The Mahindra Thar is being given an internal and external update this year. We spied this updated model testing in Lonavala, recently.
This 2015 iteration of the Thar gets a new front bumper which is a mix of metal and plastic. The fenders are extended and the car gets larger side-steps. The headlamps are the same and there is no major change at the back. However, the soft top is new and the canopy is slightly more tilted than the current version.
The camouflaged exterior shows that the changes on the outside are minimal, but from the pictures seen earlier, we know that the most comprehensive changes are on the inside. The dashboard gets a dual shade, round and silver finished HVAC vents and a new instrument cluster. The silver embellishments on the instrument cluster give it a premium feel. The steering wheel is new, borrowed from the Bolero, and the car also gets a revised handbrake lever and two cup holders near the gearbox.
There are no mechanical changes to the updated off-roader and engine specifications are expected to continue. The existing Thar is available with two engine options - a 2.5-litre DI and 2.5-litre CRDe engine. The former mill churns out 63bhp of power and 182.5Nm of torque, and the latter outputs 105bhp of power and 247Nm of torque. Both the engines are mated to a five-speed manual gearbox and available in 4x2 and 4x4 versions.
This is the first time the Mahindra Thar is getting an update since its launch in 2010. There is no official word from the company yet, but since the vehicle looks production-ready, we think the manufacturer will launch the updated model in June this year.
