Force Gurkha 4x2 being readied as future Thar RWD rival

Gurkha 4X2 likely to get three door body style; will serve as an entry point to the line-up.

Published On Jun 05, 2024 02:03:00 PM

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Force Motors is working on a new 4x2 variant of the 3-door Gurkha as per our sources. The company recently updated the Gurkha SUV with a more powerful engine, many new features, and even added a 5-door body style, but the lifestyle SUV remains a niche off-roader with a relatively small mass-market appeal. A 4x2 variant of the 3-door Gurkha will be more affordable and could appeal to a wider audience who do not require the hardcore 4x4 hardware.

3-door Gurkha expected to get new 4x2 variant
Will be offered with the existing 140hp, 2.6-litre diesel engine
No other feature or cosmetic updates expected

Force Gurkha 4x2: what to expect?

Despite the recent raft of updates to make the Gurkha more versatile and user-friendly, sales of the lifestyle off-roader haven’t really picked up. With the deletion of the 4x4 drivetrain, manual transfer case and differential locks, a 4x2 Gurkha could be a lot more affordable.

This approach will be similar to what Mahindra did with the Thar. Thanks to tax concessions given to models in the compact (sub-four-metre) segment, RWD variants of the Thar now comprise nearly 50 percent of the Mahindra SUV's sales. Most Thar owners actually spend their time in the city, which means the 4x4 hardware is barely put to use.

Force Motors, however, will not receive any tax concessions for the 4x2 Gurkha as the powertrain will not meet the maximum diesel engine displacement limit for the compact class; anything above 1.5-litre does not qualify. It will continue with the 140hp, 2.6-litre diesel engine, and will only be offered with a 5-speed manual gearbox.

We do not expect any other changes to the model as the line-up was updated only recently. The Gurkha 4x2 will be offered in a four-seater configuration with forward-facing rear seats. For reference, the Gurkha 3-door is priced at Rs 16.75 lakh (ex-showroom), but the 4x2 variant, when launched, could be priced closer to Rs 15 lakh. It will squarely be aimed at the Thar 4x2, which is priced between Rs 11.35 lakh and Rs 14.10 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

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