Calling all off-road enthusiasts! The wait for the much-anticipated Force Gurkha 5-door is nearly over. Force Motors recently released a teaser showcasing several design details of this extended version of their iconic Gurkha. This new model promises to combine the legendary off-road prowess of the Gurkha with increased practicality for adventure seekers who crave space for friends and family. Let’s delve deeper into the revealed details and explore what the Force Gurkha 5-door has in store.
Fresh Design Elements for Enhanced Capability
The teaser offers a glimpse into the exterior design of the Gurkha 5-door, revealing a familiar yet upgraded aesthetic. Here’s a breakdown of the key design updates:
Retained Ruggedness: The Gurkha 5-door stays true to its roots, maintaining the signature rounded headlight design with LED DRLs forming the outer ring and powerful LED headlamps. The iconic Force grille with prominent Gurkha badging reinforces the brand identity and signifies a unified design language for both the 3-door and 5-door variants.
Modernized Touches: The teaser unveils new 16-inch alloy wheels for the Gurkha 5-door, designed to complement its rugged persona. These wheels are expected to be wrapped in thick all-terrain tires, ensuring superior grip and traction on challenging terrain. The vertically stacked taillights seem to retain the basic design of the current Gurkha with a rounded element at the top, offering a sense of familiarity while keeping the look fresh.
Functional Enhancements: The silhouette clearly shows the Gurkha 5-door will retain the spare wheel mounted on the tailgate, a signature feature of off-road vehicles. While the teaser doesn’t explicitly show the bumpers, we can expect design differences between the front and rear bumpers for the 3-door and 5-door versions to accommodate the extended length and potentially offer improved approach and departure angles.
Adventure-Ready Accessories: The teaser showcases the 5-door Gurkha equipped with accessories ideal for off-road adventures. These include a roof ladder with a jerry can for additional fuel storage and a roof-mounted snorkel for enhanced water-wading depth, allowing drivers to tackle challenging terrains with greater confidence.
Unveiling the Gurkha 5-door Interior (What We Know So Far)
While Force has yet to reveal the official interior design of the Gurkha 5-door, various test mule sightings offer some clues. Here’s what we can expect:
Seating Options: Test mule sightings suggest the Gurkha 5-door might offer a choice of two or three rows of seats, potentially translating to three seating configurations – 5, 6, and 7-seaters. This increased seating capacity caters to larger groups and families who enjoy off-road adventures together.
Utilitarian Focus: Similar to the outgoing Gurkha, the 5-door is expected to maintain a utilitarian interior with fabric upholstery and a generous use of hard plastics. This approach prioritizes durability and ease of cleaning, ideal for post-adventure cleanups.
Features Expected in the New Gurkha
The Gurkha 5-door is likely to be offered in a single, well-equipped variant, providing the essential comforts expected in this segment. Here’s a breakdown of the anticipated features:
Connectivity & Entertainment: A 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility is a strong possibility, ensuring seamless smartphone integration for navigation, music streaming, and hands-free calling.
Convenience Features: Front power windows, a tire-pressure monitoring system, a 12V power socket, and manual AC are likely to be standard features, offering essential conveniences for on-road and off-road journeys.
Safety Features: In terms of safety, the Gurkha 5-door will likely offer at least dual front airbags, ABS, and rear parking sensors. The new model might even come equipped with a rearview camera for enhanced visibility when reversing, particularly in tight off-road situations.
Off-road Capability: Based on test mule sightings, the 5-door Gurkha is expected to feature an electronic shift-on-the-fly system for toggling between 2WD, 4WD, and 4-low modes. This system allows drivers to adapt to varying terrain conditions, from paved roads to challenging off-road environments. The 3-door Gurkha currently uses a physical shifter for this purpose, so the electronic system in the 5-door might be a welcome upgrade for some users.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: When will the Force Gurkha 5-door launch in India?
A: The Force Gurkha 5-door is expected to launch in India within a matter of weeks based on recent announcements.
Q: What engine will power the Gurkha 5-door?
A: While official details haven’t been confirmed, the Gurkha 5-door is likely to retain the same 2.6-liter diesel engine as the 3-door model, potentially with a slight power increase.
Q: How many seats will the Gurkha 5-door offer?
A: Based on test mule sightings, the Gurkha 5-door might offer a choice of two or three rows of seats, translating to potential seating configurations of 5, 6, or 7 passengers.
Q: What are the expected rivals for the Gurkha 5-door?
A: Initially, the Gurkha 5-door won’t have any direct rivals due to its larger size and price point compared to the Maruti Jimny. However, it will face competition from the upcoming Mahindra Thar 5-door expected to launch later in 2024.
Q: What are the expected features of the Gurkha 5-door?
A: The Gurkha 5-door is expected to offer features like a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone connectivity, front power windows, a tire-pressure monitoring system, manual AC, and essential safety features like dual front airbags, ABS, and rear parking sensors. The new model might even come equipped with a rearview camera for enhanced off-road maneuverability.
