Mahindra Thar 4X2 Meets Its Match: Enter Force Gurkha RWD
Force Motors, in an attempt to tap into a bigger market, is gearing up for the launch of the Gurkha RWD variant. This new variant will be priced much lower than the Gurkha 4X4 three-door and five-door variants. Once launched in the upcoming days, this new, more affordable Force Gurkha will directly challenge the Mahindra Thar RWD. This means that the Maruti Suzuki Jimny will become the only SUV in its segment not to offer an RWD variant.
Upcoming Force Gurkha RWD
The new RWD variant of the Force Gurkha is being developed to lure in buyers looking for the presence of an off-roader without the full off-road capabilities. By removing the 4X4 drivetrain, Force Motors will be able to make it a lot more competitively priced model. The confirmation of this model arriving came via a leaked document. It mentions the Gurkha RWD as the base model of the Gurkha lineup in India.
Engine Specifications
Apart from the absence of the 4X4 systems, the Gurkha RWD will remain exactly the same as the three-door Gurkha. It will come powered by the same FM 2.6 CR diesel engine found in its 4X4 counterpart.
This 2.6-liter engine generates 140 PS of power and 320 Nm of torque. As for the gearbox, it will only come paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. What will also be an added benefit of removing the 4X4 system will be its better acceleration. The Gurkha RWD will become the fastest Gurkha to date.
Design and Interior
In terms of design as well, the RWD Gurkha will retain the distinctive, rugged look that the model is known for. The three-door body style will remain unchanged. It will still come offered with its gigantic proportions and its imposing appearance.
As for the interior, Force Motors is not going to make any changes. The RWD variant is expected to get the same 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
This bigger screen along with a digital instrument gauge cluster was recently introduced by the company along with the launch of the Gurkha five-door model. It will also get manual climate control, dual front airbags, rear parking sensors, and a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS).
Competing with Mahindra Thar RWD
The Mahindra Thar RWD, after its launch, quickly became one of the best-selling variants in the Thar lineup. Thanks to its affordable price point and its already popular brand name, the SUV currently accounts for nearly half of Thar’s monthly sales, which are approximately 6,000 units.
Force Gurkha RWD will be competing head-to-head with the Thar RWD. However, it could face some challenges as the Thar is offered with not one but different engine options. It gets a 1.5-liter diesel engine producing 118 PS and 300 Nm, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission.
On the other hand, it also comes with a 2.0-liter turbo-petrol engine producing 152 PS and 300 Nm. This engine is available with both 6-speed manual and automatic transmissions. As for the pricing, the RWD Thar starts at Rs 11.35 lakh and goes up to Rs 14.09 lakh (ex-showroom).
Can Gurkha RWD Challenge Thar RWD?
The new Force Gurkha RWD is all set to make a bigger dent in the lifestyle off-roader market. However, whether it will be able to challenge the Mahindra Thar RWD is something we’ll have to wait and see. This is because the Thar is an established household name in the lifestyle off-roader market and is by far much more popular.
So it will become hard for the Gurkha RWD to compete with it. However, if Force Motors can get the pricing of the Gurkha under Rs 10 lakh, which Mahindra also did initially with the Thar RWD, then there is a chance that it can take up some market share from the Mahindra Thar.
Maruti Suzuki Jimny: Missing Out on RWD Sales
Interestingly, the Maruti Suzuki Jimny, which is also a popular lifestyle off-roader, currently does not offer an RWD variant. Maruti Suzuki only offers this SUV with a 4X4 drivetrain. Because of this, its price is a little higher. Also, as we are already aware, Maruti Suzuki is already suffering from lackluster sales for the Jimny and this Gurkha RWD could add to this problem even more.