Mahindra & Mahindra has revealed the much-awaited second generation Thar, on the occasion of India’s 74th Independence Day celebrations. The new Thar packs everything the outgoing bare-bones Thar lacked. It’ll be launched in the country on October 2, 2020, which marks the company’s 75th anniversary.
As we can see, there’ll be hard-top and soft-top/convertible variants (a fixed soft-top is standard). In terms of the styling, well, the new Thar indeed reminds us of its long-lost American cousin, especially the JK generation, but we’ll leave that comparison to you. The Thar in ‘Red Rage’ finish looks so much like the Rubicon in many angles. One thing we can say for certain is that the new iteration looks so much well put together. In terms of the build quality, the new Thar is indeed miles ahead of the one it replaces.
Speaking of the build, the new Thar is built on Mahindra’s, 3rd generation body-on-frame chassis which is claimed to offer greater torsional rigidity. The suspension setup comprises an independent front and multi-link at the rear. There’s of course, a mechanical locking differential on the rear axle. The range-topping variants also get brake locking differentials. The wheels measure 18-inches, shod with 255/65 all-terrain tyres.
As for its off-roading credentials, well, the numbers are in the infographic above. It has got departure angle, breakover angle and approach angle of 37°, 27° and 42°, respectively, while the unladen ground clearance is at 226 mm. The new Thar also boasts water wading capability of 650 mm.
The new cabin too looks generations ahead compared to the outgoing Thar. Feature list includes sporty front seats with height & lumbar adjustment, front-facing 50:50 split rear seats, roof-mounted speakers, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that also shows real-time “adventure statistics”, power windows, and cruise control. It doesn’t look like the new Thar offers an auto AC/climate control; it does, however, offer a manual AC.
As for safety equipment, there are dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, ESP with Roll-Over Mitigation, Hill-Hold & Hill Descent Control, ISOFIX mounts, and of course, a built-in roll cage.
The new Thar will be offered in AX Series and LX Series. The AX stands for Adventure while the LX is for Lifestyle, apparently. As we can see, the AX has got respectable amount of features such as manual AC, power windows, dual airbags, and a mechanical locking diff. The LX Series is loaded with more convenience features and safety systems. An automatic gearbox is also exclusive to the LX.
Powering the new Thar will be the mStallion 150 2.0L turbocharged petrol engine that develops 152 metric hp (112 kW) and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) of torque. For those who like diesel grunt, Mahindra is offering the mHawk 130 2.2L turbocharged engine with 132 metric hp (97 kW) and 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) of torque. Gearboxes will be a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic. A 4×4 transfer case is standard across all variants.
The new Thar will be available in 6 colors: Red Rage, Mystic Copper, Napoli Black, Aquamarine, Galaxy Grey and Rocky Beige.
The all-new Thar will enhance the appeal of a brand that is already a cult, to a wider set of consumers. It will target people who seek extraordinary journeys and wish to Explore the Impossible. The all-new Thar will be launched on 2nd October 2020, which is also our Founders Day. – Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director, Auto & Farm Sectors, M&M Ltd
The Thar has represented the spirit of freedom, thrill and fun-to-drive character that few other vehicles can match. 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. – Veejay Nakra, CEO, Automotive Division, M&M Ltd
Recommended for you
Leave a Reply
Note: Comments that are unrelated to the post above get automatically filtered into the trash bin.
