Mahindra Scorpio SUV From India
Kishan Lohiya from India sent me some interesting pictures from his buildup of an Indian SUV named Mahindra Scorpia.

Icelandic Champ. & World Cup Hella 2006
The second day of the Formula Off Road World Cup is also the third Icelandic Championship. A few more competitors have registered for the day in addition to most of guys from yesterday. There will be 8 tracks to compete in today. If the weather was bad yesterday it is twice as bad today.

Formula Off Road - Hella World Cup 2006
Formula Off Road World Cup starts of close to the small town of Hella in the south part of Iceland. This is the first of two competitions in two days of the World Cup. The second day will also serve as the Icelandic Championship.

ARTICLE

Selecting Your 4x4

Your selection should of course be based on your real needs but also and no less on your dreams. How many passengers will be with you? Where will you travel? Will your family fit into it?

Unfortunately talking with many 4 wheelers is not helpful. They tend to fall in love with a certain brand and tell you everything else is crap. Remember to take all advice with a grain of salt – try to read between the lines. All brands have their weak spots and all have some good things.

Here are a few features to look for in your selection process:

o Engine - The best engine for a 4x4 has lots of torque and is strong and durable. Simple design would also mean that it is easy to fix and is therefore and advantage.

o 4x4 - Not every trip requires a real 4x4. If you can do with a 4x4 car consider that an option. Else you should select a 4x4 with high and low gears. That makes future modifications easier.

o Driveline - Newer 4x4s are unfortunately often equipped with weak drivelines. They may work ok for easy trips but will break under heavy use. Changing these parts can be done, but is least expensive to get in the final 4x4. Take a moment to inspect the underside of the vehicle – a weak driveline should be quite obvious.

o Modifiability – If you have ANY dreams of future modifications remember that simple to modify is more economical in the long run. In extreme modification projects this will however matter less.

o Built on a chassis – All trucks and many SUVs are built on a chassis. Unibody designed vehicles like the Grand Cherokee limits your choice in modifications.

o Weight – It is easier to get a light 4x4 unstuck than a heavy rig. Lighter weight also means less fuel consumption and smaller tires will do the job. Too light may get you into trouble in river crossing.

o Doors – Two doors are enough if you travel alone or with one co-driver. Else I would recommend you go with four or more doors to ensure safe access for all passengers.

o Price – Consider both the initial investment as well as the cost of running the 4x4. Cost of running is both the fuel it will use as well as the cost of spare parts, repairs and taxes.