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Some engineering deets on Thar ROXX

Link

Trust me, I'm sold on this! I'd been waiting ever since the 3dr was launched. However, like everyone has mentioned, the 3dr has its own charms and I guess kids like it for its rugged looks. I guess they'll change their opinion once they TD the 5dr version for all its comforts.

Not sure if I'd go for a diesel and wonder what the FE for petrol will be. The 3dr is already quite expensive when it comes to that so I'm sure 5dr will be even worse? Any point in buying the diesel at this point, from regulations point of view?

Thanks for the amazing review as always.

Out of sheer curiosity, I checked OLX and found over 50 Mahindra Thars listed for sale in Kerala just yesterday and today!
Now let me check the number of Jimnys listed. :)

Yeah...not going to happen. Mahindra marketing says such a beast will not sell in India. I think they are very wrong but for some reason they have not asked me for my opinion. Maybe they are shy.

Mahindra marketing has had its ears to the ground and the rest of its head stuck up its exhaust pipe for decades. It took an extensive write-in campaign from thousands of members of this very web site to get the original Thar produced and launched at all. The older members of this site will recall that the father of the Thar was Mahindra Senior Engineer Behram Dhabhar, finally seen fit to be named a Distinguished member of this site after some years (Apparantly he had a lot to learn yet.). Thar was his baby, all the way...mostly, sort of. On this very website you will find Behram berating Mahindra marketing and even the topmost Mahindra management to their faces, in writing and in language that was plain, direct and insulting in the extreme. Whatever else Behram was, he did not mince words.

Now Mahindra is producing the Roxx, a vehicle whose chief competitor will be its own Scorpio-N. Brilliant!

I have to echo the words of my friend vivekdewanta. Simplicity, function, reliability and toughness. Mahindra, why didst thou foresake me?

Want to see a great vehicle? Can you see yourself cruising the Himalayas and the Deccan in this 4X4 puppy? Chevy Blazer a la 1986. 5.7 litre V-8 engine making about 220 bhp and tweakable to a whole lot more. This is a motor that makes you want to turn off your ICE an just kick back and listen to it. You guys are getting short changed by the Indian auto industry and you should demand a lot more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHFWUWGIqS4

After watching the Launch presentation, some thoughts about why this vehicle has all these qualities.

Value engineering has become a bad word over the years with it being clubbed with planned obsolescence, but ROXX is not an example of this.

Quote from the Internet.

It involves using less expensive materials and methods while maintaining the product's functionality. The goal is to minimize the overall cost of production without affecting the quality of the product

ROXX is an all new vehicle in that sense that looks like Thar. You gain in refinement, technology, space, comfort, most likely a 5 star rated vehicle - so safety as well without it becoming something else - so the brand is protected.

All this happened because ROXX is essentially a value engineered ScorpioN with the money saved being invested in what makes sense for the target audience - The sunroof for the SUV buyer and the additional Offroad tech to maintain its character \ capability etc.

Also no one in their right mind would have thought that a Thar would go up against mainstream SUVs, while most of the industry would have been looking at an XUV5OO reborn with 5 seats to counter the likes of Creta , its something else altogether that has been released into the market for the same space.

Interestingly both Tata and Mahindra has done this around the same time - completely different strategies to enter that market though.

But - A Creta buyer will have a certain running cost in mind, ROXX would exceed it by a lot. The insurance, the tyres, the fuel, among many things that are going to be more expensive with ROXX - So I do not think that a strong product like Creta is going to be affected as much as the other larger 5 seater crossovers.

Some questions for Team-bhp mods for the extended review of the 5 door Thar.

1. Ergonomics: Does the Thar allow for lanky folks to comfortably drive it? Few youtube reviews have pointed out the left knee hits the center console? How bad would this be for skinny folks around 5'10"?

2. Real-world fuel economy: The numbers are inconsistent on news media. For folks living in cities with insane traffic what will be the expected FE. Are we realistically looking at a 5-7 Kmpl :coldsweat for the AX7L -Petrol, in metro city traffic?

3. High-speed stabilty: Does the 5d lose confidence at ~110kmph and higher? Cant it reach mid triple digits for shorts bursts, say overtaking in a expressway without feeling like it will topple over?

4. Acoustic windshield: Technically what is this? thicker glass? specially-treated glass? Does it actually help? You had mentioned wind noise at 90kmph. NVH wise I'm assuming 90-120kmph with music is a comfortable experience for folks travelling in the 5D.

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Aside - I do not endorse breaking speed limits and endangering fellow motorists, drive responsibly :)

That is very well said, most people will overlook these things and realize it in their 3rd year of ownership once a few mechanical parts also need a change.

In dept details of the Roxx, video in Tamil.
https://youtu.be/kuy3JUFJSEQ?si=WLeg0oG6jCLqJlwH

I am a little confused with the placement of the airbags:
* 1 each for driver and front passenger
* 1 each on driver and front passenger seat
* 1 each on B-pillar
* I also see 1 each on C-pillar (reference below)


Am I reading this wrong - excuse my ignorance, but the pic got me confused.

Seeking further clarification of this point, Mahindra's recommendation for the 2L (175HP tune) engine's petrol grade is 91 RON?

Unlike say Skoda 2L engines which are recommended to fed 95 RON.

I think the vehicle is launched at a very competitive price. Mahindra has not been greedy like Maruti. Perhaps its time Fiat-Jeep brought the Renegade to India at a similar price point (pic below)

Airbags on the B & C pillar is considered as 1 single airbag (side curtain airbags), which makes it total 6 airbags in total.

* 1 each for driver and front passenger (2)
* 1 each on driver and front passenger seat (2)
* 1 each on B-pillar & C-pillar (2)

No, there isn’t an airbag behind the B-pillar. Instead, what you have is a curtain airbag that extends from the C-pillar all the way to the A-pillar. It’s mostly concealed within the outer edge of the roof liner.

You could see the same from the video uploaded by rakesh_r(#143)

I am 5'10" and lanky. The driver's left knee does touch the centre fascia. However, it's something I have noticed in many cars I have driven over the years. You will get used to it.

In a short media drive, no one can actually give you a correct FE figure. But yes, do not expect much from the petrol. Heavy car with a powerful turbo-petrol engine and an AT will not be efficient in the city.

We never touched 110 km/h. Maximum indicated speed was 106 km/h. Accounting for a speedo error, that could be under 100. It was stable enough at the speeds we managed to touch. There was more than enough reserve power for quick overtaking. It feels like a body on frame SUV. Don't treat it like a low-slung sedan and you will be fine. Anyway, going faster on Kerala's roads (or most other roads in our country) would be really stupid.

Acoustic glass consists of 2 or more glass sheets. NVH levels are pretty good -more than just acceptable. You don't have to raise your voice while talking to fellow occupants.

Is it only the windshield that’s acoustic or all glasses of the vehicle ?