Mahindra & Mahindra, the homegrown automaker has officially announced that the company is working on a 5-door version of the Thar lifestyle SUV. The SUV is scheduled to be launched by 2023. A new media report claims that Mahindra is likely to push the 5-door Mahindra Thar more than the 3-door variant.
The 5-door Mahindra Thar will be more profitable than the 3-door model. It is also stated that the Thar 3-door could be offered as a made-to-order model. The lifestyle SUV in its current avatar has received an overwhelming response from buyers. It currently received over 75,000 bookings since its launch in late 2020, and commands a waiting period of over 1 year.
The report also claims that the new 5-door Mahindra Thar won’t be just an extended version of the existing model with a redesigned top hat. The company is reportedly working on the suspension setup to improve the overall ride quality. Mahindra will also offer lighter steering in the 5-door model.
Mahindra believes that the 5-door Thar market response will be similar to the existing model and the XUV700. The new 5-door variant will be based on the modified version of the existing platform. It will have longer wheelbase, and extended body to add new rear passengers’ doors. Adding to it, the SUV will offer a larger boot space.
The new Thar 5-door will share the engine options with the 3-door Thar, which includes a 2.0-litre mStallion turbocharged petrol and a 2.2-litre mHawk turbocharged diesel. While the former is good for 152bhp and 320Nm, the oil burner produces 132bhp and 320Nm of torque. Transmission choices will include a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed torque convertor automatic. Four-wheel-drive layout will be offered as standard. However, Mahindra Thar 5-door will get the more powerful version of these engines.
The SUV could receive a 180mStallion Pro turbo petrol engine, which will be more powerful and faster than the existing petrol unit. This engine is expected to allow the new Thar to achieve a speed of up to 180kmph. Adding to it, the diesel engine could be tweaked to produce up to 160bhp of power.
Source – Team-BHP
