5-door Force Gurkha in works for the Indian market; Rides on 18-inch wheels with a longer wheelbase; Launch expected in 2023.
The highly speculated 5-door version of the Force Motors Gurkha off-road SUV was recently spotted without camouflage doing test runs. The spy shots reveal details about the SUV’s exterior design, seating layout and more.
Force Gurkha 5 Door: Exterior Design, Dimensions, Seating Layout
The 5-door Gurkha will follow the same design direction as its 3-door counterpart. The new model will be visibly larger than the current SUV and will feature a longer wheelbase to accommodate the additional row of seats. Some of the prominent design elements include the classic round headlamps, blacked-out bumpers, hood-mounted indicators and a company-fitted snorkel amongst others.
The overall length is expected to go up by almost 400mm and the width is also expected to increase marginally. Another visible change on the outside is the more pronounced fender lining made to accommodate the vehicle’s 18-inch wheels with 255/60 section tyres. The bigger tyre has also helped increase the ground clearance of the four-wheeler.
The latest spy shots showcase side-facing seats on the inside, while the earlier test mule had captain seats. This suggests that the off-roader will be offered in various seating layouts with the option of 6, 7 and 9 seats. Other than the change in seating layout, the Gurkha is expected to continue with minimum interior features and equipment.
In terms of powertrain, we expect the 5-door Gurkha to continue to be powered by a 2.6-litre turbo diesel engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. The larger model will however get a higher state of tune to compensate for the increase in mass.
When launched, the Force Gurkha 5 Door will rival the likes of the upcoming Mahindra Thar 5 Door and Maruti Suzuki Jimny 5 Door, which are also expected to be introduced in 2023.
The 5 Door Gurkha will command a premium of around Rs 1 to 1.5 lakh over its 3-door sibling.
