Force Gurkha Xtreme is officially available in India for INR 12.99 lakh (ex-showroom). The most powerful variant of the dedicated off-roader is available with a more powerful 2.2L engine from the Force One SUV, producing class leading 140 HP of power and 321 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 5-speed gearbox and these components are derived from the OM611 Mercedes Benz family platform. The difference in power is huge for the 85 HP Gurkha as the smaller 2.2L engine not just gives 55 HP of more power but adds a lot more torque in the usable range.
The front and rear mechanical differential locks are sourced from the older Gurkha while the low range transfer case is still present in place of the much expected shift-on-the-fly feature. The front suspension on Gurkha Xtreme is another upgraded feature, using the celebrated multi-link suspension like the rear setup. This helps the new variant claim approach angle of 44-degrees. The departure angle is also improved (35-degrees) for the more powerful Gurkha. The ramp breakover angle for Xtreme is 29-degrees. Buyers will get 205mm of ground clearance and impressive 550mm wading depth. The cabin comes with mild updates for the Gurkha Xtreme through the new centre console.
Mahindra Thar felt more powerful in comparison to the older Gurkha variant while this new Xtreme variant brings a new performance benchmark for off-road specific SUVs. The difference of INR 2.50 lakh is totally worth spending for those who often travel the routes that are not practical for even urban SUVs. However, the price gap of almost INR 4 lakh between the Mahindra Thar and Gurkha Xtreme is still not promising. The 2.6L engine on the older Gurkha was praised for its off-road presence but always missed the grunt that was required for tarmac riding.
Images Source: AutoCarIndia
