Next-gen Mahindra Thar ready for August launch

Mahindra will most likely announce prices for the 2020 Thar SUV by August this year. A first image of the new Thar covered with what looks like white plastic - which is usually applied to a newly built vehicle before being dispatched to dealer yards - has surfaced online. 

The second-gen Thar has been seen testing on the road wearing camouflage for more than a year now; multiple test mules have been seen wearing different types of cladding and even feature a hard-top. While the final design of the new Thar is yet to be seen, overall, it sticks to its roots. However, that's where the styliing-based similarities end. The second-gen Thar is grounds up new and features new chassis and new body panels all around. The SUV will come with a BS6-compliant 2.2-litre diesel engine good for around 140hp that will be mated to a 6-speed manual. An automatic gearbox is also on the cards but may join the Thar line-up a little later. The next-gen Thar will also come with a new 2.0-litre petrol unit that features direct injection as well as turbocharging from Mahindra's newly introduced mStallion engine family.

As far as equipment goes, the new Thar will have black-painted 18-inch alloy wheels as seen in the picture; LED daytime running lights are also likely to be offered. It will also get a long list of features on the inside as reported by us earlier. Along with an all-new dashboard design, the new-gen SUV will also get a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a multi-info display in the instrument cluster, a manual AC, power-folding wing mirrors and multiple USB ports. The new Thar will also get two airbags, ABS and a rear parking camera - the former two will be standard across the range - along with a front-facing second row of seats. 

The new Thar's competition will include the all-new Force Gurkha and even the Suzuki Jimny that will come to India sometime next year.

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