[finiteinjustice]

Originally Posted by 007 Bond

Yes few projects which are going on trax & gurkha platform are

1) Trax full interior change with new dashboard (development ready)
2) Trax exterior change completely new body ( Should be ready by March 18)
3) Three engine options (2 ltr, 2.65 ltr, 2.2 ltr) (2.2 ltr pending expected Nov 17)
4) 2 chassis tubular & C in C (both are ready)

This will go on products of Trax & Gurkha.

Apart from this there are projects going on Tractors & a Traveller

Came across this news yesterday:


https://motoroctane.com/news/97280-2...urkha-facelift

Any ideas, if something is really brewing.

[4x4addict]

Originally Posted by finiteinjustice

Any ideas, if something is really brewing.

This is some fake speculative news. The Gurkha seen in the picture has been discussed on team-bhp before. If you see carefully the hood and and the fender are completely of a different size. This is done generally to accommodate a bigger engine. Given the abysmal volumes Gurkha sells, they will not incur the cost of sheet metal changes purely to launch a 2018 model.

[4x4addict]

Was there any Force Stall at the Auto Expo? Any changes/updates to the Gurkha? Unable to find anything online.

[finiteinjustice]

Originally Posted by 4x4addict

Was there any Force Stall at the Auto Expo? Any changes/updates to the Gurkha? Unable to find anything online.

Don't think there was any stall put up by FML. Pathetic sales, i guess. Shares have also tumbled by more than 50% since last year.

[4x4addict]

Originally Posted by finiteinjustice

Don't think there was any stall put up by FML. Pathetic sales, i guess. Shares have also tumbled by more than 50% since last year.

Frankly not surprised. With the new Gurkha, I thought there was a blip in the lifeline monitor, but apparently that was a voltage fluctuation.

[bansal.sushant]

The Gurkha looks good and going by the reviews it seems to drive well. What could be the reason for it's abysmal sales, especially when we Indians have an obsession with Thar which is a pretty similar vehicle?

[finiteinjustice]

Earlier model of Gurkha used to sell maybe 5 units per month, while the new model sells around 20-25 units per month. So there is some growth in sales but not by much.

But the memories of all around bad looks of the previous model & the deserved bad press will take some time to erase.

[cool_dube]

Originally Posted by bansal.sushant

The Gurkha looks good and going by the reviews it seems to drive well. What could be the reason for it's abysmal sales, especially when we Indians have an obsession with Thar which is a pretty similar vehicle?

Originally Posted by finiteinjustice

Earlier model of Gurkha used to sell maybe 5 units per month, while the new model sells around 20-25 units per month. So there is some growth in sales but not by much.

But the memories of all around bad looks of the previous model & the deserved bad press will take some time to erase.

Add to that the fact that Force is almost completely associated with the "Tempo Traveler" segment, and therefore very few (genuine) offroad enthusiasts will pick it up over the Thar, which comes with the M&M badge (much more respected in India), a much better engine (on most fronts), and most importantly, the flamboyance factor associated with it.

[4x4addict]

Originally Posted by bansal.sushant

The Gurkha looks good and going by the reviews it seems to drive well. What could be the reason for it's abysmal sales, especially when we Indians have an obsession with Thar which is a pretty similar vehicle?

All the reviews have a very standard theme. It looks rugged and rrives well off-road. However, the interiors are not worthy of 10 Lakh plus car in today's age, secondly the engine is wheezy as soon as you hit the tarmac. Remember this is a this vehicle weighs over 2 Tons and comes with 85bhp/23KGM Torque engine. The Thar CRDe weighs 1.7 tons and comes with 105bhp/26 Kgm Torque. If you see the latest autocar india where they compare the Thar CRDe and Gurkha the Thar has much better acceleration than the Gurkha and is also fun to drive.

Originally Posted by finiteinjustice

But the memories of all around bad looks of the previous model & the deserved bad press will take some time to erase.

The current model is the probably the best version out there. They only need to address the wheezy engine and terrible interiors and they can definitely capture some of the Thar CRDe market.

[quadra]

So I managed to TD both Gurkha and Thar on the same day (back to back) and here are my observations

1. Gurkha has got more space inside. Thar feels cramped.
2. The sheer size of Gurkha is intimidating. Safari Wallas were curious to see someone driving above there trajectory.
3. Thar's engine is fun to drive. Gurkha doesn't disappoint either. It's right behind the Thar.
4. I kind of liked Gurkha's dashboard. Screams function oh and it's made up of aluminium and not plastic. Tough is the word
5. Gurkha easily wins over thar in the 4x4 round with lockable front and rear diffs. On the other hand with rear MLD and peppier engine Thar does have some advantage climbing slopes / trails which require some speed to climb.
6 Factory fitted hard top, snorkel are definitely a plus point of Gurkha.
7. All you need in AT tyres on the Gurkha and you are all set.

