Mahindra has been rigorously road-testing the next-gen Thar. The all-new SUV, which was first spied a few months ago on the outskirts of Chennai, will most likely have its public debut at the upcoming Auto Expo 2020. The new Thar sits on M&M’s Gen3 chassis that is shared with newer Mahindra models like the Scorpio and TUV300, and will feature a front suspension setup that’s more suited for road-use as it has less suspension travel. The SUV will also feature a wider track than the outgoing model and will not come with an independent rear suspension.
We had reported earlier that the new Thar will come with a removable hard top option for the first time. The SUV was spotted with the same while on test, recently.
The new Thar will get a grounds-up new design with new body panels, front and rear bumpers and an all-new soft-top as well. It wil come with prominent wheel arches that add to its muscular look. On the inside, the next-gen Thar will be less utilitarian and more comfort-oriented. There will be a provision for a large touchscreen or a 2-DIN music system, mounted dead centre on the dashboard.
The Thar will feature a manually operated four-wheel-drive system and a low-range selector. Unlike the current model on sale, the next-gen Thar will comply with crash test norms and get at least a driver airbag as standard, along with rear parking sensors and a speed warning. Mahindra will use its all-new, BS6-compliant, 2.0-litre diesel engine that is likely to churn out 140hp.
In terms of competition, the new Thar is expected to see stiff competition from the upcoming all-new Force Gurkha SUV that will also get an new body and will be more feature-laden than the outgoing model.
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