MUMBAI :

Mahindra Thar has already attained the status of a “cult” vehicle in India. Now, the Maharashtra-based automaker is further diversifying the Thar line-up by introducing a bigger and better version of the worthy off-roader. Yes, you heard that right. Mahindra & Mahindra has unveiled the Thar ROXX - a 5-door version of the standard Thar - in the Indian market. Let’s see what the all- new 5-seater, 5-door SUV has in store for us…

Mahindra Thar ROXX will launch officially on August 15, 77th Independence Day of India, in the domestic market. The bookings are also expected to start at the same time, though, a few Mahindra dealers have already started accepting orders for the Thar ROXX. As far as the price is concerned, the SUV will cost somewhere between INR 15-20 lakh (ex-showroom). Since the regular 3-door version of the Thar starts at INR 11.35 lakh, the Thar ROXX is expected to gain a premium of at least INR 2-3 lakh over the standard model.

Mahindra Thar ROXX will have a different front fascia from the Thar 3-door as it will flaunt a new double-stacked six-bar grille in place of the seven-slot unit seen on the standard Thar. It will retain the round headlamp setup, albeit with LED projector units and C-shaped DRLs. The new SUV will ride on 19-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels while the rear profile will have an LED tail-lamp cluster. Mahindra Thar ROXX will have an enhanced wheelbase as compared to the Thar 3-door in order to accommodate the extra row of seats. There will be a bench seat at the rear with a center armrest instead of two captain seats as seen in the standard Thar. The Thar ROXX is expected to have a generous boot capacity.

Mahindra Thar ROXX will carry a myriad of advanced, premium and striking features in the form of Leatherette upholstery, Sunroof, Push-button start, Automatic climate control with rear AC vents, 360-degree camera, Ventilated front seats, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with 9-speaker Harman-Kardon music system.

As for the safety features, The Thar ROXX is expected to get all four disc brakes and 6-airbags as standard. For the unversed, the regular Thar comes with just front disc brakes and dual front airbags. The new 5-door, 5-seater SUV may also get Level 2 ADAS features on the high-end variants. Mahindra Thar ROXX will carry the same engine and transmission options as the standard Thar. The SUV will feature 1.5L diesel, 2.0L turbo petrol and 2.2L diesel units for buyers. The 1.5L diesel engine with a manual transmission and RWD set-up will be offered in the base trim. On the other hand, the 2.0L petrol and 2.2L diesel engines will be paired with both manual and automatic gearbox choices with a 4x4 drive system.

Mahindra Thar ROXX will be at loggerheads with Force Gurkha 5-door in the Indian market. We can also expect fierce competition from the Jimny 5-door when it launches at a later date in India.