Mahindra Thar Faces Competition: A New SUV gets ready to break Thar’s Hegemony

The Mahindra Thar, without competition, has enjoyed tremendous success in the lifestyle SUV market, with Mahindra selling an impressive 5,000 to 6,000 units per month. This success is particularly noteworthy for a lifestyle SUV. The introduction of a 4×2 variant of the Thar has significantly boosted its appeal, and now Force Motors is looking to apply a similar strategy to its Gurkha model.

Media reports suggest that Force Motors is developing a new 4×2 variant of the Gurkha 3-door, giving the Mahindra Thar competition. By omitting the 4×4 drivetrain, differential locks, and manual transfer case, Force Motors could price the Gurkha more competitively. Many buyers opt for lifestyle SUVs primarily for their aesthetics rather than their off-road capabilities, as demonstrated by the high demand for the Thar 4×2.

Force Motors is likely to follow Mahindra’s lead, focusing on removing the 4×4 technology while keeping the rest of the vehicle largely unchanged. Recently, the Gurkha received updates that included a better engine tune and additional features. Significant changes are hence not anticipated for the 4×2 variant. The 4×2 will maintain its four-seat configuration, boasting captain seats in the second row. It will remain powered by a 2.6-litre diesel engine, producing 132bhp and 320Nm of torque, paired with a 5-speed manual transmission.