The Mahindra Thar #1 has been auctioned for Rs 1.11 crore, the winning bid coming from Aakash Minda from Delhi. The proceeds from this auction will be donated to organizations engaged in Covid-19 relief work.
Mahindra, in a very noble cause, had put the first unit of the new Thar #1 up for auction, in order to raise funds for battling COVID-19. It will be the Number 1 Thar, bearing the serial number 1. Yesterday, on the final day of the auction, the bids crossed the Rs 1 crore mark. The Mahindra Thar #1 went out in the auction for an amount of Rs 1.11 crore, which has come from Delhi’s Aakash Minda. Money from this auction will be donated to three organizations engaged in COVID-19 relief work – PM Cares Fund, Swadeshi Foundation and Naandi Foundation.
The auction started on September 24 and was active till September 29. There were over 5,400 registrations for the Thar#1 and bidding started at a reserve price of Rs 25 lakh. In just the first day of the auction, the bids crossed the Rs 80 lakh mark. Participants could bid in multiples of Rs 25,000 and on the very first day, the price of the Thar #1 was already more than three times the reserve price. Over the next four days, prices eventually crossed the rs 90 lakh mark, until the highest bid on the morning of the final day of the auction stood at Rs 92.50 lakh.
But the bids were still far from over. As the day progressed, more bids came flowing in, until it was 6pm when the window was shut and the highest bid was by Aakash Minda for Rs 1.11 Crore. Minda will have to pay part of the winning bid amount to Mahindra, and the rest of the amount will directly go to one of the three aforementioned organizations engaged in Covid-19 relief work. Mahindra will also match the winning amount and donate it to one of the three organizations chosen by Minda.
The #1 Thar will come with special inscriptions and embellishments to differentiate it. There will be a customizable badge on the vehicle with your initials and no.1 on the decorative vin plate of the dashboard. Then there will be leatherette seats specially made for this version. Also, Minda will get to choose any variant and any colour of the new Mahindra Thar. All these things will be done on priority basis for the bidder and he will be the first person in India to get the new Thar.
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Meanwhile, the pre-bookings for the new Thar have already commenced across the country. The prices will be announced on 2nd October, following which, the official bookings will also commence. It will come in two trims – LX and AX, both available with a petrol and diesel engine. The AX and AX (O) variants will be basic, loaded with features all required for the off-roading purpose. LX variants will come with some lifestyle and convenience features additionally. Aside from the personalisation, the Thar #1 will get all the goodies from the LX trim.
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The new Thar also debuts two new engines from Mahindra’s stable. Featuring a petrol engine for the first time, its a new 2.0-litre mStallion TGDI petrol engine that makes 150 bhp and 320 Nm of torque. Meanwhile, the diesel engine is a 2.2 litre mHawk unit that makes 130 bhp and 300 Nm of peak torque. Transmission choices include either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed automatic gearbox for both the engines. There are several reports already claiming that the base-spec Thar will be priced under Rs 10 lakh. If we go by these reports, the price of the Thar is expected to range between Rs 9.75 lakh – Rs 13.5 lakh. That’s an incredible price range for the Thar, for which you get hardcore off-road ability like no other and a very welcome on-road manners with the new-gen SUV as well.
