The all-new Thar surely has off-roading enthusiasts excited. Spotted testing yet again, this new generation model is looking wider than ever. Also, the styling cues similar to the Jeep Wrangler especially at the front end are uncanny. The all-new Thar is expected to make a debut sometime in 2020, may be at the Auto Expo 2020 in India.
From the spyshots, one can clearly note that the new Thar is wider than the current model. The current Thar will have to be phased out because it is not going to meet the emission norms, and even the basic crash test safety norms which will come into strict action very soon. The new Thar is surely going to be more safer, and also, more efficient.
The engine is going to be BSVI compliant, considering the launch timeline it will have. We do not know if Mahindra has developed an all-new engine for the 2020 Thar, or if the current 2.2 mHawk diesel engine can be plonked in here which can be reworked to meet the new emission norms. Of course, the Thar will get 4×4 with low-ratio for good off-roading abilities.
One interesting feature to note on the new Thar, from the spyshots, is that the rear suspension could be coil sprung with gas struts. There are no leaf springs to be seen next to the rear wheels. This will allow for a more road-friendly driving dynamics, although off-road capabilities might take a hit to some extent. Be assured Mahindra would have thought about this already.
The test prototype of the new Thar was running with a soft top, conventional 7-slat Mahindra grille, marker lamps on the front fenders, flared wheel arches, tail lamps similar to the current units and a side step. However, this body is unfinished for now, as the production-ready car will be much different with better bumpers as per pedestrian safety norms, alloy wheels hopefully and the likes. Expect a similar sideways facing seat layout for the rear occupants in the Thar.
For safety, we can expect at least dual airbags and ABS on the new Thar. This is missing on the current model.
