Force Motors Gurkha Facelift

After the retirement of the much-loved Maruti Gypsy, the 2021 Force Gurkha may be the only remaining contender to the Mahindra Thar. And the BS6 version of the Force Gurkha is making a reappearance. The Gurkha, last seen at the 2020 Auto Expo, promised huge things and drew the most attention with its candy orange paint scheme.  The 2021 Force Gurkha will compete with the Mahindra Thar and the Maruti Suzuki Jimny, slated to hit the Indian market in the following months. The teaser image reveals that it will feature a snorkel and working roof rails. Apart from that, we can anticipate this SUV being available in both 3 and 5 door versions, providing seating for 4 and 6 people, respectively! A new set of LED DRLs and a modified grille and front bumper, turn indicators positioned over front fenders, redesigned tail lights, freshly designed wheels, and a tailgate-mounted spare wheel are among the design modifications. The wheels are 16 inches in diameter, with 245/70 tires. The Gurkha has a boxy and basic shape, but you can compare it to the Mercedes G-class if you're creative. The Gurkha is completely devoid of luxury on the inside, with air conditioning serving as the only amenity. The front seats are comfortable. However, the middle row (on five-door models) and side-facing back seats are not. Drivers will appreciate the view out the window, and seeing the corners of the bonnet helps when positioning the Gurkha in the terrain. A 2.6-liter diesel engine with 85 horsepower powers the Xpedition and Xplorer versions of the Gurkha. It's loud, and the acceleration is slow, but the engine's low-end grunt is useful on an off-road route. When you look at the numbers, you'll notice that the Mahindra Thar is more powerful. The Gurkha Xtreme promises better refinement and performance thanks to its Mercedes-based 140hp, 2.2-liter diesel engine. All Gurkhas feel heavy and sluggish in town, though the ride is pleasant, albeit by off-roader standards.  Off-road, the Gurkhas are at their finest. Low range, adjustable rear and front differentials, and even a factory-installed snorkel make the Force Gurkha a capable off-road vehicle. The Gurkha is lavishly treated on the inside. Depending on your preference, you can have a dual-tone dashboard or an all-black dashboard. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are now available on the touchscreen infotainment system. Aside from that, the 3-spoke steering wheel and numerous other interior amenities make it a must-have! A snorkel (which provides for increased water-wading capability), new LED headlamps with LED DRLs, a large roof carrier, bulky wheel armor, and blacked-out ORVMs will all be available on the New Gurkha.

Following their May reveal, the three and five-door Force Gurkha SUVs may get an automatic gearbox (likely torque converter), Autocar India stated in its exclusive report. Priced from Rs. 16.75 lakh (three-door) to Rs. 18 lakh (five-door) ex-showroom, the SUVs only come equipped with a five-speed manual gearbox. Besides, the siblings also miss out on a petrol powertrain and 4x2 drivetrain offered on its Mahindra Thar rival. The Maruti Suzuki Jimny does miss out on a 4x2 but has an automatic available that’s preferable for urban commutes. Notably, both the rear-wheel and 4x4 Thars can be bought with petrol and diesel engines while Jimny houses a petrol mill. The homegrown carmaker is in talks with Japan Automatic Transmission Company (JATCO) for a seven-speed torque converter unit. The idea here is to complement its 4WD setup’s low-end torque, making off-road trails a breeze. Nissan has a 75% stake in the Japanese tier-one automotive supplier that makes CVTs doing duty in the Magnite and Renault Kiger.  With the addition of an automatic, prices of the Gurkha off-roaders are expected to increase by Rs. 1 lakh. For perspective, the Thar’s 4x4 petrol and diesel automatic lineup starts at Rs. 16.59 lakh and Rs. 16.99 lakh respectively. The base Jimny has a price tag of Rs. 12.74 lakh, going all the way up to Rs. 14.79 lakh ex-showroom.  Also read - Renault Duster 7-Seater Could Look Like This

Force Motors is working on the rear-wheel drive variant of the 2024 Gurkha SUV. This 4x2 variant will be available in the 3-door version only, while the 5-door version will continue with the 4x4 capability. It is said that a 3-door Gurkha RWD could be launched in India in the near future. Force Gurkha 4x2: What's More? The Indian automaker offers 3-door and 5-door body styling for the Gurkha SUV. Both come with AWD capability as standard. However, the 5-door Force Gurkha is offered with RWD petrol and diesel variants. With the addition of RWD in 3-door Gurkha, it will become the rival of Mahindra Thar RWD. Design-wise, the Gurkha 3-door will remain unchanged. As for the pricing, the current Gurkha in the 3-door body style is priced at Rs 16.75 lakh (ex-showroom) and Rs 18 lakh (ex-showroom) for the 5-door variant. With the launch of the 3-door RWD, the company is expected to price it somewhere between Rs 14 lakh to Rs 15 lakh (ex-showroom). Such pricing could attract more customers to buy the Gurkha 3-door RWD over the Mahindra Thar RWD as it takes a long waiting period. Also Read: Tata Altroz Racer Reaches Dealerships - New Colour Spied