The Mahindra Thar facelift will be launched today, later in the evening, at an event in Nasik, followed by a media drive at Mahindra’s Adventure Off-road Academy in Igatpuri tomorrow.
The changes revolve around adding more contemporary, relatively upmarket additions to the car, both on the outside and inside. Externally, the face-lift comes with new front & rear bumpers, new, wider wheel arch trim and newly designed side-steps.
The new front bumper’s more of a shroud, and we believe it kills the classic, open wheeled character of the original Thar. That said, the new one’s other up-scale touches will allow it to connect to newer customers, rather than just enthusiasts.
The biggest updates will be inside. For starters, out goes the archaic dashboard and in comes a completely new, appropriately boxy, dual tone dashboard. Prominent THAR branding on the new centre console will constantly remind you of what vehicle you’re flattening terrain with.
New upholstery and seats aims to set the tone a little upmarket (not in the pictrure), while a new Bolero sourced steering wheel and gear lever will also be a part of the deal.
Instrumentation will also be thoroughly revamped and feature circular, chrome bordered dials. Clear, legible and more posher than before, the dials include a new tachometer, rather optimistically marked till 8,000 rpm.
Circular HVAC vents, along with new HVAC controls complete the new center console. One can see a couple of cup holders below as well.
For the keener off-road enthusiast, who represent a healthy part of the Thar’s clientèle, Mahindra will now offer the 2015 Thar with an optional MLocker by Eaton. This mechanical locking differential engages automatically during low traction situations when a wheel speed difference of 100 RPM or greater (left-to-right) is detected, thus ensuring the vehicle gets the best traction possible.
The 2015 Thar will continue to soldier on with the current engine options – a 2.5-litre DI unit (63 bhp, 182.5 Nm) and a 2.5-litre CRDe unit (105 bhp, 247 Nm). For the face-lift, the latter gets a new engine cover. Both the engines are coupled with a 5-speed manual gearbox and is available in 4×2 and 4×4 versions.
Images : Ankush Parve and KP Singh @ 4X4 India
If the hardtop option is not there, Mahindra would be making a big mistake.
Mahindra THAR in its new avatar now is seriously a complete SUV in terms of exterior and interior looks !!! Thanks to Mahindra for giving some time to this neglected real indian off roader !!!