The lifestyle off-roader SUV segment, despite being pricey has been gaining quite the publicity in India. Now other manufacturers are also readying their offerings to be launched into the segment. Due to this, the existing players are trying hard to hold their ground in the face of the forthcoming competitors.
Mahindra is all set to expand the variant lineup of its star SUV – the Thar with a more affordable powertrain. The addition of this powertrain option would allow the homegrown automaker avail lower tax rates and thus attract more buyers. To be precise we are talking about a 2WD version of the Thar SUV with a smaller 1.5-litre diesel motor.
The new entry-level variant Thar will capture a larger market share as Mahindra plans to go out all guns blazing. This is something that would prove vital for the SUV considering the tough competition headed its way.
About The 2WD Thar
Engines – The SUV is currently offered with 2 engine options namely the 2.0-L mStallion turbo-petrol and the 2.2-L mHawk turbo-diesel. A new 1.5-L m-Hawk diesel will now mark its entry into the Thar’s lineup albeit only in 2WD format. This will be the same 1,497cc unit that does duty in the Marazzo and XUV 300.
The 1.5L turbo-diesel makes 118PS of power at 3500rpm and 300Nm of torque between 1750rpm and 2500rpm. The power figure isn’t far from the 2.2-L mHawk’s 130PS while torque remains the same at 300NM in manual versions. Thanks to the stringent emission norms, the diesel mill now has to make use of AdBlue fluid to comply with them.
Compared to the 2.2-L mHawk, the smaller motor weighs lesser meaning the 2WD Thar would make up for its power deficit by being lighter. Apart from the smaller diesel engine, the 2WD variant will also be offered in with the 2.0-L mStallion turbo-petrol engine.
Powertrains & Driving Layout – Both engines offered in the 2WD Thar are expected to get the option of manual as well as automatic transmission. These would be the same 6-speed manual and 6-speed torque converter automatic gearboxes.
In the 2WD layout, the power coming from the engine would be directed to the rear wheels. So, the 2WD Thar would at least be an RWD off-roader SUV as opposed to other FWD crossovers.
Pricing – The absence of the 4WD low-range transfer case will mean that the cost will also get significantly reduced. You see, according to an official GST council meeting held recently, the definition of SUVs has gotten changed.
From now on, a vehicle that is longer than 4 meters, has a ground clearance upwards of 170mm along with an engine capacity of more than 1500cc would only get the higher tax rate. And the Thar, being sub-4 meters does not qualify to be called a full-sized SUV, thus getting taxed lower.
The Thar’s now discontinued AX trim, in its base soft top equipped variant, came powered by the 2.0-L turbo-petrol motor. Even in its base AX trim, the SUV offered 4×4 hardware and had an introductory price of Rs. 9.8 Lakh. Based on this, we expect the 2WD Turbo-petrol Thar to be priced similarly despite not having the 4×4 mechanicals.
And that’s because, since the discontinuation of the AX trim, the off-roader’s prices have been hiked up numerous times. Therefore, accounting for the hiked prices, we believe that the 2WD turbo-petrol Thar will be similarly priced as base AX.
While now the automaker can bring the smaller-engined Thar’s price lower due to the tax benefits. Hence, even the 1.5-L diesel will come at its most affordable price point in the entry-level variants.
Other Changes – Mahindra is said to add an auto start/stop functionality in the 2WD variants in order to extract some fuel efficiency from the Thar. In place of the 4WD gear lever, the 2WD version sports an open storage bin, handy for keeping mobiles and other stuff. Apart from the obviously missing ‘4×4’ badging, the vehicle remains identical to its more off-road capable iteration.
The Need For A 2WD Thar?
The 3-door Thar 4×4 comes with huge off-roading potential but at the cost of practicality while being a costly purchase. Many are interested in the SUV’s looks and road presence having no real fascination with taking it off the road. For such buyers, the 2WD Thar would be a great addition to the vehicle’s lineup.
Whereas, there are others who felt that the SUV was overpriced or out of their budget due to its hefty price tag. These folks could now become potential buyers due to the 2WD version’s added affordability thanks to the tax benefits.
Overall, the affordable 2WD Thar will help Mahindra cater to a wider section of the audience in different budget ranges.
https://www.motoroids.com/news/heres-a-closer-look-at-the-5-door-thar/: Mahindra To Launch A 2WD Version Of Thar SUVLaunch Details
Launch details for the 2WD Thar are scarce for the time being. Many units of the non-4×4 SUV have been spotted at dealership yards suggesting that Mahindra could launch the SUV soon. If we were to guess the date, then it would be the 26th of January next year.
Mahindra Thar Rivals
Thar’s biggest rival, the Maruti Suzuki Jimny has been a long time coming. But with the recent spy shots, we can confirm that the 5-door Jimny is ready for launch soon. The Jimny is expected to undercut the Thar’s pricing while offering the added practicality of having 5 doors. Even Force is readying its 5-door Gurkha to be launched into the market.
The addition of 2WD and a smaller powertrain is a great move from Mahindra to strengthen Thar’s appeal among customers. This will definitely matter in the battle with Maruti’s upcoming rival. The biggest winner out of this will be the buyers as we are getting spoilt for choice and we sure are loving it.