The first-ever teaser for the upcoming Force Gurkha 5-door has been finally released by Force Motors. The car has been in development since 2022 and has been spotted during its test runs several times across the nation over the years. The SUV is all set to launch in India by mid-2024, and it is pretty much confirmed.
Test mules of the Force Gurkha 5-door are pretty much camouflaged, however, the new design elements are noticeable. The new 5-door variant will get square headlamps compared to the round units in the Gurkha 3-door. However, the two-slat grille will be continued, although the new SUV will now sport 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels instead of the 16-inch ones seen on the 3-door version.
Going inside, the cabin layout is expected to remain the same although the upcoming Gurkha 5-door will be equipped with some new features such as a shift-on-the-fly 4WD knob next to the driver’s seat on the centre console. In comparison, the 3-door variant comes with separate front and rear diff-lock levers along with a transfer case which is manually operated.
Furthermore, Force will possibly offer the 5-door Gurkha with multiple seating layouts which includes a 5-seater two-row version, a 6-seater 3-row version and a 7-seater 3-row version with a bench seat for the 2nd row and two captain chairs for the 3rd row. The SUV will have a 2,825 mm long wheelbase.
As for the powertrain, the Gurkha 5-door will possibly continue with the Mercedes-sourced 2.6-litre diesel engine that is currently offered with the 3-door version with a 5-speed manual.
The Force Gurkha 5-door will be launched in India in the first half of the next financial year and upon launch, the SUV will be a lone warrior in its segment due to the lack of direct rivals, although it will face some competition from Maruti Suzuki Jimny. It won’t stay lonely for long since the segment will soon be joined by the much-awaited Mahindra Thar 5-door.
