ARO 240 is a two-door 4x4 off-road vehicle, which was manufactured by ARO from 1972 to 2006. It was the first of the ARO 24 series, which eventually included many other models: the four-door 244, the 242 pick-up, the three-door 243, the 320 pick-up, and many other body trims. Last special military versions were called ARO Dragon.
It is equipped with many different engines (both gas and Diesel), and comes in both 4x2 and 4x4 versions. Notable improvements over the years were the introduction of Romanian Diesel engines, units equipped with Toyota engines, and units equipped with Romanian-built turbo Diesel engines. The ARO-24s are no longer in production, as ARO was shut down.
Plans to market the ARO 244 in the United States as the Cross Lander 244X in 2005 were eventually canceled.
Engines[]
Petrol Engines
| Name | Capacity | Type | Power | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 2 RZ-FE | 2438 cc | Toyota | 140 PS (103 kW) at 5000 rpm | 212 N·m (156 lb·ft) at 4000 rpm |
| 2.5 205HX | 2469 cc | Chrysler | 120 PS (88 kW) at 5250 rpm | 190 N·m (140 lb·ft) at 3500 rpm |
| 2.5 L25 | 2495 cc | ARO | 83 PS (61 kW) at 4200 rpm | 170 N·m (125 lb·ft) at 3000 rpm |
| 2.5 M-207 | 2512 cc | ARO | 67 PS (49 kW) at 4000 rpm | 160 N·m (118 lb·ft) at 2500 rpm |
| 2.9 V6 | 2935 cc | Ford | 145 PS (107 kW) at 5500 rpm | 225 N·m (166 lb·ft) at 3500 rpm |
| 3.0 L30 | 3007 cc | ARO | 95 PS (70 kW) at 4000 rpm | 196 N·m (145 lb·ft) at 3000 rpm |
| 4.0 V6 | 4000 cc | Cosworth | 207 PS (152 kW) at 5250 rpm | 320 N·m (236 lb·ft) at 3000 rpm |
Diesel Engines
| Name | Capacity | Type | Power | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 4C | 2417 cc | Andoria Turbodiesel |
69 PS (51 kW) at 4200 rpm
90 PS (66 kW) at 4100 rpm 101 PS (74 kW) at 4100 rpm |
147 N·m (108 lb·ft) at 2500 rpm 195 N·m (144 lb·ft) at 2500 rpm 230 N·m (170 lb·ft) at 2500 rpm |
| 2.4 2L-T | 2446 cc | Toyota Turbodiesel |
86 PS (63 kW) at 4000 rpm | 188 N·m (139 lb·ft) at 2200 rpm |
| 2.5 XD3 | 2498 cc | Peugeot | 75 PS (55 kW) at 4500 rpm | 147 N·m (108 lb·ft) at 2500 rpm |
| 2.5 XD3T | 2498 cc | Peugeot Turbodiesel |
95 PS (70 kW) at 4150 rpm | 205 N·m (151 lb·ft) at 2500 rpm |
| 2.5 L4 OHV | 2499 cc | VM
Turbodiesel |
101 PS (74 kW) at 4200 rpm | 232 N·m (171 lb·ft) at 2200 rpm |
| 2.5 L27 | 2660 cc | ARO | 68 PS (50 kW) at 3800 rpm | 138 N·m (102 lb·ft) at 2250 rpm |
| 2.7 DX-28 | 2660 cc | ARO | 71 PS (52 kW) at 3900 rpm | 152 N·m (112 lb·ft) at 2250 rpm |
| 2.7 TDX-28 | 2660 cc | ARO Turbodiesel |
87 PS (64 kW) at 3500 rpm | 191 N·m (141 lb·ft) at 1900 rpm |
| 3.1 D127 | 3119 cc | ARO | 68 PS (50 kW) at 3200 rpm |
185 N·m (136 lb·ft) at 1600 rpm |
Versions[]
Sport Utility Vehicles
- ARO 240 2-door Convertible
- ARO 241 4-door Convertible
- ARO 243 3-door
- ARO 244 4-door
- ARO 246 5-door
Light Commercial Vehicles[]
- ARO 242 Regular Cab Pick-up
- ARO 320 Regular Cab Pick-up
- ARO 324 Double Cab Pick-up
- ARO 330 Long Cab Pick-up
Others Versions: 243 VAN, 263, 264, 266, 323 Ambulance, 324, 328 MaxiTaxi, 330, 330BB, 330C, 33N, 338TC, 350BC, 35S Ambulance, 35M, 429TC/TP.
Military vehicles[]
The ARO Dragon came in several variants to include different bodiwork. There was even an armored variant.
Generations[]
The first generation of ARO 24 between 1972 and 1976 had Dacia 1300 headlights and round taillights similar to ARO IMS. From 1977 were used round headlights like in ARO IMS and the rear lights were restylized. In 1985 a new front grille was introduced and smaller round headlights. Also there were available double headlights, that were used mostly on the 244. In 1995 the double headlight front design was slightly restylized and the rear lights were changed to ones of Oltcit-type (a car that was also built in Romania until then). The last restyling of 1998/99 was a slight facelift of the previous model and also introduced the so-called Toyota-type ornaments.