flat work deck, a large drawer has been installed for keeping tools secure when not in use. I'm very much impressed with this concept from Mahindra!
Interior
'The most basic cabin ever!' That is how you can describe the Roxbox's cabin. The instrument cluster is basically a meter in the middle of... oh wait, there's no dashboard either! In between the seats, Mahindra has provided a cupholder on either side of the handbrake. The red fabric on the seats break the black monotony and will not look very dirty either in the long run. There is a C-shaped section above the doors to keep the occupants in place, perhaps. The doors have small storage bags on the inside that will be helpful in carrying the small stuff.
Drivetrain
The powertrain Mahindra uses is not awe-inspiring really, but it sure is fun as long as you keep it off-track. Since it's based on the Roxor, the Roxbox also has a fully-boxed, ladder-construction, steel truck-style architecture that can take whatever is thrown at it. It is all the more challenging in the Roxbox since it will be used as a work truck as well apart from the off-roader.The mill produces 62 ponies and 144 pound-feet of torque, and power is then sent to the wheels via a low-range transfer case. Like I mentioned earlier, these specs are not impressive on paper, but do remember this is not a city commuter at all.
The steering wheel is good for driving on trails and grades, but not for tarmac. The fact that it can go only up to 45 miles per hour adds to the misery. But for some reason, Mahindra has mentioned the top speed as 55 miles per hour on its website. Mahindra did not increase the towing and payload capacities on the Roxbox. It is same as the Roxor which can tow up to 3,490 pounds and comes with a payload capacity of 349 pounds.
Mahindra Roxor RoxBox Concept drivetrain specifications
Engine |
2.5-liter, four-cylinder |
---|---|
Horsepower |
62 horsepower |
Torque |
144 pound-feet |
Top Speed |
55 mph |
Towing capacity |
3,490 lbs |
Payload capacity |
349 lbs |
Final Thoughts
The Roxor is a mere off-roader and can't be used for literally anything else. So, the Roxbox makes more sense that way. Mahindra plans to launch the production version as close to the concept. However, Mahindra has not mentioned anything about the accessories. I assume the accessories available on the standard Roxor will be available on this one as well. Mahindra did not announce the pricing for the Roxbox, but we speculate the production version to be priced around $17,000; marginally higher than the Roxor. Interestingly, Mahindra plans to roll out an electric Roxor in the future as well. However, don't expect it to let out the grunts, roars, and, oohs and aahs, of the present diesel mill.
If you had the moolah, which one would you pick - Roxor, or the Roxbox? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
Further reading
Read our full review on the 2019 Mahindra Roxor.