Team-BHP - Mahindra Thar revealed at Autoexpo 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM (Post 1669376)

Dear all - thank you for all your very correct comments. So, now you have seen the vehicle at the Auto Expo. This is great. I will be at the stall next to my beloved project vehicle for 3 full days, starting tomorrow. Now, to clear some of your comments, I may like to mention as follows:

Displaying LHD or RHD vehicle does not matter. If LHD can be manufactured, RHD can also be manufactured.

Please note that in order to sell the vehicle in any country, it needs to pass through a very elaborate homologation process. This is true for India also. The vehicle needs to meet the relevant CMVR (Central Motor Vehicle Rules). This includes exhaust emissions, noise, safety requirements, external projections etc. Therefore, it becomes a natural resultant that only a vehicle which shall successfully meet the CMVR shall finally see light of day in production. I think this should put all "bling bling" type speculations to rest once and for all. "Bling blings" cannot come in production even if someone wanted them to. That said, I would like to compliment our fellow Team-BHPian Ym-enjn for his post nos 232 / 234 / 236. So, dear friends, now may I humbly request you to please move away from the "bling bling" related comments which I have clarified and use the data in posts 232 / 234 / 236 to give your actual comments on the vehicle. Let's start this healthy debate. Myfirst salvo - Performance? - this thing does things in 2WD where other average 4WD vehicles will falter. Just look at it. 105 v/s 60 BHP. 27 v/s 12 kgm. Is there any comparison?

I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS WANT A NO NONSENSE 4*4 AND NOTHING ELSE. YOU SHALL GET IT, AND GET IT SOONER THAN YOU THINK AND IT SHALL BE AFFORDABLE TOO. IT SHALL ALSO MEET CMVR.

Don't worry guys, stay cool, things shall happen ! Come to the Auto Expo, 3 days, starting tomorrow. I look forward to meeting all of you.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

Behram Sir,

Thanks for your comments. Would like to have a few things clarified:

What about the steering? Will it be Power Assisted ?
Will the vehicle be available in Hard Top as well or only Soft Top?
Will it be only 1+1 seater or can we expect CMVR Certified 4/5 seater only ?

If the answer to all the above questions is YES, then I guess its time to put up my Bolero in the block.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Cheers

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parm (Post 1669320)

American JEEP has 7 bar grill.

M&M has 6 bar and 7 slot grill. no copy right or other issues
involved!

You mean the CJ2/ 3/ 5/ 7/ Cherokees came with a 7 bar 8 slot grille? Didn't know that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM (Post 1669376)

Dear all Myfirst salvo - Performance? - this thing does things in 2WD where other average 4WD vehicles will falter. Just look at it. 105 v/s 60 BHP. 27 v/s 12 kgm. Is there any comparison?

I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS WANT A NO NONSENSE 4*4 AND NOTHING ELSE. YOU SHALL GET IT, AND GET IT SOONER THAN YOU THINK AND IT SHALL BE AFFORDABLE TOO. IT SHALL ALSO MEET CMVR.

Don't worry guys, stay cool, things shall happen ! Come to the Auto Expo, 3 days, starting tomorrow. I look forward to meeting all of you.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

Sir,
If I had known that I could have met you in person, I surely would have gone to the AutoExpo!
I like what I see (I don't mean the bling), but most important is price and delivery schedules. Can I pick up around five before March?
Will there be variants (Wheelbases/ options like hardtop/ AC/ heater/ PS.)

My requirements/ priorities are rather different from other forum members.
Life cycle cost. The old MMs were indestructible. With some begrudgingly given, nontender care, they would keep running.
How abuseproof. By abuse, I mean the tendency of maintainence only when something fails. Not preventive/ predictive maintainence.
How reliable, esp. given the above This is important for us.
How unskilled mechanic friendly. No offence meant, but MM A.S.S. falls in that category. (And can the fanbelt be changed on the road!)
I hope no electronics. The thought process behind lever actuation of the BW TC has to be applauded.
The IFS, as well as the direct rack and pinion steering mean it will not be as capable off road as the older live axled ones, BUT I PREFER THIS HIGHWAY ORIENTED COMPROMISE.
Hope the turbo can take water splashes when running red hot, or is adequately protected against it.
Exhaust is too vulnerable.
Hope brake and fuel pipes are adequately protected.
Hope fuel filters are under positive pressure. Easier to spot/ repair a diesel leak than an air leak.

