The ARO 24 Series is a 4x4 off-road vehicle manufactured by ARO from 1969 to 2006 and mass produced from 1972.

ARO 240 was the first of the ARO 24 series, which eventually included many other models: the four-door 241 and 244, the 242 pick-up, the three-door 243, the 320, 330 pick-ups, and many other body trims. Last special military versions were called ARO Dragon.

thumb|right|ARO 244 (1998 revision)-rear view

It is equipped with many different engines (both diesel and petrol options), 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 cancelled. During the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s the original Romanian ARO 4X4 Series were also produced under alternative names, often with modified running gear depending on the export market. In Portugal, they were assembled in Setúbal south of Lisbon and locally known there as the PORTARO 4X4, in Spain they were called HISPARO 4X4, with a reshaped bodyshell and better equipped.

Engines

Petrol engines

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! Name !! Capacity !! Type !! Power !! Torque

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| 2.4 2RZ-FE || 2438 cc || Toyota || at 5000 rpm || at 4000 rpm

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| 2.5 205HX || 2469 cc || Chrysler || at 5250 rpm || at 3500 rpm

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| 2.5 L25 || 2495 cc || ARO || at 4200 rpm || at 3000 rpm

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| 2.5 M-207 || 2512 cc || ARO || at 4000 rpm || at 2500 rpm

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| 2.9 V6 || 2935 cc || Ford || at 5500 rpm || at 3500 rpm

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| 3.0 L30 || 3007 cc || ARO || at 4000 rpm || at 3000 rpm

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| 4.0 V6 || 3958 cc || Ford || at 4400 rpm || at 2400 rpm

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| 2.9 V6 24V|| 2932 cc || Cosworth || at 5250 rpm || at 3000 rpm

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Diesel engines

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! Name !! Capacity !! Type !! Power !! Torque

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|Andoria 2.4, 4C90 (cylinder diameter = 90&nbsp;mm, Ricardo Comet V swirl chamber) || 2417 cc || Andoria 4C90 Diesel Indirect injection<br>4CT90Turbodiesel<br>4CTi90 Turbodiesel || at 4200&nbsp;rpm<br> at 4100&nbsp;rpm<br> at 4100&nbsp;rpm || at 2500 rpm<br> at 2200 rpm<br> at 2000-2500 rpm

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| 2.4 2L-T || 2446 cc || Toyota<br>Turbodiesel || at 4000&nbsp;rpm || at 2200 rpm

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| 2.5 XD3 || 2498 cc || Peugeot || at 4500&nbsp;rpm || at 2500 rpm

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| 2.5 XD3T || 2498 cc || Peugeot<br>Turbodiesel || at 4150&nbsp;rpm || at 2500 rpm

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| 2.5 L4 OHV || 2499 cc || VM<br>Turbodiesel || at 4200&nbsp;rpm || at 2200 rpm

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| 2.7 L27 || 2660 cc || ARO || at 3800&nbsp;rpm || at 2250 rpm

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| 2.7 DX-28 || 2660 cc || ARO || at 3900&nbsp;rpm || at 2250 rpm

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| 2.7 TDX-28 || 2660 cc || ARO<br>Turbodiesel || at 3500&nbsp;rpm || at 1900 rpm

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| 3.1 D127 || 3119 cc || UTB || at 3200&nbsp;rpm || at 1600 rpm

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Versions

Off-road vehicles

  • ARO 240, a 2-door soft-top cabriolet;
  • ARO 241, a 4-door soft top cabriolet;
  • ARO 243, a 3-door model with 8 seats;
  • ARO 244, a 5-door model with 5 seats;
  • ARO 246, a 5-door model with 7 seats.

Light commercial vehicles

  • ARO 242, a single cab pick-up truck with short bed integrated to the body;
  • ARO 320, a single cab pick-up truck;
  • ARO 324, a double cab pick-up truck;
  • ARO 328 Maxi;
  • ARO 330, an extended single cab pick-up truck;

Other Versions

ARO produced an extensive and special variety of body styles:

  • 263 (8 seats, 3 doors; model based on the 243 version with the wheelbase increased from 2350&nbsp;mm to 2600&nbsp;mm);
  • 264 (5 seats, 4 doors; model based on the 244 version with the wheelbase increased from 2350&nbsp;mm to 2600&nbsp;mm);
  • 266 (7 seats, 5 doors; model based on the 246 version with the wheelbase increased to 2600&nbsp;mm);
  • 323 Sanitară (Ambulance with a raised roof over the passenger compartment from the B-pillar back);
  • 338 TC;
  • 35S (ambulance with a wheelbase of 3500 mm);
  • 429 TC/TP (TC=Children Transportation, TP=Public Transportation). The ARO Dragon featured a simplified flat paneled body and came in several variants to include an armored variant.

thumb|ARO Dragon (military version)

The ARO Dragon Civil was a civilian version of the Dragon.