As Mahindra is gearing up to launch the Thar RWD 4×2 in India, new spy images of the car have surfaced online. We can note that the pictured Thar gets a new colour, which has so far not been offered on the lifestyle SUV.
In terms of pricing, it is said that the new Thar 4×2 will be priced around INR 1.5 lakh lower than the 4×4 models. That said, we should await the official price announcement for the exact pricing.
Over the past few months, Mahindra has been on a feature revision spree for the Thar. Not only have the features gone down, but also the price has been hiked multiple times. Now, to stay competitive and have a low starting price for the Thar, Mahindra will be introducing a new 4×2 variant.
Apart from the mechanical changes like the lack of 4×4 hardware, the car maker is offering a new Blazing Bronze colour option. We are not yet sure if this will be exclusive to the 4×2 or be offered across the range.
The colour is currently offered on the Mahindra XUV300.
The first major change in the 4X2 Thar is the lack of 4×4 hardware. This will result in a lower weight as well as the fact that many users will not be taking their cars off-the-road. Hence the decision to remove 4X4 and lower the price point of the car.
Thankfully, Mahindra has not skimped on the feature front and the Thar 4X2 will get the same set of equipment like the Thar 4×4. On the inside, the only change is the missing low-range shifter and instead of that Mahindra has given a small cubby to store things.
In terms of engines, Mahindra will equip the Thar 4X2 with a 1.5-litre diesel engine and retain the same existing 2.0-litre turbo petrol.
The 1.5-litre unit currently does duty on the XUV300 and the Marazzo. While both these cars are front wheel drive, the Thar will be rear wheel drive. This engine will be paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox. It is not yet known if Mahindra will offer an automatic gearbox here. Despite the smaller size, the torque output of the engine is comparable to the larger 2.2L diesel engine. The 1.5-litre engine develops 121 BHP @ 3,500 rpm and a peak torque of 300 Nm @ 1,750-2,500 rpm.
The 2.0-litre petrol unit is the same as the current offering. It makes 150 BHP @ 5,000 rpm and 300 Nm @ 1,250-3,000 rpm for the MT and 320 Nm @ 1,500-3,000 rpm for the AT. The petrol unit too is offered with a choice of 6-speed manual or automatic gearboxes.
Also Read – Mahindra Thar 1.5L diesel specifications leaked.