Gurkha 4X2 likely to get three door bodystyle; will serve as an entry point in the line-up.
Force Motors is working on a new 4×2 variant of the 3-door Gurkha as per our sources. The company recently updated the Gurkha SUV with an more powerful engine, many new features and even added a 5-door body style, but the lifestyle SUV remains a niche off-roader with a narrow breadth of abilities. A 4×2 variant of the 3-door Gurkha will be more affordable and could appeal to a wider audience who do not require the hardcore 4×4 hardware.
- 3-door Gurkha expected to get new 4×2 variant
- Will be offered with the existing 140hp, 2.6-litre diesel engine
- No other feature or cosmetic updates expected
Force Gurkha 4×2: rugged SUV for the masses?
Despite the recent raft of updates to make the Gurkha more versatile and user-friendly, sales of the lifestyle off-roader haven’t really picked up. With the deletion of the 4×4 drivetrain, manual transfer case and differential locks, a 4×2 Gurkha could be a lot more affordable.
This approach will be similar to what Mahindra did with the Thar. With tax concessions of the compact SUV class, RWD variants of the Thar now comprise nearly 50 percent of its sales. Most Thar owners actually spend their time in the city, which means the 4×4 hardware in barely put to use.
Force Gurkha 4×2: more details
Force Motors, however, will not receive any tax concessions for the 4×2 Gurkha because the engine will not meet the maximum displacement limit of the diesel compact SUV class which is limited to 1.5-litres. It will continue with the 140hp, 2.6-litre diesel engine, and will only be offered with a 5-speed manual gearbox.
We, however, do not expect any other changes as it was updated only recently. The Gurkha 4×2 will be offered in a 4-seater configuration with forward-facing rear seats. For reference, the Gurkha 3-door is priced at Rs 16.75 lakh (ex-showroom), but the 4×2 variant, when launched, could be priced closer to Rs 15 lakh. It will squarely be aimed at the Thar 4×2 which is priced between Rs 11.35 lakh and Rs 14.10 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
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