[G-One]

M&M is probably following in the footsteps of JLR, their DEFENDER vs NEW DEFENDER, probably we will have a THAR vs NEW THAR.

I guess it would be welcome if they add on some safety features, nice interior, proper 5 seats et all.

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by //M

A friend shared these couple of pics of the next gen Thar that he saw around Pune.

Attachment 1935131

Attachment 1935132

Not to take away anything from this New Thar.
Is it just me being puritanical or has Mahindra been very guilty of taking loads of inspiration and liberties based on the Jeep Wrangler design?
Even including, but not limited to, the front radiator grille?
Considering that they lost the Jeep license in 2004-2005 or so.
And from what I have read, Jeep has worldwide trademarked the 7 slatted grille for its own vehicles...


I do hope that just like the Jeep Wrangler people did and the Landrover New Defender chaps too, that M&M also completely reinvent and launch this new Thar with up to date Safety Kit and other functional kit so that it is relevant to today’s times.

On a side note, I am also seeing lots of these silly little Brezzas with some kind of after market 7 slat Jeepy sort of front radiator grille...

[SR7]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

Not to take away anything from this New Thar.
Is it just me being puritanical or has Mahindra been very guilty of taking loads of inspiration and liberties based on the Jeep Wrangler design?
Even including, but not limited to, the front radiator grille?
Considering that they lost the Jeep license in 2004-2005 or so

I heard this from an acquaintance working at MWC though this person is not related to this project - M&M had bought a new Jeep Wrangler and were using it while testing the new-gen Thar internally within their testing facility. Nobody were allowed to take pictures, though I’m surprised how some pics have not leaked yet. So now you know where the ‘inspiration’ is from .

[ottocycle]

Seems like Mahindra is having event at Accord Highland Ooty. They are checking out now. There were alteast 10 camoflaged vehicles. Found some hardtop and soft top Thar.

[Ashley Nair]

Honestly, the new Thar looks like an Invader with a flattened top IMHO. Mahindra could at least have given it wheels with negative offset, at least to get a "far off resemblance" to the JEEP

[ottocycle]

Attaching few more images from the event that were captured by wife.












Mods, kindly merge the post with my earlier post if you feel.

[1100D]

Originally Posted by ottocycle

Seems like Mahindra is having event at Accord Highland Ooty.

That would be the first glimpse of the hardtop

[ottocycle]

Captured some morning shots (including interior) of one of the Thar still staying at the hotel.

[diwakarmuthu]

@Ottocycle, that's a good catch. I presume we are looking at near production ready Thar Hard top.

One more thing I noticed are those neatly integrated turn indicators and fog lights, as well as tail lamps, hopefully they are LED

Excited about its launch, considering they have adopted the Scorpio platform, hoping to have better ride quality on the highways

[Traveler]

Originally Posted by ottocycle

Captured some morning shots (including interior) of one of the Thar still staying at the hotel.

Wow, what a scoop. The interiors sure look way improved. The bolstering on the sculpted seat seems really top class.

The steering and the dashboard also look completely new.

The gearshift lever seems to be quite thin although the knob seems to quite good. The 4x4 level also gets the same treatment.

Great catch ottocycle, what other test mules did you notice. Is the new Scorpio also part of the gang? Do click some pictures of that as well.

[shankar.balan]

The 5 spoke wheels - the spokes are a bit thinner in design, but there is a clear resemblance to the Wrangler JK.
The front and sides of course are very much like the JK and bits of the JL too. Not a bad thing really.
I’m not pleased with the rear tail lights sticking out the way they are like a sort of box outside. I wish they could also be integrated neatly into the body. I wonder if there is that stalk mounted top brake light rising above the spare, the way the Jeep Wrangler has - thats a useful thing in misty places and wet roads. I hope the hardtop is flush fitted and can be removed as required, from time to time, to create an open top vehicle.
The gear lever and 4WD lever as mentioned does look a bit thin, yes. They ought to provide a solid tough and spacious central armrest and console between the two front seats.

Hope the rear seat bench is forward facing - I cant see the rear at all.
And I also hope they provide various combinations of use ability of these, in terms of folding over 50:50 and fully folding with roll over and if necessary even make these removable so as to create a super loading bay or a perfect place for some luggage to be carried with ample space for the pet doggy to lie down and rest.

I also hope that they do introduce at some point a powerful and torquey Petrol Automatic, which will be a good thing to buy - a Poor Man’s Wrangler as it were.

If they do, then, depending on the merit of the machine, I may very well give up my beloved Gypsy and buy this new Thar as my beater-utility-fun vehicle.

Jeep Wranglers in India, are way way too overpriced brand new and are likely to be the same in the used market as well so these are NOT an option, unless I wait for another 7 years or so and buy an older used one.

So YES, this new THAR is beginning to look more and more attractive, the more and more these Scoops come out.
And maybe this will be the tipping point for me to go back to my old, long standing loyalty to Mahindra!

[navpreet318]

Originally Posted by ottocycle

Captured some morning shots (including interior) of one of the Thar still staying at the hotel.

Did you happen to see the tire size? Confirmed 18 inchers?

The overall body size ratios seems to be spot on.

[ottocycle]

Originally Posted by diwakarmuthu

@Ottocycle, that's a good catch. .

Thank you. My first scoop actually.

Originally Posted by Traveler

Wow, what a scoop.

Great catch ottocycle, what other test mules did you notice. Is the new Scorpio also part of the gang? Do click some pictures of that as well.

Yesterday there were atleast 25-30 camoflaged vehicles. I could easily recognise Thar, TUV, TUV+, XUV500, Bolero (this was also camoflaged). There also had some camoflaged of their LCV range. Some vehicles were very heavily camoflaged. So I was not able to guess if it was XUV or Scorpio. I have uploaded the pic of that already.

Today as of now there are just 7-8 camoflaged vehicle left. And all or light to medium camoflaged. Mostly TUv, TUV+ and Thar. Looks like they will leave in an hour or two as those guys are near their vehicles now.

Originally Posted by navpreet318

Did you happen to see the tire size? Confirmed 18 inchers?

Did not come to my mind. Novice experience. Didn't know what all to capture.

[mallumowgli]

Originally Posted by ottocycle

Captured some morning shots (including interior) of one of the Thar still staying at the hotel.

Any chance you had a look at the rear seats? Were they forward facing?

[1100D]

Originally Posted by ottocycle

So I was not able to guess if it was XUV or Scorpio. I have uploaded the pic of that already.

This one below is the Scorpio (Ladder frame underneath)

Originally Posted by ottocycle

Attaching few more images from the event that were captured by wife.


Attachment 1947223