KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Force Motors responds to rumors
- Rumour mill suggested the arrival of Force Gurkha with an automatic gearbox in coming months
- Currently comes with a 2.6L diesel mill with only a manual transmission
The updated Force Gurkha and the all-new Force Gurkha 5 door have been launched just recently and created a stir in the adventure vehicle segment. Arriving before the 5-door Thar, the Gurkha has attracted a lot of attention and demand for its family-oriented approach. However, there were rumors of a supposedly new automatic gearbox to launch soon in the coming months. Now the brand has officially released a statement to clear the air of whether that is happening or not. Read on to find out exactly what the brand has to say, but before that, make sure you join our 91Wheels WhatsApp Group community to never miss out on any of the latest automotive news and updates.
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Force Gurkha Automatic Coming Soon? Brand Says Not Anytime Soon
Despite introducing a new body style, enhanced features, and a more potent engine, the refreshed Force Gurkha lineup still disappoints urban car enthusiasts by lacking an automatic gearbox option, a critical consideration given the bumper-to-bumper traffic prevalent in many Indian cities. However, recent rumors suggest that Force Motors has been quietly developing an automatic version of the Gurkha SUV to compete directly with the automatic variant of the Mahindra Thar. In response to these speculations, Force Motors has now issued an official statement.
According to the statement, "At Force Motors, we continuously strive to innovate and enhance our vehicle offerings to better serve our customers. We have noted the recent speculation regarding the potential launch of the Gurkha in an automatic transmission variant. While we appreciate the interest and enthusiasm from our community and stakeholders, we cannot confirm such news at this moment." The statement further clarifies that "Development of new vehicle variants, especially involving major changes like an automatic transmission, could require a timeline of 18-24 months to ensure we meet out high standards of quality and performance."
"Our commitment remains steadfast in bringing innovative solutions that enhance the driving experience for our end consumers. In due course of time, we will be able to share more concrete information on this topic as we continue our evaluations and development processes." the statement added.
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Powertrain
In the updated Force Gurkha, the engine remains the same Mercedes-sourced 2.6-liter, four-cylinder diesel unit but has undergone substantial upgrades to enhance power delivery. The updated engine now delivers a significant increase in power output, approximately 50% more than its predecessor, achieving a robust 140 horsepower compared to the previous model's 91 horsepower. Alongside the power boost, torque also sees a commendable increase, rising to 320 Nm. The Force Gurkha rivals other off-road-centric SUVs like Mahindra Thar, Maruti Jimny, and more.
Verdict
With the recent statement, the brand has put aside any possibility for an automatic transmission for at least 1.5 - 2 years. However, if you analyse a bit more depply, there is no outright denial for the same as well. While you can be sure that any automatic gearbox is not coming anytime soon, its arrival in future isn't off the table yet.