PS: please excuse any technical typos.

[saintofinternet]

Originally Posted by Samurai

So... what are the safety features provided in the 2017 Gurkha, apart from seat belts?

Obviously, no air bags, no ABS, no TCS or EBD. I guess the Gurkha moves very slow thanks to the weak engine, therefore no safety features are required.

i think safety should not be considered on the vehicle's speed.

you traveling at 40kmph and someone else hits you at 60kmph the total impact speed it 100 kmph.... so safety is a paramount.

[Aroy]

Originally Posted by saintofinternet

i think safety should not be considered on the vehicle's speed.

you traveling at 40kmph and someone else hits you at 60kmph the total impact speed it 100 kmph.... so safety is a paramount.

Maximum accidents are when you hit either a stationary object or crash into the front car's rear. This is followed by side impact from other vehicles. It is extremely rare to have head-on crash, but they happen. In most crashes the driver and passengers can avoid serious injury if they have the seat belt on.

[sechebe]

Force Gurkha to get a major overhaul.

Please read the details here:
https://www.autocarindia.com/car-new...-update-407809

Seems like Force Motors are quite upbeat about reviving the 4x4.

[AdityaDeane]

Was looking at the Force Gurkha 2017 review by Musafir a.k.a. Joshi and noticed a very funny thing. Seems like Force motors has taken the AC Controls from the humble Tata Nano (without the control slider switch for outside air and recirculated air). It even has a Dummy Button on the left like in the Nano. Don't know how does air re-circulation and outside air option works on it though. Attaching pics for reference...



Dashboard of Force Gurkha Explorer 2017



Dashboard of Tata GenX Nano XTA (even my Twist XT has the same)

Just my 2 cents. No offence to any owners. I love the Gurkha and respect it's off-roading capabilities despite having a bare basic interior.

[AdityaDeane]

Does anyone have any pictures of Gukha Xplorer 5 Door variant? Is it also <4 meters long or is it the size of the Xpedition?


Also, why does Gurkha have 3 Indicators in the front?

They should make Indicator marked 2 as the Indicator, so that it is visible from front as well as side. Remove the indicator marked 3. And use the space for Indicator marked 1 as a Static Cornering Headlamp for better visibility in the night, instead. Just my 2 cents.



Wonder why does Force not employ a 1.5litre engine in the Xplorer series to take tax benefit and keep the 2.5L or upcoming 2.2L engine for the bigger Xpedition variant. Bring both the models with safety features in 4x2 and 4x4x4 variants and capture a bigger price bracket to give buyers more options to choose from. I know Force does not have it's own small engine production, so do what Maruti and Tata do and get an engine from some other manufacturer. Even after paying the royalty they can still price it competitively with the tax benefits, I think. And I know it's asking for too much, but models with Petrol engine (read 1.2 TC engine) and with Automatic Transmission option (in both fuels) as well, probably AMT (again in both fuels) to keep the exorbitant costs in check. Variants should be (I suppose):-

Gurkha Xplorer 1.5 Soft Top 4x2 (ABS/EBD + Dual Airbags)
Gurkha Xplorer 1.5 Soft Top 4x4x4 (ABS/EBD + Dual Airbags)
Gurkha Xplorer 1.5 Hard Top 3 Door 4x2 (ABS/EBD + Dual Airbags)
Gurkha Xplorer 1.5 Hard Top 5 Door 4x2 (ABS/EBD + Dual Airbags)
Gurkha Xplorer 1.5 Hard Top 3 Door 4x4x4 (ABS/EBD + Dual Airbags)
Gurkha Xplorer 1.5 Hard Top 5 Door 4x4x4 (ABS/EBD + Dual Airbags)
Gurkha Xpedition 2.2 Hard Top 4x2 (ABS/EBD + Dual Airbags)
Gurkha Xpedition 2.2 Hard Top 4x4x4 (ABS/EBD + Dual Airbags)

With such a model line up they can easily target Maruti Gypsy and Mahindra Thar buyers as well as buyers of Scorpio or Safari 4x4 because of the more capable off-roading credentials.


And yes, please give a better looking dashboard with Music System and space for Speakers up front and at the back, or on all door as an option or standard at least on top variants.


Integrate the RPM Meter in the Instrument Cluster and use that space for an Analogue Dash Clock instead. Or better still, remove the 2 central AC vents from there, and provide Compass and Inclinometers etc. like in Avventura or Pajero for use during Off-Roading.

And the Gurkha reminds me of Land Rover with these small Roof Windows on top in the image shared by "finiteinjustice" on 5th April 2017.