Road Prince Tornado School Van 100cc

Engine and gearbox

The Tornado uses the same 98cc four-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled OHV engine as the Road Prince 100cc loaders, with a 9.8:1 compression ratio. It has a 4-speed gearbox with four forward gears and one reverse, drives the rear wheels through a differential and propeller shaft, and starts by kick only. Road Prince claims 35 km/l, which, if achieved, makes it one of the cheapest vehicles in the range to run day to day. Engine oil capacity is 0.9 litres. In our view, a 98cc engine is best kept to short, flat town routes rather than long climbs with a full load of passengers.

Size and practicality

The official page lists a body 1,920 mm long, 1,230 mm wide and 1,440 mm high, which matches the tall fixed bodies of the Highlander and Quinqui Apollo loaders. Road Prince does not state how many children the Tornado is designed to seat. The page also repeats the 100cc loaders’ 800 kg loading capacity, folding passenger seat and ‘new high cargo box’ wording, so treat it as a lightly adapted loader specification rather than a dedicated school-van data sheet. Running gear is a motorcycle-style 2.50-18 front wheel with a shock absorber, 135-10 rear wheels on a leaf spring, and an 11-litre fuel tank.

Equipment

Equipment is basic: a mechanical drum front brake, a rear disc brake, a hand brake, reverse gear and a 12V 3Ah battery. There is no self start, no radiator and no listed safety equipment specific to carrying children. The only colour listed is Maroon.

Warranty and price

Road Prince’s website shows Rs 0 for the Tornado and its warranty page has no readable terms. Ask an authorised dealer for the ex-factory price, the warranty and, most importantly, the seating capacity and seat layout in writing.

Should you buy one?

Our opinion: the Tornado makes sense for an operator who wants the lowest running costs and a simple, well-known 100cc mechanical package for short school routes. Because the official page gives no seating figure and no child-specific safety equipment, inspect the body, doors and seat fixings in person before you commit. If you need more power or a self starter, the Road Prince 6 Seater School Van is the alternative in the same showroom. Before booking, also ask whether the body has doors that close while moving, how the windows are protected and whether the seats have grab handles, because none of this appears on the official page.