BharatBenz 1215R

The BharatBenz 1215R is an 11.99-tonne gross vehicle weight (GVW) truck which falls under the light commercial vehicle (LCV) category. It is designed to transport poultry goods, agricultural goods, fruits, vegetables, and market loads. The vehicle is offered in three wheelbase options – 4250 mm, 4800 mm, and 5050 mm – to maintain stability during the haulage operations. 

Further, the light-duty truck is outfitted with 8.25-inch wide tyres on 20-inch dia wheels and has a 245 mm ground clearance for smooth cargo transportation even in poor road conditions. It caters to diverse business applications including parcel, courier, and e-commerce. The vehicle follows a 4x2 drive configuration with one rear axle that is driven by the engine. 

Thanks to its Dana S 145 rear axle and IF 4.5 front axle, the truck can bear the weight of the loaded cargo body without any stress. It is also built on a 6 mm thick chassis frame measuring 228 mm in length and 80 mm in width to support the weight of cargo loads. Further, it comes at an ex-showroom price ranging from Rs 24.07 lakh to Rs 25.25 lakh.

BharatBenz 1215R Performance

The BharatBenz 1215R is equipped with a 4D34i 4-cylinder BS6-compliant diesel engine that delivers 148 hp at 2500 rpm and 460 Nm at around 1200-1600 rpm. Its 3900cc engine is paired with the 6-speed G85 synchromesh gearbox and 362 mm dia single dry plate clutch for smooth gear shifting. 

With the high-performance powertrain, the 1215R can clock a maximum geared speed of up to  70 kmph, contributing to a fast turnaround time. Its running speed is regulated by a dual-line pneumatic brake that employs compressed air in conjunction with a spring-actuated hand control valve parking brake. 

Incorporated with optional anti-roll bars, the light commercial vehicle offers sufficient stability while sharp cornering in load conditions. It also has a multi-leaf spring suspension in both front and rear for evenly distributing the vehicle’s weight between the axles. The vehicle holds a 215-litre fuel tank capacity to manage long-haul transportation without a frequent visit to fuel stations for refuelling.  

BharatBenz 1215R Specifications

The 1215R truck model comes equipped with three different load body options spanning – 20 feet, 22 feet, and 24 feet – for carrying voluminous cargo materials. Its overall body width and height remain the same for all of its load body variants measuring 2135 mm and 2500 mm, respectively. 

Moreover, the 1215R model can serve as a reefer with a refrigerated trailer to distribute perishables goods and a tanker to transport liquid and gaseous materials. It specifies a 15.7 m turning circle diameter (TCD) for the 20-foot variant, a 17.6 m TCD for the 22-foot variant, and a 19.7 m TCD for the 24-foot variant for handling city traffic. 

The BharatBenz 1215R truck measures a 1275 mm front overhang (the distance between the front bumper and front axle). Similarly, it measures 2505 mm rear overhang (the distance between the centre of the rearmost wheels and the vehicle’s rearmost point) for 20-foot and 22-foot variants, and 2970 mm rear overhang for the 24-foot variant. 

BharatBenz 1215R Features

The BharatBenz 1215R truck is clubbed with a day cabin which is aerodynamically designed to offer low air drag for fuel efficiency. It has a broad windshield that is covered in several layers of material that absorb infrared light to reduce heat penetration inside the cabin. With features like power windows, a music system, and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), the vehicle provides a comfortable driving experience.

With hydraulic-assisted tilt and telescopic steering, the 1215R vehicle enables the operator to adjust the steering wheel to suit the driving posture. The 6-tyre diesel truck comes with a fuel theft protection mesh grill mounted at the mouth of the fuel tank to prevent any fuel theft. 

BharatBenz 1215R Rivals

The BharatBenz 1215R truck speeds up logistical operations and increases fleet productivity by using Truckonnect telematics which provides real-time fleet monitoring. The competitors of this 11.99-tonne GVW truck are the Ashok Leyland Ecomet 1215 HE, Ashok Leyland BOSS 1215 HB, Eicher Pro 2110 7S, and Mahindra Furio 12. 

Overview

The BharatBenz 1215R is a light-duty vehicle which has a 4x2 driving configuration. It is perfect for delivering cement bags, automobile parts, white goods (large electronic items like refrigerators), poultry goods, and market loads. This model can also be utilised as a tanker for transporting chemicals and gaseous materials, as well as a refrigerated trailer for delivering perishable items. 

