Force Gurkha spotted near Mumbai with registration plates

Earlier this month, Force Motors announced that the deliveries of the Gurkha will commence from September, 2014. Meanwhile our spies have spotted about 11 Gurkhas with temporary registration plates plying on the outskirts of Mumbai. 

Force launched the Gurkha in February, 2013 at the SIAM International Bus and Utility Show. Despite dealers accepting bookings for the vehicle since its launch, deliveries didn’t happen. The company has said that they have been tweaking the Gurkha since its unveiling based on the feedback of people who have driven it. The Gurkha launched last year wasn’t Euro IV compliant; however, the model to be launched this year is expected to comply with the current emission norms.

Mercedes-Benz derived 2.6-litre turbocharged diesel engine producing 85bhp and 230Nm of torque will be the engine of choice. The engine will be mated to the G18 Mercedes-Benz five-speed gearbox powering all four wheels.

It will be available in three models, two soft-top and a top-of-the-line hard-top version. The Gurkha will be one rugged off-roader and will sit on a ladder frame chassis. It will get locking differentials (front and rear), ladder frame chassis, transfer case, snorkel exhaust, fog lamps. Creature comforts will be limited to power steering and AC.

Though Force has indicated that the deliveries of the Gurkha will start from September, we expect the vehicle to be available sooner than that. All these 11 vehicles weren’t on test as all were wearing temp plates and this gives us scope for guessing these might be vehicles to be delivered to customers. Will Force deliver the Gurkha to customers who had booked it last year and are still waiting to buy one? If that’s what they are planning on can we expect the car to be sold at the prices they announced last year? We shall wait until for official announcement from the company.