The badass Indian off-roader, Gurka is getting a new variant in its lineup. Recently, a brochure of specifications of the UV was leaked online. The upcoming Force Gurkha Xtreme will be similar to the current Gurkha Xplorer but gets some updates in engine and body. Also, a new suspension unit is put on the UV.
When it comes to off-roading, people mainly remember the Thar or Gypsy and some other high-end vehicles. However, this one is an underdog, ready to attack if challenged. The Force Gurka is not much popular as a UV. Mostly, everyone remembers it as the transport vehicle used in hilly regions. But it has a hardcore off-roader, challenging the Thar, in its lineup. The upcoming Force Gurkha Xtreme will take major underpinnings from the outgoing, Xplorer. The new UV gets a Mercedes-derived 2.2 Litre Diesel engine that produces around 140 BHP. It is nothing compared to the 85 BHP churning 2.6 Litre engine that Xplorer uses. It will come in a 3-door avatar, like the current outgoing one.
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The new engine will be a derivative of the Mercedes-Benz OM611 unit. It is a 2.2 Litre diesel engine that produces around 140 BHP worth of horses and 321 Nm worth of torque. In comparison, the Mahindra Thar produces around 105 BHP max. power, quite lesser than the upcoming one. The Gurkha Xtreme also receives a new gearbox, with the Mercedes derived 5-speed manual transmission that links to the engine with a dual-mass flywheel. Interestingly, this engine was last seen on the Force One SUV.
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The Force Gurkha Xtreme gets a whole new suspension setup. It gets a new Multilink setup, which makes the front track wider by 40 mm. The off-road kit will get a low-range transfer case with front and rear differential locks. However, it misses out on the shift-on-the-fly system. It continues with the disc brakes in the front and drum brakes in the rear. Other minor visual updates include new alloy wheels and orange bonnet mounted lamps instead of the earlier clear lens units.
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The features will be same as of the outgoing Xplorer. The features will include Snorkel Intake for high water wading ability, 4X4 low range options, improved AC, Steel Bumper for Front and Back, Fog Lamps and an independent front suspension. The Xplorer is available in 3-door and 5-door options and is priced at Rs 9.98 Lakhs and Rs 11.91 Lakhs (ex-showroom) respectively. Expect the new Force Gurkha Xtreme to be priced at a little premium starting from Rs 12 Lakhs to Rs 14 Lakhs (ex-showroom). Yes, the price is a little too high for a lifestyle vehicle, but die-hard off-roaders would certainly be interested in this.
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