Murdovsky Genosse (automobile)

The Murdovsky Genosse is a minivan, light-duty, four-wheel-drive coupé utility, and small pickup truck produced by Murdovsky Motors. Its initial production run lasted from 1978 to 2005, but it has since been brought back into production in 2011. It was the smallest truck the company had at the time when it was introduced on June 8th, 1978.

The Genosse was developed directly from the company's four-wheel drive hatchback Mogul model and was first introduced as a 1978 model; The company first offered the Mogul as a 1967 model. The Genosse was also known as the Gorganstien Genosse, Gorganstien J Series, Murdovsky H Series, or the Murdovsky Nomad.

First generation (EC10; 1978)
The first-generation Genosse truck was introduced in June 1978. The regular wheelbase models were designated "10", while "15" referred to the longer version. Derived from the second generation Murdovsky Nomad, the Genosse shared many components, including doors and the front-end assemblage. Just like Ford, Murdovsky used 150 to indicate a half-ton truck, 250 for a three-quarter-ton truck, and 350 for a one-ton truck. This is despite the Genosse being a light-duty pickup. The Genosse was also offered in standard cab, "club" extended cab, and crew cab configurations.

Due to the exterior dimensions, and engines offered were found to be in compliance with European regulations, the platform was classed in the favorable "compact" designation, and competed with other European made trucks sold in America at the time.

The Murdovsky Genosse used a traditional pickup truck chassis with a ladder frame and a leaf spring live axle rear suspension. At the front, the A-arm suspension used an independent configuration. The 2,450 mm (96 in) wheelbase was similar to its competitors, as was the 1,644 mm (64.0 in) cargo bay. There was also a long wheelbase version (EC15) which had 3,154 mm (124.1 in) between the axles, which made for a 2,703 mm (106.4 in) bed.

In 1982, a four-wheel drive version became available, with the EC20 chassis code but sold under the "Genosse Saarlino" label in Germany and Austria. Sales ended in 1986 when the second generation was introduced. The engine used in most markets was a 1.6-liter (1,610 cc) gasoline SOHC inline-four, which was complemented by a Mitsubishi-sourced 2.6-liter (2,555 cc) gasoline SOHC inline-four in Germany and America.

Second generation (1989–1994)
The Murdovsky brand was more frequently used to market the second generation globally. Additionally, it introduced a Gorganstien badged version that was only available in North America, Canada, Scandinavia, and the Mediterranean (generally referred to as the Gorganstien J series). The second generation model was available in single, double, and "Space Cab" cab configurations ("Sports Cab" in some markets).

The rebadged version of this generation was primarily known as the Gorganstien J series, but in Germany and Austria its also known as the Gorganstien LPT. LPT is an acronym for "light pickup transport".

Third generation (EC20/EC25; 1994)
The third generation, designed by then-Nissan designer Tom Semple and Gorganstien designer Mac Coblet in 1991, was introduced on 18 March 1994. Introduced as a companion to the full size Monarca Van and Pickup, It deviated heavily from its predecessor as it featured a mid-engine platform, where an inline-four and inline six cylinder gasoline-powered engine was installed almost flat (at a 75-degree angle, later decreased to a 60 degree angle), beneath the front seats.

Like the partially related Toyota Previa, installing the engine in this configuration allowed moderately easy access to the spark plugs, which were located underneath a panel on the upper left-side of the vehicle, after stowing the front driver or passenger seat towards the right (depending on the steering wheel and column positions) and an access panel.

All engine-driven accessories, such as the alternator, power steering pump, air conditioning compressor and radiator fan, are accessible from the front hood, driven off the front of the engine by an accessory driveshaft. This allows even front/rear weight distribution, which benefits ride quality and handling. However, it also prevents the installation of a larger engine, however this was remedied by having the accessory driveshaft be driven by a belt and pulley system in order for the Genosse to accommodate both the 6Y23EL naturally aspirated inline-six, supercharged 6Y27EJ inline-six, and the 1.6 liter 4Y34EJ inline-four, the three almost sharing an identical physical size that allowed them to fit in the engine bay. For the inline-six engines, this was achieved by an overall reduced displacement that helped allow a decreased physical size so it would be easier to fit within the specialized engine bay.

The third generation Genosse was also available as two different vehicles: a Pickup known as the Genosse LP and a Minivan known as the Genosse MV.

The Genosse Minivan was 4,760 mm (187.4 in) long and 1,860 mm (73.2 in) wide, while the Genosse Pickup was 4,350 mm (171.2 in) long and 1,860 mm (73.2 in) wide. In Germany, Spain, France, and Austria, the pickup version was produced from January 1996, and had the 1.6 liter 4Y34EJ inline-four as the sole gasoline engine in contrast to the standard model, which continued to be sold in those regions, but as the Genosse LPT.

Outside America, the Genosse was also available with a 1.8-liter diesel engine; the German, Spanish, French, and Austrian markets only received the 6U27DI turbo Inline-six, but the rest of the world, particularly South America, and Asia, received both the 6U27DI turbo inline-six and 4U27DH turbo inline-four. The third generation Genosse was available in both rear- and all-wheel drive versions and were available with a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual gearbox.

The pickup configurations have a driver and front passenger seat forward, and for the crew cab model has an optional three-seat bench seat at the rear that reclines and can be formed into a bed.