One very important question. How safe are the vehicles. That off course cannot be evaluated by eyeballing.

In our small fleet of seven vehicles, I see need for only one SWB, without doors, and one LWB 5 passenger + luggage + AC tourer. The LWB to be cheaper than the Bolero 4x4s, otherwise no point.

Hats off to your personal vision and dedication in bringing us this.

Regards
Sutripta

Quote:

Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM (Post 1669376)

Dear all

Displaying LHD or RHD vehicle does not matter. If LHD can be manufactured, RHD can also be manufactured.

My first salvo - Performance? - this thing does things in 2WD where other average 4WD vehicles will falter. Just look at it. 105 v/s 60 BHP. 27 v/s 12 kgm. Is there any comparison?

I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS WANT A NO NONSENSE 4*4 AND NOTHING ELSE. YOU SHALL GET IT, AND GET IT SOONER THAN YOU THINK AND IT SHALL BE AFFORDABLE TOO. IT SHALL ALSO MEET CMVR.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

Dear All,

An RHD is in existence.

Undoubtedly, performance wise this Jeep can outperform most 4X4's in a 2WD mode hands down due to its 105 v/s 60 BHP. 27 v/s 12 kgm and
power to weight ratio.

IN TERMS OF A TRUE BLOODED 4X4 THIS VEHICLE LACKS NOTHING. CHASSIS AND SUSPENSION ARE A WORK OF ART WHICH TRANSLATE INTO HIGHER LEVELS OF UNBELIVEABLE COMFORT AND HANDLING.

Also it is significant to mention here that Mr. Behram is the spearhead in the R&D of this vehicle and can be called the father of this Jeep.

The cosmetic part of the Concept variant at the expo may not be offered in the Indian market as it will shoot up the production cost and result in a higher retail price.

I have my 7L ready for this Jeep only for what it has to offer in Engine, Transmission and Suspension. There are many design flaws in the cosmetic department but that is not the part of the discussion here.

Regards,

Quote:

Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM (Post 1669376)

thanks for a very assuring reply and im looking forward to the the utlimate offroad 4WD vehicle by M&M for the indian customer.clap:

i shall call you today to thank you personally.

Great Job Behram saab if you can give us what you wrote in your reply.

just my 5-6 lakhs for this THAR!

Quote:

Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM (Post 1669376)

Sir,

This is very promising and we Indian offroaders are very happy to see that finally Thar is making its way to our roads.

Thanks for the confirmation (I'm also going to take one from the showroom when it is made available)

If only the AutoShow happening in Chennai, I would have been surely able to meet you anyway thanks a lot for the invitation.

We from Chennai are happy that the R&D team of Mahindra is fully relocating to Chennai. Thats a great news and I hope to see you soon in Chennai roads. I knew that the Xylo R&D was based upon your chennai center now I can see many more happening from this part of the country.

-Siva

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaggu (Post 1669195)

EDIT: Torsion bar front, is it a good idea for heavy offroading?

+1, I feel the underbody is too complicated and is asking for a lot of trouble even is less than EXTREME OTR conditions.

Guys, 1 question - In the thread "what you want in a new5x0", all of you demanded a lot of things. Why did no one demand the PLAIN-JANE existing Military 550 in a civilian trim or just the Major with minor mods to make it better.

A Jeep is a Jeep when it is simple, less complicated, and easy to abuse and repair. Ask any Jeep Owner. I am one.

All this IFS, CAT-CONV, etc etc, is taking this to a car trim and one cant afford to break these often and fix them! What if M&M can take the Major with the OKBJ and NGC(s), and plonk in the Scorpio engine with a BS-II trim and see what the costs would be.

Hint - If a simple Major would cost 4.75 OTR, guys please do the math what would the above pics THAR would cost!! I am sure it would exceed 8Lacs. In case any one wants pricing in SouthAfrica I would be glad to arrange a pro-forma from there, i got contacts there. Just wait until it launches there...