Force Gurkha 4X2: Gearing to Compete With Thar RWD

Force Motors is now planning to bring a 4X2 variant of their offroader, the Force Gurkha 3-door. This development may have been inspired by the immense popularity of the Mahindra Thar RWD (rear-wheel-drive) in India. 

This homegrown rugged off-roader is a popular pick amongst off-road enthusiasts, however, it's an underrated off-roader, unlike the Mahindra Thar. Now cutting down the 4X4 layout would result in a price drop, which will most likely boost the sales of the Force Gurkha. 

The vehicle is expected to arrive with the same Mercedes-Benz-sourced 2.6-litre diesel mill. This engine was recently updated in the 2024 Force 5 and 3-door Gurkha, which now produces 140hp, up from 90bhp. It will only the two wheels via a standard five-speed manual transmission. 

In the recent overhaul, the 2024 Force Gurkha has received features like a touchscreen infotainment screen with support for Android Auto and AppleCarplay, a digital instrument console, and so on. Similarly, the RWD variant is expected to have similar offerings but may lack some features, unlike the 4x4 versions of the Gurkha. 

Market Positioning

The fully-loaded Force Gurkha 3-door 4x4 currently starts at Rs 16.75 lakh, while the fully-loaded 5-door version is priced at Rs 18 lakh. All are ex-showroom figures. But, once the 4x2 version is launched, it will lock horns with the Mahindra Thar RWD. 

Source