 | Home > Off Topic > CROSSWAYS Spotted 600 BHP! |
 
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| shaggydog Member Since: 12 Aug 2012 Location: Kent Posts: 3347   
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I think you guys are getting too held up on cosmetics.
These vehicles have a heavier duty chassis, built very similarly to defenders, proper chassis, proper axles,proper engines, which means...........Body swap 
But agree to disagree  Running Restoration Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/post323197.html#323197
Self confessed mileage hunter |
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30th Mar 2015 7:32pm |
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| taazzukcb Member Since: 30 Aug 2013 Location: Derbyshire Posts: 663 
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I prefer the new generation IBEX's.
I've actually grown quite fond of the DC version. I'd have one! |
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30th Mar 2015 8:52pm |
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| jezhermer Member Since: 30 Mar 2015 Location: Dorset Posts: 49
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Hello Folks......
I'm Jez Hermer - The owner of OVIK and the chief designer of CROSSWAY. I was alerted to this forum and this thread by one of my employees today. Fascinating reading! I LOVE the comments here! Even the negative stuff... everyone has an opinion that's for sure and it's really good to see all the comments. I love the enthusiasm on this forum.. almost makes me want to own a DEFENDER!! (actually after 23 years in the Royal Marines - I've had enough DEFENDER to last me a life time) It's the first time we've had this kind of exposure as far as I know - and it's hard for me to resist chipping in... I probably shouldn't - but hey ho.. I'm only human. There are more of our vehicles on the roads now - which is why we seem to be getting a bit more interest I guess. We've been in development of CROSSWAY for three years and have kept a deliberately low profile. we're a small company and there was too much at stake to stick our heads above the parapet too early and get shot down in flames. But recently we've completed five months of trials and testing at Millbrook Proving Ground (at over 5 tonnes)n which we passed well and as a result, we're now taking good orders from very specialist customers like the UK Civil Nuclear Constabulary.... and others. The fact is.. we don't really belong on here.. as CROSSWAY isn't a DEFENDER based vehicle and it's not trying to 'replace' the DEFENDER... nothing could really do that! We developed CROSSWAY because we needed a vehicle that had a minimum 5.5 tonne GVW with at least 1.5 tonnes free payload when armoured to B7 level... After building 168 PANGOLIN armoured vehicles on DEFENDER chassis - we know that DEFENDER simply isn't up to the job of supporting that level of armour and with PANGOLIN topping out at over 4 tonnes the chassis and drive train are on their limits. We built PANGOLIN on a DEFENDER chassis because that is what our customer, The Police Service of Northern Ireland wanted... We learnt a lot from that exercise and realised that if we wanted to add more armour and more capability we'd need our own chassis and drive line - including axles, suspension and, vitally BRAKES! You definitely need good brakes on a 5.5 tonne vehicle. So we set out to design and build a chassis that could cope with 6.5 tonnes GVW max.. that is also modular, flexible and available in not only 4x4 and 6x6 and differing lengths - but also differing widths.... in the process we also ended up designing and building our own axles (capable to 5 tonnes each!).. Our axles are flanged at the diff casing and we offer differing lengths of axle tube and half shafts to push the track out beyond 2M if required. We can also place our diff in different locations on the beam - left / right or central - depending upon what engine and transmission combination we're utilising. One of the things you can't really grasp here is the scale of the vehicle. I attach a photo of what we call the 'baby' CROSSWAY - the low top Station Wagon (armoured) variant next to a fully grown Range Rover (not a Sport).. You'll see it dwarfs the Range Rover. The vehicles we are building now are larger still - some 350mm (14") wider than a DEFENDER. It's a big vehicle - because our customers need to put a lot of 'stuff'inside them. In fact the internal width dimensions in the rear cab are identical to a new FORD TRANSIT van.... deliberately. As we developed the chassis - we call it the STRIVE - we started getting a lot of requests for provision of chassis alone - for other vehicle integrators to complete - and so we are now providing chassis to overseas companies in various stages of build.. We even have some being fitted with electric motors and heading underground in the mining arena. CROSSWAY isn't just armoured of course- it can be anything the customer wants - and in 6x6 format it will top out at a comfortable 6.5 tonnes.. As for