Base Variant Mahindra Thar With 1.5L & 2WD in the Works

A much cheaper base variant of the Mahindra Thar has been reported to be under work in India. This more affordable Thar could be an all-new entry-level trim that will be positioned below the existing base model and will be powered by a smaller engine.The new Thar will be powered by a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder engine which will come mated to a manual or an optional automatic transmission. Moreover, it will only be offered in a rear-wheel-drive layout. The new trim is likely to be 100kgs lighter compared to the ongoing model. The powertrain is expected to produce lower torque as the carmaker will be focusing more on fuel efficiency with the new variant. To put into context, the 1.5-liter diesel from Mahindra's TUV300 makes 100 bhp and 240 Nm. While the dimensions of the new trim of Mahindra Thar will be similar to the ongoing model, the newer Thar will come with smaller wheels.Currently, the Thar is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder mStallion petrol engine producing 150 bhp and 320 Nm while a 2.2-liter mHawk diesel kicks out 130 bhp and 320 Nm. A six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission sends power to all four wheels through a standard manual-shift transfer case with a low ratio.