Mahindra unleashes next-gen Thar 4x4 SUV

After ten years of the first generation, Indian carmaker Mahindra levels up its popular old-school Thar 4x4 with the introduction of the SUV’s second generation.

Launched in the middle of August in its home market, the new Thar is described by its maker as “a quantum leap in terms of performance, everyday comfort and convenience, technology and safety” while remaining true to the vehicle’s core promise of “promise of unmatched off-roading capability.”

Mahindra expects the new Thar to not only attract long-time fans but also appeal to modern off-roaders looking for a capable contemporary off-roading SUV.

“The Thar has represented the spirit of freedom, thrill and fun-to-drive character that few other vehicles can match,” said Veejay Nakra, CEO, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. “With the all-new Thar, we aim to protect this legacy with superior performance both on and off the tarmac, advanced technology features, excellent safety and everyday ride comfort, all adding to the unadulterated driving pleasure of a true-blue modern SUV.”

The exterior owns the most obvious changes between predecessor and successor, as the Thar now sports a wider, more balanced stance reminiscent of the Jeep Wrangler. Other up-to-date exterior features include LED lamps, dual tone bumpers, 18-inch deep silver alloy rims, front fog lamps, and a three roof options (Hard Top, First-in-Class Manual Convertible Top and Fixed Soft Top).

The new Thar is powered by a choice between a 2.0-liter mStallion TGDi gasoline (152hp, 320Nm) and 2.2-liter mHawk diesel (131.8hp, 320Nm) engines, mated to either a 6-speedmanual transmission or 6-speed automatic transmission. An authentic 4x4 manual shift transfer case with low ratio allows the driver to select between two and four-wheel drive operations.

Although it’s still a second generation vehicle, the new Thar is actually built on a rugger third generation chassis that has been thoroughly tested in the harshest terrain all over the world, Mahindra boasts. In addition, a completely new suspension system delivers superior off-roading prowess, on-road performance, and drive quality in equal amounts. According to Mahindra, the 2^nd-gen Thar has also been imbued with advanced off-road hardware that dramatically improves its capability to go wherever and do whatever is demanded of it.

Mahindra’s engineers gave special attention to the 2^nd-gen Thar’s interior to ensure it provides amazing comfort and convenience in all driving conditions, be they off-road, on the highway or in the city. A stern focus on ergonomics permeates in the interior, not just for the driver, but the rest of the passengers as well. This is obvious in the sporty seats front and back, roof-mounted speakers, height-adjustable driver seat with adjustable lumbar support, one-touch tip and slide mechanism for the front passenger seat, powered rearview mirrors and windows, and central locking with remote flip key.

The all-new Thar also has all-new features to match, including a drizzle-resistant 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, cruise control, and adventure statistics display, to name a few.

Safety also takes center stage in the new Thar, with features like the Crash-safety compliant body shell, first-in-class ESP with rollover mitigation, first-in-class built-in roll-cage with 3-point seat belts for all passengers, dual airbags, ABS, first-in-class hill hold and hill descent control, first-in-class ISOFIX child seat mounts, and Intellipark rear parking sensors.

“The all-new Thar is firmly rooted in our rich automotive heritage and upholds the Mahindra DNA in its purest form,” said Dr. Pawan Goenka, MD & CEO, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. “We are proud of our authentic SUV legacy that has been guarding the freedom of this nation by serving the armed forces since the 1950s, while simultaneously becoming the spirit of adventure and a lifestyle icon. The all-new Thar is a dynamic expression of fun, freedom and independence, and is geared up for its next adventure.”

The new Mahindra Thar’s availability begins on October 2 in India, which is also the company’s Founder’s Day. Pricing for the Thar will be announced closer to the release date. We’ll be sure to let you know if the sporty SUV will be available here as well.

Currently, Mahindra’s local lineup includes the Mahindra Enforcer, Mahindra Xylo and Mahindra Scorpio.

Photo/s from Mahindra

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