New Mahindra Thar hard top spied testing yet again

- The new Thar will come with a factory-fitted hardtop.

- It is expected to employ a new 2.0-litre diesel engine.

- The new Mahindra Thar could get an automatic transmission.

The new generation Mahindra Thar was spied testing in Coimbatore earlier this week. As can be seen in the spy shots, the new Thar will come equipped with a factory-fitted hardtop. That said, Mahindra is also likely to offer a soft-top model as an option. The new Thar is likely to be launched in India in the first quarter of 2020.

The new Mahindra Thar seems to have grown in dimensions (length and width). That said, the near-production test prototype maintains the iconic 'Jeep' design that we all are familiar with. The new-gen Thar will be based on a new platform, which is aimed at improving its ride and handling, and its off-road abilities as well. Further, the next-gen Thar will sport completely new interiors, and spy shots have revealed that it will feature front-facing rear seats with three-point seat belts.

Under the hood, the new Mahindra Thar is likely to use an all-new 2.0-litre diesel engine that will reportedly pump out 140bhp. The same powertrain will also power the next-generation Scorpio and XUV500, albeit in a different state of tune. The Thar is expected to get a new six-speed low-range gearbox with a 4x4 drive-train. It will come with a differential-lock and limited-slip functionalities. A few spy shots have also suggested that the Thar might also get an automatic transmission.

The next-generation Thar is expected to be priced in the bracket of Rs 7-11 lakhs (ex-showroom). Being a true-blue off-roader, the new Mahindra Thar will compete against the Force Gurkha Xtreme.

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