[sushan]

Everyone responds when MSIL comes with a launch. The excitement for Jimny is palpable. But I don’t think it will eat into the core base of the Thar. The primary market base for Thar is the urban commuter who craves road presence and not the true blue off-road guy. Jimny doesn’t provide anything close to that road presence.

Much of the excitement for Jimny is around the nostalgia for Gypsy. It’s a phenomenon seen in people born in the last century like me, and not among millennials. That’s not to say that Jimny isn’t capable as a good off-roader.

Mahindra should really be focusing on providing the best Thar to its user base rather than trying to respond to Jimny with stripped down variants which ultimately won’t find takers.

[DicKy]

Bless competition.
Just when we thought that the RWD Thar was for rivalling the Jimny, Mahindra has gone for another base 4x4 version. Or is it that Mahindra has some insider info and the Jimny pricing is making them jittery?
Though IMO, this is more of the base version that would have anyday come, but Mahindra may have wanted to postpone to create lifestyle image for the Thar. I am happy with just AC and power steering, but wonder what they are going to delete in this AX version? Power windows? Height adjustable driver seat? Rear defogger?
Though the wording; Thar AX AC reminds me of older 4x4 Mahindras. Either have power steering or have 4x4.

Originally Posted by SN88

How about launching a base variant which is a fwd with a softer comfort suspension set up? Wont it have many city takers?

RWD or FWD is not going to make any difference to ride quality. It is just that in our dear market, most RWDs (except for ze Germans) have been BoF UVs. And our market doesn't have any dearth of FWD models, so let the base Thar be RWD. Though I do believe that by the next generation, Mahindra would make the Thar a sub brand and introduce a boxy small monocoque FWD crossover for volumes.

[aravind422]

Well if Mahindra wants to prevent some of their customers leaning towards Maruti or Force Motors for their next buy, they could resurrect the Thar DI

Of course, the pollution control norms, the depleting Ozone layer and the melting polar ice caps and all would be a big hinderence (and we certainly should consider all that).

Its just that I cant think of any zero‐electronics solid axle heavy duty workhorse available anymore.

Besides, the cost would also come down (if Mahindra wanted it to). Earlier they used to arrogantly sell the bare bones DI at about the same price as the bolero (which had a proper body/cabin bolted onto the chassis, power windows, AC, a proper 3 person rear seat with doors too, etc.). It was the take it or leave it attitude back then.

So one thing is for sure, Mahindra fears the little Jimny

[car_guy1998]

I feel they should've introduced RWD 1.5D AT at ₹13L ex-showroom price for people like me, who are more keen on getting a jeep as a city commuter albeit without 4x4 since we barely do offroading and wants better FE as Petrol AT is notorious for its FE of 6-7 Kmpl.

Not introducing the RWD D AT is a missed opportunity by Mahindra. 10 days ago, one of my friends had bought a Thar RWD D MT and he is not regretting in buying it though he aimed for RWD D AT, which Mahindra could not launch. He said, "if Mahindra could've launched RWD D AT in Thar, then I'd be the first one to book it" and even, my thought was the same as his.

My dad was keen on getting the Thar Diesel RWD as a second car but I've been resisting him from doing so as it lacks AT.