A New Solid Axle Ladder Frame 4x4 with a Locker?

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How about another inexpensive (supposedly below $27,000 for the Taos SUV) solid-axle 4x4 (that's what we see in these photos) with a good old two-speed transfer case, an optional selectable Eaton rear locking differential, and a ladder frame? Sounds good to us. If you've never heard of the Italian car company Bremach, join the club. We hadn't, either, but apparently the company has been around since 1956. They formerly built several large and capable 4x4 trucks similar to the Mercedes Unimog. Unfortunately in 2015 the company declared bankruptcy, but Bremach USA, the American branch of the company, survived the bankruptcy and together with the Russian truck company UAZ has designed and is testing two 4x4 vehicles that the company plans to sell in the US. Here are the details.

The SUV: Bremach Taos

The Taos is the SUV version 4x4 available from Bremach. It's based on the UAZ Patriot, which has been around since 2005. The Taos will be powered by a 2.7-liter inline four-cylinder making 150 hp hooked to a Punch 6L50 Powerglide automatic six-speed transmission designed by GM. Electronics and safety systems come from Bosch. The Taos is a four-door, four-wheel-drive SUV with a ladder frame and a wheelbase of 108 inches. Most of the images we have seen here at Four Wheeler seem to show a solid front axle under both this SUV and the Brio four-door truck. The MSRP for the Taos is currently listed as $26,405, and Bremach boasts a five-year, 60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 10-year, 120,000-mile powertrain warranty. The Taos is said to handle most anything, from day-to-day family errands, executive functions, and extreme off-roading. We'll be the judge of that, but with a two-speed transfer case, potentially having solid axles, front and rear, and an optional rear locker, it has the makings—at least on paper. Both the Taos and Brio will be shipped to the U.S. and assembled in California. The Taos will come standard with the following:

Standard Equipment

• 7-inch touchscreen with in-dash multimedia and navigation
• Front and rear heated leather seats

• 18-inch Sahara alloy wheels
• Multifunctional heated leather steering wheel

• MP3/USB audio with four speakers
• Heated front windshield and side mirrors

• Air conditioning and a cooled glove box
• Six-Speed Automatic transmission

• LTE / Wi-Fi (modem)
• USB / SD and Bluetooth

• Remote ignition
• Rearview camera with dynamic guidelines

• Front and rear parking sensors
• Antilock braking systems (ABS)

• Electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD)
• Driver and passenger advanced airbags

• Bosch electronic stability program (ESP)
• LED daytime running lights and front foglights

• Cornering Brake Control (CBC), introduced by BMW and Mercedes-Benz, as a further development and expansion of the antilock braking system, designed to distribute braking force during braking while cornering
• Hydraulic brake assist system (HBA)

• Electronically controlled two-speed transfer case offering high or low ratio gearing during 4x4 operation (via rotary knob in photo)
• Rare body-on-frame design

• Considerable ground clearance (8.26 inches) wading depth (19.68 inches), approach angle (35 degrees), and departure angle (30 degrees)

Optional Equipment

• Eaton electronic rear locking differential
• Numerous off-road accessories (snorkels, lift kits, bull bar, cable winches, etc. )

• Optional manual transmission available

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The Truck: Bremach Brio

The Brio is the four-door pickup truck that will be offered by Bremach at some future date with a stated MSRP of $27,882. It is still undergoing testing but should share many of the same features as the Taos, including the 2.7L four-cylinder, ladder frame, two-speed transfer case, six-speed transmission, and optional Eaton rear differential locker.

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Buying from Bremach

As of publication of this article interested parties can visit Bremach USA and place a refundable $100 deposit on a Taos SUV. The deposit will be applied to your purchase, prior to final delivery, from your nearest Bremach franchised dealer. The website also has a link to an email address where interested parties can provide feedback on possible accessories for the 4x4s including lift kits, performance parts, bumpers, roof racks, body armor, wheels and tires, and so on.

Source: Bremach USA, 833.273.6224,http://bremachusa.com/

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