Ashok Leyland Boss ICV BS6: Detail Explained 

A significant product in the intermediate commercial vehicle category, the Boss is now done a new powertrain, promising performance and profit to the customers. Does this truck have what it takes to be the Boss of ICV category in India? We try to find out.   

Ashok Leyland brings in its modern intermediate commercial vehicle (ICV) the Boss in the BS6 powertrain. The Boss along with the well-established Ecomet range of ICVs are the most vital products in the fast-growing ICV segment. 

The ICV segment in India has been growing rapidly over the last few years due to the increasing consumption demand across India. The ICVs find applications in some of the most critical cargo distribution needs such as parcel and logistics, e-commerce, fruits and vegetables, poultry, white goods, FMCG, auto parts, industrial goods, beverages, etc.  

Thanks to the expanding economy, rising purchasing power, prosperity and booming e-commerce sector, the ICV category is expected to clock double-digit CAGR over the medium to long-term. Hence, every major truck maker is eyeing this category, underscoring intense competition for market share. Tata Motors, VE Commercial Vehicles, BharatBenz, Mahindra & Mahindra and SML Isuzu have been aggressively focussed on this category.

Ashok Leyland recognized the potential of this segment and the opportunity to expand its presence. After thorough market research, the company embarked on product expansion strategy beyond the Ecomet.  

Subsequently, the firm introduced the modern, stylish and contemporary Boss and later Guru- two new ICV platforms to take on the competition. Both these products within a short period have become firmly established in the heart and minds of the customers. Today, Ashok Leyland caters to the ICV category with 3 products-The Boss at the premium end of the market. At the same time, the Ecomet and Guru serve the more affordable segments of the market, all of them offering a combination of tonnage and application choices to the customers.  

BS6 Boss

The Boss is a premium ICV truck offering value to the customers who are willing to pay more for more contemporary trucks. The BS6 Boss comes in five tonnage points between 11T-14T GVW with top-notch features along with an impressive set of aggregates for higher performance and reliability. 

The BS6 Boss range made available by Ashok Leyland has 5 variants for the haulage distribution and tipper application in 11-14T GVW. However, in the BS4 era, the Boss was offered from 9T to 19T GVW; thus, it is likely that, the company would further expand this ICV platform would further, either upper or lower end tonnage. 

The key difference in the BS6 Boss against the BS4 predecessor is the engine options. The BS4 range had two engine options the 130 and 160 HP. But the BS6 Boss is available in the 150HP engine configuration. The engine produces a maximum power of 150 HP at 2400 rpm and maximum torque of 450 Nm at 1250-2000 rpm.

Yet, the Boss continues to promise the key characteristic of high-quality aggregates, and the blend of comfort, safety and performance along with a modern look. 

Key Features 

The BS6 Boss is fitted with a host of notable features to make it a more functional, practical and higher performance truck. The most vital part of the truck is the high-quality aggregates including the 150HP, H series BS6 engine which comes in 4-cylinder with iGen6 Technology, 6-speed gearbox, strong front and rear axles, quality suspensions and high strength chassis frame. 

The modern and safer cabin is another highlight of the Boss, which comes with a sleeper day cabin equipped driver-friendly features aimed at making the truck effortless to drive.  The spacious cabin gets ample ventilation, comfortable pedestrian view, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, projected metallic bumper and clear headlamps. 

The new Boss also has the Advanced Digital Driver Assist (ADDA), primarily aimed at fatigue-free driving with a focus on safety. The Gear Shift Advisory System (GSAS) helps the driver in selecting most suitable gear combination in any given driving condition and the terrain the vehicle is running. 

Similarly, the instrument cluster shows prompt fuel economy the distance to empty which help driver plan the trip well in advance. Another feature which is become a standard in a passenger car is the Reverse Park Alert Systems (RPAS) assists is offered in this truck to help the driver in reverse driving, parking and alerts the driver with a large beep. The auto exhaust brake improves service brakes’ life and reliability by activating automatic exhaust braking during downhill operation.

Also, Ashok Leyland’s proprietary iEGR technology helps the overall performance of this ICV. The firm has done extensive R&D, testing of this technology on Indian road conditions and duty-cycles for optimal engine performance and durability. 

The company says this technology is design to consume lower AdBlue, this combined with efficient design, the iGen-6 offers the lowest operating cost, an important characteristic to make purchasing decisions. This is achieved without compromising on the higher payload capabilities, on top of it, the maintenance cost of Boss is significantly lower. The distinct mid-NOx strategy of the company ensures an overall lower cost of ownership as compared to the competition.

Models:

• The key models of Boss revealed by Ashok Leyland include the 1115 Tipper, 1115 HB, 1215HB, 1315HB and 1415 HB. All of them get the BS6 H series 4-cylinder engine.
• The 1115 HB, 11T GVW Boss suitable for haulage and distribution applications comes with a wheelbase of 3440 3940 4540 4940 and loading spans of 14,17, 20 and 22 meters.
• The 1115 HB Tipper is the sibling of the haulage and distribution truck in the tipper applications in the 11T GVW category. It has a wheelbase of 2990 and 5CMB of the loading span.
• The 1215 HB is a 12T GVW truck with a wheelbase of 3900, 4400 and 4900 with 17,20 and 22 loading spans.
• The 1315 HB is a 13T GVW truck with a wheelbase of 3400, 3900, 4500 and 5200 with 14, 17,20, 22 and 24 loading spans.
• The 1415 HB is a 14T GVW truck with similar wheelbase and loading spans that of 1315 HB.  

The Boss range of BS6 trucks will be available for customers to experience at Ashok Leyland’s retail touchpoints across India once the lockdown is lifted. Customers can visit the nearest dealership to check out the new offering by the company.

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