When it came to offroading, there was not much in the Indian market. Then came in the Mahindra Thar, an off-roader and the torchbearer of Mahindra’s legacy of 4X4 vehicles. What started with the CJ3A Jeep in 1949 has now come down to the 2020 Mahindra Thar. If you want to learn more about the history of Jeep CJs, click here. Today we’ll be taking a look at the cult which grew in just a decade. The Mahindra Thar and 10 years of being in the offroading. Let’s go offroading!
2010: Mahindra Thar Launched!
Mahindra Major, a 4X4 vehicle launched in the 2000s was discontinued. The company had to fill in the gap that was made. And that is when Thar came into existence. Within no time the Thar became one of the most famous off-roaders in the market. It was a tough competition to the Maruti Suzuki Gypsy, one of the most popular 4X4 at that time. The company offered the Thar with a 2.6-litre and a 2.5-litre. Both the engines were capable of producing over 63hp of power and 182Nm of torque.
Mahindra Thar became famous among the offroading community in no time. Thar offered great offroading compatibility. It was not very good at the roads though. The truck-inspired leaf spring suspension offered a sense of hard suspension on the roads. The power was adequate for off-roading yet it felt underpowered on normal roads.
2015: Thar gets an update!
A new Thar with a vintage stance came in 2015. The interiors were given a more premium feel. The BS4-compliant 2.5-litre CRDe engine which could churn out 105hp of power and 247Nm of torque. It is equipped with a Bob Warner transfer case too. The Thar’s 44 degrees of approach angle and 27 degrees of departure are enough to keep any off-roader in India to think before competing.
2020: Mahindra Thar 700 | The Last of its Kind!
This marked the end of the icon or rather made it immortal. Mahindra produced 700 units Thar 700 to commemorate the legacy. The limited-edition Thar came equipped with a 2.5-litre CRDe engine which produces 105hp of power and a peak torque of 247Nm. And the Mahindra Thar was discontinued, just like that.
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2020 Thar: Timeless Silhouette, Redefined!
The cult was curious. People were getting restless. And then, the company launched the 2020 iteration of the Thar on 2nd October 2020. The robust design, wider stance, ultimate powerful engines and automatic transmission, this Thar is the best till date Mahindra has offered.
With the reveal of Thar 2020, Mahindra has introduced the first car with the new era engines. The iconic offroader gets the all-new mStallion 150 T-GDi engine. And that’s not all. It has also been equipped with the mHawk 130 diesel engine option. Let’s take a look at the specs of both the engines.
2020 Mahindra Thar | Engine Specs
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| Engine | mStallion 150 T-GDi | mHawk 130 CRDe |
| Capacity | 1,997 | 2,184 |
| Power | 150hp @5,000rpm | 130hp @3,750rpm |
| Torque | 300Nm @1,250-3,000rpm (MT) 320Nm @1,500-3,000rpm (AT) | 300Nm @1,600-2,800rpm |
It’s not just the exterior, Mahindra Thar has been upgraded from the inside too. The full-black interiors do make sure that Thar is a statement in itself. The front seats with body-hugging contours make sure that you feel comfortable, even on the toughest roads. Driver seat has also got the height and lumbar support adjustments.
The dashboard also keeps the retro feel alive while being equipped with the modern-day tech. The roof-mounted speakers make sure that you can groove to beat of your choice, even while wading through the water. There is more than one reason to say that the 2020 Thar is the ultimate offroader.
Take a look: 10 Reasons Why 2020 Mahindra Thar is an Unmatched Offroader!
So these were the glorious 10 years of the offroader. What do you think about 2020 Thar a revolution? Let us know in the comments section below.