the styling - well - that's always a subjective thing..bearing in mind that our customers to date are specialist police units - who want a vehicle with real street presence - but not too aggressive. Thus we couldn't really make CROSSWAY look like a military vehicle - a FOXHOUND for example! The thing about styling is that you simply cannot please all tastes.... Even Aston Martin, JLR and Maserati know that.. Not that I place ourselves in the company of such hallowed marques. Lastly - we do EVERYTHING in house! We're only 30 strong as a team - we do all of our design, fabrication, engineering in house - we build our axles and make our body work... It's a truly British vehicle. What we need is orders.. the more jobs for our Dorset craftsmen... That's the way I hope. Thanks for your interest... I shall watch and listen intently. And always happy to answer questions. All the best folks JH  |
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30th Mar 2015 9:01pm |
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| jomara Member Since: 26 Oct 2009 Location: Lanarkshire Posts: 1790  
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Great to see a British engineering & manufacturing alive and well, hats off to you Jez
2014 110 2.2TDCi XS Station wagon
1971 Bowler Tomcat 88 4.2 V8 Auto 2022 110 D250 XS Edition - Gone 2024 110 D250 X-Dynamic HSE |
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30th Mar 2015 9:08pm |
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| jezhermer Member Since: 30 Mar 2015 Location: Dorset Posts: 49
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As soon as we can find a good agent... and customers!!! |
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30th Mar 2015 9:20pm |
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| jezhermer Member Since: 30 Mar 2015 Location: Dorset Posts: 49
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Point noted!!! I will say that the BARGE bumper doesn't do much for the looks... but it is designed to push a 3.5 tonne truck out of the way - sideways!! Other bumper profiles are also available - as is a 'dozer blade! Click image to enlarge |
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30th Mar 2015 9:25pm |
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| Green Machine Member Since: 19 Nov 2010 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 1226 
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Jez - firstly, apologies for my derogatory comments above, clearly the vehicle is not designed as a fashion statement! Plus, we are a bunch of Defender owners, what do we know about current trends?! (We do of course know a lot about timeless style, but that's a different matter
 ). I'm absolutely delighted that you have responded to this thread and take my hat off to you for taking the time to do so. Really enjoyed reading through the background of where the design came from. I have only seen the vehicle for the first time today as a result of this thread and had no idea that it was a British-designed and built product (the name doesn't really evoke that). Out of interest, where did the OVIK name come from?
Out of interest what are the different engine options that you offer? Best regards and thanks again for posting! Tris. 2005 Td5 | 90 Station Wagon | Tonga Green |
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30th Mar 2015 9:29pm |
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| jezhermer Member Since: 30 Mar 2015 Location: Dorset Posts: 49
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Hi Tris,
no worries mate! I'm pretty thick skinned.. Like my vehicles. And anyway.. it is all fascinating. This is the first time I've had a chance to engage with folk who are genuinely interested in this type of vehicle. Other than customers of course... but they take a very utilitarian view on matters of style! Interestingly the name OVIK is borne of my history in the Royal Marines when - for seven years I led the project to develop the BvS10 VIKING vehicle. That (superb) vehicle.. fully armoured - truly ALL terrain and fully amphibious - is built in Sweden in a Town called Orskoldsvik.. which is shortened by the locals to ... you guessed it.. OVIK... I spent nearly 7 years to and fro getting VIKING right.. and made many friends in the process. Thus when I formed the company six years ago - on leaving the Royal Marines.. I thought the name sounded quite nice - and it's stuck. The vehicle is called CROSSWAY - because the Dorset village where we're based is called Crossways.. again - it seemed appropriate for an all terrain vehicle. Thanks for your positive comments and kind words... and your candor! This is me (slimmer) ... in Afghanistan - once we had cracked VIKING and got it really right and where it proved to be a significant asset Click image to enlarge |
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30th Mar 2015 9:40pm |
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| Projectblue Member Since: 22 Nov 2011 Location: Devon Posts: 1096 