The light commercial vehicle comes with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 11,990 kg. It is outfitted with 8.25-inch wide radial tyres on 20-inch diameter wheels to improve road traction. A fuel theft protection mesh grill is mounted on the fuel tank to prevent any fuel theft between trips. 

Using the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology, the 1215R truck has a 43-litre AdBlue tank to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions and provide an eco-friendly solution. It features an intake throttle valve to regulate the engine's ideal air intake for better thermal and emission control, which enhances fuel efficiency.  

Exterior

The BharatBenz 1215R truck is built on an all-weather resistant chassis measuring 6 mm thick, 228 mm long and 80 mm broad frame to withstand moist and humid environments. It offers three options of wide load body and long loading span – 20 foot, 22 foot, and 24 foot – to transport huge cargo loads.

Further, its body gets a similar overall width of 2135 mm and overall height of 2500 mm while its overall body length changes with different load body variants. Its overall body length is 8030 mm for the 20-foot load body variant, 8580 mm for the 22-foot variant, and 9295 mm for the 24-foot variant. 

Additionally, the 11.99-tonne GVW light-duty vehicle maintains 245 mm ground clearance to facilitate seamless cargo movement even in rugged terrains. It is offered in three wheelbase options – 4250 mm, 4800 mm, and 5050 mm – for vehicular stability. Its high-resistant cabin paint offers reliability to ensure its elegant look for a long period.  

With a front overhang (distance between the front axles and the front point of the vehicle) of 1275 mm, the 1215R truck improves manoeuvrability. The vehicle's rear overhang (space between the centre of its rearmost wheels and the rearmost point of the vehicle) is 2505 mm for both 20-foot and 22-foot load body variants and 2970 mm for the 24-foot variant for providing an optimum cargo body space. 

Interior

The BharatBenz 1215R highlights a day cabin designed with advanced aerodynamics to offer low air drag for efficient operation. For the driver's comfort, the cabin has power windows, a music system, and an instrument cluster. With a flip of the driver-side lock handles, the entire cabin may be locked thanks to its central locking feature. 

Furthermore, the vehicle's hydraulic power-assisted tilt and telescopic steering enable the driver to position the steering wheel to suit the preferred driving position. Its interior is integrated with the Truckonnect telematics portal for tracking the vehicle in real time and monitoring fleet performance.   

Performance

The BharatBenz 1215R is powered by a 3900cc 4D34i 4-cylinder diesel engine, producing 148 hp (110 kW) at 2500 rpm and 460 Nm at around 1200-1600 rpm. Its single dry plate clutch with a diameter of 362 mm helps in transferring torque from the engine to the gearbox.

In addition, a 6-speed G85 synchromesh gearbox is mated to the BS6 engine of this 1215R truck to enhance transmission efficiency. The truck's driveshaft rotates with an option of rear axle ratio (RAR) of 4.56 and 6.3 to turn a complete cycle of axle.

The model with 6.3 RAR has a 37.77 percent gradeability while the vehicle with 4.56 RAR has a 26.07 percent gradeability for effortless hauling even on slopes and inclines. Its front and rear multi-leaf spring suspension system ensures that cargo is transported without any jerks.  

Moreover, the model incorporates a 215-litre diesel fuel tank to enable reliable long-haul operations without requiring frequent visits to the fuel station. This 4x2 drive configuration truck has a decent turning circle diameter (TCD) of 15.7 m for the 4250 mm wheelbase option, 17.6 m TCD for the 4800 mm wheelbase option, and 19.7 m for the 5050 mm wheelbase option to better navigate tight spaces. 

Safety

Among the safety features integrated into the 1215R truck are the daytime running lamps (DRLs) for better visibility during the day, a demister to remove fog from the windscreen, and a seatbelt reminder to remind drivers to buckle up. Anti-roll bars are an optional feature on this model that increases vehicle stability when making fast and abrupt turns. 

To raise the overall safety quotient, it also incorporates a rearview camera. A reverse parking assistant system (RPAS) is incorporated with this vehicle to help park the truck smoothly and sound alerts when it is being retracted. Its dual-line pneumatic brakes control the running speed of this vehicle by applying effective braking force. 

Verdict

The BharatBenz 1215R truck is clubbed with next-generation features like fuel theft protection mesh, advanced fleet telematics, and a wide cargo body which contributes to business profitability. This light-duty truck has the ability to generate revenue and grow the logistical business.