Force Motors is in the process of giving its UV range a new lease of life under the updated crash and emission regulations. A pair of fully camouflaged test mules has been spotted doing rounds in public recently. Hat tip to automotive enthusiasts Tejas and Priyam for sharing exclusive spy shots via Rushlane Spylane.
The Force Gurkha, an off-roader which derives its roots from the good old Mercedes G-Wagen, is pitted squarely against the Mahindra Thar which is also currently preparing to step into new generation.
The test mules don’t reveal much but it looks like most of the styling changes are concentrated on the front fascia with a larger grille, circular headlamps with LED DRLs and a new bumper. The boxy profile and simple rear fascia have been retained. The SUV continues to have function-over-form appeal and has ample ground clearance for some serious off-roading.
The interior of the existing Force Gurkha leaves a lot to be desired but we hope things will improve on this front with the new-gen model. A new dashboard, steering wheel, instrument console and a provision for touchscreen infotainment system would go a long way in improving the vehicle’s appeal.
The Force Trax on the other hand will continue to focus on people mover segment with its stretched wheelbase and multiple seating configurations. Both vehicles are expected to sit on a reinforced version of the existing ladder frame chassis to comply with the new crash test regulations.
As far as the powertrain goes, as we reported earlier, Force is likely to retire the Mercedes-sourced 2.2-liter turbo-diesel engine on the Gurkha in favor of a homegrown 2.6-liter diesel unit which will be BS6-ready. We expect the same motor to cater to the Trax family as well, albeit in a detuned avatar. Available in Toofan, Cruiser and Gama variants, the Trax family’s closest rival is the popular Mahindra Bolero.
The updated Force UVs are expected to be ready for the market sometime in early part of next year. Force Motors’ attempt on private vehicle space never took off and the company switched its focus back on commercial vehicles with sole exception of the Gurkha which managed to carve a niche for itself among enthusiasts. We expect the company to maintain this status quo for the foreseeable future.
