The electric off-roader concept also shows the new design direction Mahindra is taking for the Thar.
Mahindra is in the process of reinventing itself, and part of that reinvention involves an all-new stylesheet. We’ve already seen the path that will be taken by its BE and XUV.e future electric car ranges, and now comes an all-new direction for the Thar. What’s plain to see is that the Thar.e concept gets rid of the earlier CJ-related design cues in one fell swoop, looking little like its ICE forebears. It’s also a born electric, so no ladder-frame chassis, and Mahindra this time around has gone straight for the five-door.
Mahindra Thar Electric exterior and interior design
The Thar.e concept, on its raised Baja-type suspension, looks to have considerable ground clearance and wheel travel. The upright form, boxy dimensions, and especially the squared-off fenders, give it the look of a hardcore off-roader. The surface is made up of ‘flat’ panels’ some with corrugations and exposed hinges for the doors.
The new face of the Thar consists of a pair of quartered and square headlight units set in a rectangular ‘grille’ with three LED ‘slat’ elements on one side, and a big chunky front bumper completes the look. Similar styling cues have also been used on the Land Rover and the early Land Cruisers.
Also see: Mahindra unveils Scorpio N based pick up concept
The rear section of the concept has been blacked out to make it look more compact. And from here, you can clearly see the wide tack, with the wheels outside the main body line.
On the inside, the Thar.e concept gets a flat dashboard with grab handles at each end, and a flat three-spoke steering wheel, a central touchscreen and a pronounced central tunnel help complete the minimalist but tough look. No wall-to-wall touchscreens for the Thar, unlike its INGLO stablemates, but it does get a fighter aircraft-like live ‘status’ pictogram on the instrument panel.
Mahindra Thar Electric platform, battery and range
The Thar EV will not be built on a ladder-frame chassis like the current Thar, but will use a modified version of Mahindra’s new INGLO dedicated EV platform known as the P1. The INGLO (INdia GLObal) platform, which also underpins five other all-new electric SUVs, uses what is called a skateboard platform, with a flat battery slung between the wheels.
This chassis is modular and variable in length, wheelbase and height. The wheelbase can be altered by 130mm on the regular INGLO, but the P1, on which the Thar.e will be built, is said to have a wheelbase that will be between 2,775mm and 2,975mm. The extra length is added between the firewall and the hub of the front wheel, according to a diagram released by Mahindra.
Also see: Mahindra future EVs specifications, features, launch timeline revealed
Mahindra will initially source its INGLO batteries and motor from BYD, for the earlier models like the XUV.e8, but the Thar.e is likely to use more powerful motors sourced from Volkswagen. These currently put out 80kW and 210kW for the front and rear axle, respectively, but this power figure could change. Also with 135Nm and 535Nm respectively of torque, coming in from idle speed, there may not be a need for a low-range transfer case.
The battery used will be common with other INGLO SUVs with the 60kWh being the most likely one. Mahindra says the bigger 80kWh battery should return a driving range of about 435km to 450km under the WLTP cycle, so expect around 325km from the smaller battery pack.
With Mahindra’s launch calendar chock-a-block all the way to October 2026 – when the BE.07 is slated to be launched – don’t expect the production version of the Thar.e to hit showrooms anytime soon. And it won’t be cheap; expect a price of around Rs 18 lakh-20 lakh, to begin with.
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