Retro-infused Mahindra 4WD locked in

INDIAN car giant Mahindra is readying a new off-road SUV with hints of Hummer and Jeep in its bold design.

The new yet-to-be-revealed new off-roader is essentially a production version of the Thar.e concept revealed in 2023.

While the Thar.e is not as obviously styled on a Jeep as the regular Thar and five-door Thar Roxx – two models the company has ruled out for Australia – there’s enough retro coolness in the design to help it stand out from the 4WD crowd. It could also help in differentiating it from an imminent influx of new Chinese off-roaders looking to take the rough road fight to the likes of the Toyota Prado, Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X.

One big change, though, is beneath the skin. The Thar.e was fully electric, whereas the production version will be powered purely by an internal combustion engine (ICE), with details yet to be confirmed.

Mahindra is also developing a hybrid variant, something that may not be available when the vehicle first hits the road.

The design is all but locked in with Mahindra’s head of international operations, Sachin Arolkar saying it will be “very, very similar to this” in its design.

“We are working on new products,” he added. “Those will be definitely for Australia also. As a concept, we had unveiled … an e-Thar in South Africa. But we will be having our regular ICE on that … and that will be launched in Australia.”

However, whereas hard core off-roaders have traditionally used a ladder frame architecture, the production version of the Thar.e – which will be given a different name – will get a monocoque platform for better on-road driving manners.

Mahindra’s president of the automotive division, Velusamy R, hints it will be a more serious off-roader than most, leveraging the brand’s legacy as a manufacturer of highly capable off-roaders.

When referencing the latest Land Rovers as being monocoque vehicles with independent suspension – from the Discovery and Range Rover to the Defender - Velusamy R was nodding enthusiastically, suggesting “you’re bang on”.

Either way, expect sharp pricing for the newcomer, which could arrive as early as 2026.

While Ford, Toyota and Isuzu dominate serious off-road sales at higher price points, it’s mostly the Suzuki Jimny (priced from $34,990 plus on-road costs as a five-door) that is strong at the lower end of the market.

The GWM Tank 300 (from $46,990 drive-away) steps into that middle ground that the production version of the Thar.e is likely to be closer to.