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Damn Jez, I was just going to do your pitch for you and look, you're already here slumming it with the Defender owners
Welcome to the Defender 2 forum New project and it's green: www.projectoverland.info |
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30th Mar 2015 9:53pm |
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| jezhermer Member Since: 30 Mar 2015 Location: Dorset Posts: 49
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Tris - sorry. Engine options. At the moment we offer the 3.2 Puma with 6 speed auto (and tiptronic) - we also offer it with a 6 speed auto with no Tiptronic but with a PTO (at last!)... This is our standard offering - 200 BHP standard - 470 Nm. we can tune this to around 265 BHP - 540 Nm. We can supply with a 6 speed manual as well. Drive is standard 4x2 with 4x4 selection and centre / front and rear diff lock options. and Hi / lo ratio. All selection of ratios and drive configurations is electronic. We also offer - as standard - 5.0 litre V8 petrol Ford Coyote - 540 BHP standard and up to 650 BHP super charged. transmission options the same as above. For overseas customers we offer the equivalent of a Euro 2 spec 300 Tdi... Albeit a Brazilain made version - but good to about 160 BHP with some cleverness. But that's no good above 3.5 tonnes GVW to be honest. We are now working on a 4.5 litre Cummins engine with Alison 6 speed transmission - 235 BHP - BUT... 750 NM!!! That's it for now.. but - if and when JCB come up with a higher revving engine... I shall make a bee line to put JCB power in the CROSSWAY - British vehicle - British engine... seems right. |
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30th Mar 2015 9:55pm |
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| Cupboard Member Since: 21 Mar 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 2971 
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Are you saying that the armoured one weighs 4t and then has a 1.5t payload? I guess even a light duty one is going to struggle to be anything close to Defender weight - and I'm not saying it should be for your market but I must admit to being a little disappointed 
It sounds a bit like a Pinzgauer sized vehicle, though maybe a bit heavier and more solid. And then you've got the option of portals 
I'd still like one though! |
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30th Mar 2015 10:05pm |
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| jezhermer Member Since: 30 Mar 2015 Location: Dorset Posts: 49
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Ah Cupboard..
That's kinda the clever bit... Obviously the engine, transmission and drive line is heavier... but the chassis - yes... it's 45 KG heavier than DEFENDER chassis - but 3 tonnes more capable. Clever use of geometry.... and materials. So.. a lightweight, non armoured 3,2 version like the one below - will pop out at just under 2.0 tonnes. We are also designing a 'mule' version for an EU Government contract. ultra short wheelbase (about 180) - ad narrow - to get into a certain aircraft type. Kerb weight will be in the region of 1.35 tonnes - with a 3 tone payload if you can fit that much gear physically onto it. Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge |
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30th Mar 2015 10:18pm |
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| kbf1981 Member Since: 22 Feb 2015 Location: Manchester Posts: 183
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Very cool vehicles, well done! Do you ever have any intention of selling them to the public, if so, how much would they retail for with the 3.2 Puma, 4x4 and the auto box?
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30th Mar 2015 10:58pm |
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| jezhermer Member Since: 30 Mar 2015 Location: Dorset Posts: 49
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KBF1981..
good question... of course we'll never turn down a sales opportunity but.. the reality is that CROSSWAY doesn't become good value for money until there's a requirement to go significantly beyond 3.5 tonnes GVW. We designed the vehicle to fill the gap between the 3.5 tonne vehicles .. Land Rover, G-Wagon, Land Cruiser etc - and the 7.5 tonne trucks. We're a low volume manufacturer which means we cannot compete with - for example - LR Defender... when it comes to price. Thus -for folk just looking for an alternative to LR we cannot offer VFM... but.. if you need to go to 5.5 tonnes.. well, then we're exceptionally good VFM because we have no real competitors. What I would say is that we might be able to compete with the G wagon in the sub 3.5 tonne arena - which retails at around £70K basic... and for sure our 6x6 - which is arguably more capable than the G Wagon 6x6 - will come out about 1/2 the price - with the G Wagon 6x6 coming in at well over £300K |
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30th Mar 2015 11:10pm |
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