Check Out The Mahindra Thar In Its Natural Habitat: Ladakh

• The new Thar will be available in three trims: AX, LX and AX(O).

• Convenience features such as a multi-function steering, touchscreen infotainment and forward-facing rear seats offered for the first time.

• Rivals the upcoming Maruti Suzuki Jimny and Force Gurkha.

The wait always seems longer when you’ve been given a taste of something before it is fully available. Such is the case with the new Mahindra Thar: the anticipation of its prices coupled with the exciting package it has to offer. To tease you just a bit more, here’s a visual of the Thar in extreme elements, doing what it was created to do, in Ladakh, presumably for a TV commercial.

Revealed on August 15 after multiple partial sightings, it was confirmed that some of the rumours about the new Thar were true and some just weren’t, justifiably so. It will get multiple factory-fitted roof options for the first time: a convertible soft top, a fixed hard top, and a fixed soft top which was the only option in the previous model. It will also come in three trims: LX, AX, and AX (O).

It's safe to say, the idea behind the new Thar is to broaden its customer base. Aside from the loyal adventure and off-road enthusiasts, the Thar is also looking to cater to families. The list of features will certainly help achieve that. The Thar is no longer a barebones SUV, in fact, it gets enough features to be on par with its competitors. A multi-speaker sound system, a touchscreen infotainment system with some additional goodies while off-roading, and a more premium interior, the Thar gets it all. 

It is powered by the good old 130PS 2.2-litre diesel engine, but there is something new in the mix. The Thar now gets the option of a 150PS 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine. Transmission options also get a breath of fresh air with a 6-speed automatic gearbox added to the otherwise standard option of a 6-speed manual transmission.

While there’s still some time for the launch, regular sightings of the Thar in conditions like these will make time fly past easier. It is expected to launch at a starting price of around Rs 10 lakh. It will lock horns with the upcoming Maruti Suzuki Jimny and the new Force Gurkha, which is set to launch around the same time as the Thar.

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