- The longer wheelbase promises a significantly more spacious cabin compared to the 3-door version.
- Power will likely come from a Mercedes-sourced 2.6L diesel engine and paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox.
- The Gurkha 5-door is rumored to start from around $19,000 in India, offering a budget-friendly off-road option.
Remember the Force Gurkha, India’s affordable Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen doppelganger? Well, true to form, the company is now expanding the SUV’s lineup with a more practical five-door version. The elongated Gurkha that was teased today bears an even stronger resemblance to the Mercedes G-Classcompared to the existing three-door Force Gurkha 4×4.
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The new model has been under development since 2022, with prototypes having been spied on the road on several occasions. The first official teaser reveals that the five-door SUV shares the boxy stance and some body panels with the Force Gurkha, albeit with a longer wheelbase, more windows, and an extra pair of doors.
Local media suggest it could also introduce a few styling changes, including square LED headlights and larger 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels.
More: Force Citiline Is A 10-Seater SUV From India That Looks Like An Old G-Class With A New Face
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According to Autocar India, the wheelbase of the five-door Force Gurkha will measure 2,825 mm (111.2 inches) long, making it a full 425 mm (16.7 inches) longer than the 3-door model. The larger footprint will result in a significantly more spacious cabin. Similar to other SUVs produced by Force Motors (such as the Trax Toofan, Trax Cruiser, and Citiline), the new model may provide various interior layouts.
It could potentially be offered in five-seater, six-seater, and seven-seater configurations, arranged in either two or three rows. The dashboard design is anticipated to resemble that of the three-door Force Gurkha, which has been in production since 2008 but received its last update in 2021.
Mercedes-Benz diesel power
The SUV will utilize a slightly modified version of the ladder-frame chassis found in other Force Motors models. Beneath the hood, we expect to find the trusty 2.6-liter common-rail diesel engine, sourced (ironically) from Mercedes-Benz, delivering 90 hp (67 kW / 91 PS) and 250 Nm (184.4 lb-ft) of torque. Like the rest of the SUV lineup, this powertrain will be paired with a five-speed manual gearbox and a 4WD system featuring front and rear locking differentials.
The Force Gurkha five-door is anticipated to debut in India by mid-2024, with pricing speculated to begin around Rs 16.10-16.60 lakh (about $19,000-20,000 at current exchange rates). Competitors include the smaller Suzuki Jimny five-door and the forthcoming Mahindra Thar Armada, set to launch later this year.
In other words, the battle between the Indian lookalikes of the Mercedes G-Class and Jeep Wrangler is now ready to move into the five-door bodystyle territory. Which one would you choose?
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