[Torquedo]

Originally Posted by GTO

The Force Gurkha enters the Indian market again. It’s available in soft-top & hard-top variants.

Thanks for the update GTO, any plans for a TBHP Official Review on the Gurkha?

Cheers.

[amrisharm]

Very disappointed with the fancy plasticky looks, and more disappointed with the price. I think the price will be a big deterrent for potential customers on top of the limited service centers.

Judging from the new looks and the pricing, it seems the Elusive Gurkha will continue to be just that.. "Elusive". The bare basic looks and "function over form" attutitude that Mahindra adopted on their Thar and the success that they have achieved with this formula should have been noted by Force Motors.

Good luck Force motors, you are gonna need it

[Yeldo]

Originally Posted by alpha1

But what about the "Force Motors" angle?
Have they become more urbane - or do they still carry the blue collar attitude?

Going by the paint shades and the body kits seen in the pics, I think that the Force people has grown very very fond of Chinese styling tastes and attitudes since they started assembling the Force One!

God, are they serious on that fluorescent algae green vehicle, and ask 8.5L for that?

[datvichrox2]

Curious pricing:
4x4 Soft Top is 8.35 L
4x4 Hard Top is 8.5 L

The soft top lacks the following (atleast from the pics):
1. A/C
2. Dual Tone Dashboard
3. Two round switches under the 12v Lighter socket (?)
4. Dual Tone gear shifter knobs
5. and of course the hard top!

but the price reduction is just 15k?

The pricing seems to dissuade folks from considering the soft top. The soft top version could have been much lesser. They are saving so much metal right? Plus the a/c?

If I wanted to get the soft top with the intention to make a removable fiberglass hard top (for a specific look), then I also need to invest in an A/C.

But anyways, I might still go for it!

The A/C in the hard top version has only one dial/switch? How do you operate this?

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by GTO

The snorkel is a welcome addition

Gurkha always had snorkel. But 4x2 is a new addition, does that have snorkel too? That would be funny.

Originally Posted by GTO

The Gurkha is powered by the same 2.6L OM616 engine (a Mercedes design) which is a known workhorse. With hardware & software upgrades, the motor now makes 81 BHP & 230 Nm max torque.

Can't be same Rush, the previous engine was TD2650 FTI BSIII DI TCIC generating 75bhp@3200rpm, and 195Nm@1800-2000rpm. The OM616 IDI was the very first engine that came with Judo and was BSI. It generated 90bhp@4000 rpm and 181Nm@1800-2100 rpm. And it is 2.4L only.

So now they have a version of OM616 that is 2.6L and BSIII? So it is very different then, not really same. Why they kept the same name despite different cubic capacity?

The Gurkha has a personal vehicle division, and Gurkha owners are treated much better along with Force One owners at the service center at a separate lounge. That's what my cousin says, he owns the previous gen Gurkha since 5 years.

[trammway]

Man, the customization departments in both Force and Mahindra sucks. Look at the 4x4x4 orange Gurkha with rear roof top head lights lol.. Where do they get such ideas?

[FourWheelDrift]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Gurkha always had snorkel. But 4x2 is a new addition, does that have snorkel too? That would be funny.

Can't be same Rush, the previous engine was TD2650 FTI BSIII DI TCIC generating 75bhp@3200rpm, and 195Nm@1800-2000rpm. The OM616 IDI was the very first engine that came with Judo and was BSI. It generated 90bhp@4000 rpm and 181Nm@1800-2100 rpm. And it is 2.4L only.

So now they have a version of OM616 that is 2.6L and BSIII? So it is very different then, not really same. Why they kept the same name despite different cubic capacity?

The Gurkha has a personal vehicle division, and Gurkha owners are treated much better along with Force One owners at the service center at a separate lounge. That's what my cousin says, he owns the previous gen Gurkha since 5 years.

Excellent observation, Samurai. I was about to post about this, after reading GTO's opening post.

The legendary OM616 is an indirect injection, naturally aspirated, 2.4 liter diesel engine designed by MB. It was available in 2 outputs, 64 PS (for Trax with a 4 speed manual) and 72 PS (for Traveller with a 5 speed manual). Have a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_OM616

Cheers,

FourWheelDrift

[GTO]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Can't be same Rush, the previous engine was TD2650 FTI BSIII DI TCIC generating 75bhp@3200rpm, and 195Nm@1800-2000rpm. The OM616 IDI was the very first engine that came with Judo and was BSI. It generated 90bhp@4000 rpm and 181Nm@1800-2100 rpm. And it is 2.4L only.

Originally Posted by FourWheelDrift

The legendary OM616 is an indirect injection, naturally aspirated, 2.4 liter diesel engine designed by MB.

Hey thanks! Corrections made. It's "derived" from the OM616. I think taking it from 2.4 -> 2.6 entailed nothing more than reboring? Here's what Force had to say:

The Gurkha is powered by the 2.6 liter Mercedes OM 616 derived turbo charged intercooled engine. This proven engine produces 82 Ps @ 3200 rpm, has a torque of 230 Nm @ 1800-2000 rpm...

[powertrain]

Originally Posted by GTO

It must be noted that fit & finish remain at shoddy levels; they aren't comparable even to 3-lakh rupee hatchbacks.

I now know what GTO meant!!
Check out this pic -


If this is the condition of a display car, I can only be at the condition of the production version.

Regards,
Varun

[mitrajdeep]

Look at the attention to detail on such a costly show vehicle.

[SPIKE ARRESTOR]

When the whole world is moving towards downsized engines, Force motors comes up with a 2.6 L engine from a 2.4 L, and that too a BS-III (when the BS-V version is a few years round the corner), LOL !

And to the looks, if cars with the same look are sold, I hope the sales team supply the Gurkha along with a Burkha. A good example of a potent product being messed up by the bean counter guys.

Spike

[kavesh55]

Takes the cake for the ugliest vehicle. They expect people to go offroading with plastic bumpers. Just give us a decent vehicle.

[discoverwild]

Originally Posted by kavesh55

Takes the cake for the ugliest vehicle. They expect people to go offroading with plastic bumpers. Just give us a decent vehicle.

They (Force Motors) don't expect it to be taken offroad. Remember Thar Crde is bought just for its looks and bling in urban areas and hardly taken offroad by a majority of the buying public. They do maximum drives to malls around town.

So Force Motors decided to go more bling and came up with such gawdy colours to be seen at clubs and shopping malls.

The 4x4 crowd here can ignore my comments as it is not directed at them.

[sourabhzen]

Originally Posted by kavesh55

Takes the cake for the ugliest vehicle. They expect people to go offroading with plastic bumpers. Just give us a decent vehicle.

This will ensure customization of Gurkha and if the vehicle is capable off-roader, then we are bound to see some interesting personalized editions on road.

[Ashley2]

Originally Posted by SPIKE ARRESTOR

When the whole world is moving towards downsized engines, Force motors comes up with a 2.6 L engine from a 2.4 L, and that too a BS-III (when the BS-V version is a few years round the corner), LOL !..

Its not absolutely necessary to have down sized engines. Higher the capacity with optimal power you are likely to have longer engine life. One reason, in passenger cars why they are downsized is, to reduce the cost and also it has better fuel performance. But it is definitely at the cost of overall life of an engine.