Mahindra's facelifted Thar spotted testing in Nashik

Mahindra has started testing the latest iteration of the Thar, the test mule of which was spotted testing in Nashik recently. The off-roader is expected to come with minor cosmetic changes and there are speculations that there will be changes to the mechanicals as well.

The refreshed vehicle that was spotted in a disguised avatar hinted at some changes that the manufacturer might bring in. The camouflage suggests that the hood, side panels and wheel arches might be revised a bit to set it apart from the one currently on sale. The camouflage also extends to the dashboard of the off-roader, suggesting that there will be some revisions to the interior as well. We hope the layout and the quality of material used in the cabin are upgraded to give the owner a better feel.

The Mahindra Thar, in the market now,is powered by a 2,523cc four-cylinder DI engine that churns out 63bhp of power and 182.5Nm of torque. There is also a variant powered by the 2,498cc CRDe diesel mill producing 105bhp of power and 247Nm of torque. These engine options are expected to continue with the availability of a lower capacity diesel motor as well, which will also power the upcoming U301 compact SUV. The soft-top and hard-top variants will also continue to be offered.

The last update to the Thar was in September 2013, when Mahindra made improvements to the canopy and front axles locking hubs were added. The cabin was equipped with better quality door handles and AC switches. Last year, a special limited edition of the Thar (30 units) was launched in a new java brown colour, sporting new decals, protectors on headlamps and tail lamps and seats and floor mats with special edition branding. This year we can expect a comprehensive makeover for the off-roader that will still offer the rugged look and the invincible feel.

The Scorpio was the most important launch in 2014 for Mahindra and 2015 is going to be a very important year in terms of new product launches. This Thar facelift, the new Bolero, S101 compact SUV and XUV 500 facelift, all are expected to be introduced to the Indian market by the end of this year. The company has brought in a lot of new features and equipped their products with new technology making us hope that most of the upcoming products will be equipped with the same. Mahindra will surely have an advantage if they provide the Indian consumer with all these viable features at an affordable price.

Image Courtesy: Motorbeam