The Maruti Jimny is one product that everyone has been eagerly waiting for. Recently we got reports that Maruti is working on a 5-door variant of the Jimny. Mahindra has been watching all these developments with a keen eye. For its part, Mahindra is also working on the Thar 5-door. But before that, Mahindra could have something else in store. We expect Mahindra to be working on a new cheaper variant of the Thar that could sit as the new base variant in the coming time. Why does Mahindra Thar need a new base model and what could this new variant offer? In today’s article, let’s discuss that.

Why does Thar need a new base variant?

Thar base model

Currently, the Thar enjoys a great monopoly in the lifestyle segment. But the launch of the Jimny can spice up things. Maruti is said to make a big bang with the Jimny launch. So Mahindra could introduce this new base variant to lower the starting price. What else can Mahindra achieve with this? This new variant will be quite bare-bones so it can help Mahindra save microchips that can be used for other cars like the XUV700 and the upcoming Scorpio which launches today.

Note – We will be covering he Scorpio launch very extensively on all our platforms. You can checkout any of them or all of them for the best coverage of the ‘Big Daddy of SUVs’.

Thar base model – Specifications

Thar base model

Mahindra will mostly continue with the same engine options. It will get the 2.2-litre diesel and 2.0-litre petrol engine options. So what could Mahindra change? It could get smaller 16-inch alloy wheels rather than 18-inch alloy wheels. However, the aspect ratio would be adjusted accordingly to retain its off-roading capabilities. Will Mahindra remove the 4WD? It will make no sense for Mahindra to remove the 4WD from Thar because that is what it is known for. Mahindra will have to cut expenses from other areas in order to maintain this SUV’s originality.

Lesser features

As mentioned above, this could be a bare-bones variant. So what all could Mahindra get rid of? It could miss out on power windows, fog lamps, rear wiper-washer & music system. Mahindra might give it only a soft-top option to keep it affordable. Moreover, Mahindra could even remove the seats from the second-row and could offer it as an additional dealer fitment to save on initial cost.

Thar base model – Pricing and launch

Thar base model

Mahindra has not confirmed anything about this variant, but the reasons mentioned above do put out a strong case for its introduction. What about the pricing? This new variant could probably start from somewhere from around Rs 10 lakh (ex-showroom) translating to an on-road price of Rs 12.5 lakhs. This will help it take on the Maruti Jimny which is expected to be priced aggressively, keeping in mind that it is coming from Maruti’s stable.

If you have car buying doubts click here to ask! Get the lowest price for car insurance here. For more such content stay subscribed to MotorOctane YoutubeGoogle News Facebook, and Twitter. Also, follow us on Flipboard and Reddit where we have a discussion community.

Comments

Your email address will not be published. All the fields are required.