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Wow, thats great to know, I am planning to upgrade my current car into a proper 4x4 for my overlanding trips. The ground clearance of Gurkha was disappointing and inclining me more towards Thar but knowing that updated Gurkha is coming with higher GC I'll choose Gurkha over Thar any day. Eagerly waiting for it. :Cheering:

I had the Mahindra Thar 2015 Facelift version as my daily driver in Delhi from 2015-2022 and i can tell its totally doable.
Within the city especially, its very easy to drive, given the short wheel base making it easy to manoeuvre. Has enough power for quick over takes and living in Delhi-NCR provides one with enough security; where a rash driver or DTC bus thinks twice before messing around on the road.

This is same for all new Gurkha's. Noticed this on mine too.

Wow this seems like a great news. Looks like its on a lift kit with 31.1 inch tires and it will solve lot of issues. Now it will look proportionate as well due to tires matching the body size. Without the kit the wheel wells can't take above 30 inch tires. Good to see Force hurrying up the fix for one of the most comfortable SUV available.

Perhaps it is the angle of the camera. Having read your post earlier, I gave a very close look from various angles moving my head all around the front corners like a thali plate doing Aarti (picture this for laughs! :D) and I am convinced it is an optical illusion.

I had my first look at the interiors of the Gurkha today and I am impressed! I wanted to buy as soon as it was launched then missed some weekend plans to visit the showroom and then was further mislead by silly opinionated posts by members about the interior build quality (looks like a case of not matching expectations of an Audi while owning a Maruti probably LOL). For example, I found nothing tacky about the TPMS being an add-on above the dashboard instead of being integrated - from the drivers eye-level it looks just fine! From front side to rear too, the fit and finish was just fine again! For a 4x4 enthusiast whose primary acquisition goal is 4x4 off-road capability in a new comfortable city driving avatar this is a real pleaser! I am definitely not waiting for a Jimny without snorkel or roof rack from factory in the RTO registration card. Mostly because I trust the engine being used also in the Tempo Traveller that has been used a trillion miles combined in a mass-market scenario.

Looks like Force has dropped the ball in the low suspension G.C (possibly the off-road consultant and expertise used for the Gurkha 2.2ltr Extreme or the giant wheeled overlanding showpiece at the 2020 expo, was not re-hired when designing and developing this new model). Luckily I followed the TBHP advice of never buying a new model car in the very first year of production (actually figured this out after reading so many posts about niggles in new production cars over the years). But now I am running out of patience and intend to buy it as soon as the improved version with higher G.C is available in showrooms. Looks like owners of the 1st lot models will have to take it back to the garage to retrofit the new suspension mods at their own expense for the improved G.C.

Yay! I cant wait to get my hands on it! Never been so excited about a car in a long time.

PS: On that note - how many of the new Gurkha owners have got any discount offers on accessories or otherwise? The showroom guy said zero discounts and price increases by 40k from 1st August.

Force Gurkha 5-door spotted ahead of launch. Gets 255/65/18 wheels, 3rd row side facing seats.













Source : MotorBeam

Ragul, just like you, I am waiting for the next version of the car with the GC issue (and maybe other niggles too) sorted out at the factory level.

About a discount - I've heard from a credible source that it is possible. If you want, I can PM you the details.

BTW - Today, a member posted pictures of the 5 door version "on test". What do you think about it? Personally, I think, it now looks too long a car (almost resembling a Trax). I seem to like the boxy Gurkha. Also, I think, making the car longer and heavier will drop the mileage even more.

Members - Please share your thoughts too.

The Engine is the same or is it going to be powerful because with increased weight or dimensions, it will need to have something better. I can just imagine how much more practical this will be. It looks very nice and can appeal to end-users who are looking for an actual 5 seats vehicle.

It also seems that the interiors are a bit different. Does the steering wheel looks different or is it just me. Is there any time-line for the launch ?

Looks awesome,just like a g wagon.
Hopefully they give it the higher powered engine.

The same engine in Tempo Traveller is tuned for 115bhp and 350nm Torque while it is 90bhp 250nm for the SWB Gurkha so I am sure they will tweak it for the 5 door.

Thanks will DM you tomorrow. The TT bus is claimed to give >17kmpl on the same BS6 engine in the marketing literature with higher output while real world older BS3/4 buses supposedly give 8kmpl or more. I think I will still buy the SWB Gurkha but only after the 5 door is available in showroom for inspection and comparison.

Is that a grab handle on the B pillar? If yes, that's a nice addition.

Now this is exactly what I'm looking for, atleast from the outside. Boxy design, bigger tyres. 3rd row side facing seats doesn't bother me as those will be removed anyway.

I hope Force provide a 6MT gear box with this one.

Looking forward to it.

Its with time that we will see as to what tune they will put this engine to. Can they push it to 125 or 130 horse-power and have the transmission work accordingly. I am sure the suspension setup will be different and even better than when it is right now on the current Gurkha. :Cheering:

Even the 12 seater TT with larger body - all models are limited to 115bhp. No reason for Force to do custom tuning for a 5 seater car. Just plonk the TT engine and enjoy cost savings in R&D and service operations.

Since Force is in no way looking to achieve any respectable GNCAP score with this vehicle - they can put side-facing jump seats in the back. That's quite good in a way. Especially for an off-roader and as a security escort with armed men/women onboard - this 4x4 can be quite a potent vehicle.

At the same time - the re-introduction of 5 doors on this body design, brought back memories of the 90s for me. When the (then new) TRAX (rented with a driver by our Coach) used to take me & bunch of my friends anywhere in the state for sports / vacations / excursions! Simple curvatures here and there, creases here, rounded lamp covers there. Somehow this thing has managed to survive the test of time. I have always been a fan of the GURKHA - and that will continue with the 5 door version. (Unlike the Jimny - I adore the 3 door and simply hate the 5 door one!)

(P.S. - Force - I don't see a rear wiper on this one. About time you added it to the Gurkha. Its not that complicated really. And an off-roader sure needs it. Mahindra can do something to the Thar about it too please.)

It looks like the 90hp 250nm torque versions of the same engine get the G28 gearbox while the 115hp/350nm versions get the G32 gearbox with double flywheel. From my experience as a passenger in a TT I do like the way the bus pulls its load with that feeling of low-end torque. I wonder if the 5-door will come with the 115hp/350nm G32 gearbox?