Mahindra Thar, one of the most popular off-roaders in the country, has recently been launched with air conditioner for the first time. The 'Cool Thar' will be priced at Rs. 6.75 lacs and will be sold in Mumbai, alongside the recently upgraded version of the model that was introduced in April 2012. While AC Thar will come with a price tag of Rs. 6.86 lacs, the standard version of the model will cost Rs. 6.75 lacs. Thar maintains its position as the most enduring four wheel drive vehicle at these price points.
India's leading Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) targets the rural market as well as weekend vacationers of the country with this model. Apart from the air conditioner, the only other addition to the Thar will be the engine immobiliser, which protects it from being stolen. The new variant of the model comes after there were rumours in the market that buyers could get an air conditioner equipped in the model at the company's official service centres.
It is said that the car maker chose to provide air conditioner in the model to appease buyers who wanted a cool in-car environment while traversing through the tropical conditions of India. Considering the limited market for the model, the company did not integrate AC as well as many other features in the Thar in order to regulate the costs and make it appealing to the key demographics. The BS4 compliant Mahindra Thar CRDe 4X4 has gained immense popularity in the country due to its excellent off-roading capabilities and rugged looks. With air conditioning and engine immobiliser, the model has become even more appealing for city buyers who regularly go on weekend holidays.
The Mahindra Thar Expedition of the AC Thar will be a lucrative option for those who want a feature-rich off-roader that can combat rough terrains even better. This car will feature tailor made bulbar that comes with integrated electric winch, rock slider, snorkel, expedition carrier and a roll cage, along with a host of other features. This custom made model costs Rs. 3 lac more than the standard version of the AC Thar.
Mahindra Thar is equipped with a powerful 2.5 L, 2498 cc NEF TCI - CRDe engine that churns out 105 bhp of maximum power at 3800 rpm and 247 Nm of peak torque at 1800-2000 rpm. It comes with a NGT 530R V4, five speed manual transmission system, while the transfer system in 4WD model is Borgwarner (manual shift) with low reduction gear. The robust seven seater off-roader traverses the harshest of terrains on P 235/70 R 16 tubeless tyres.
