Further to our earlier report of the 5-door Thar’s unveiling, we understand that Mahindra & Mahindra’s (M&M) global event in South Africa on August 15 will not showcase the larger Thar but instead will unveil a ‘far-out’ Thar concept, which, our sources indicate, will also have a fully electric drivetrain. This is in addition to the debut of the Scorpio N pickup concept and a new tractor platform.
In keeping with the Thar’s off-road character, the concept EV will have a 4X4 set-up. Interestingly though, unlike many 4WD EVs that use a dual-motor arrangement, the Thar concept EV is expected to have a quad-motor set-up. There’s also talk that the concept will showcase crab steer or crab walk capability, where all four wheels can turn to a near-45-deg angle, thus enabling the SUV to roll sideways into a very tight parking spot, or even perform a 360-deg turn pretty much on the spot.
Mahindra Thar EV platform
Not much else is known about the Thar EV concept, which could be built on the same ladder-frame or body-on-frame set-up as its ICE sibling or even on the new, dedicated-EV platforms that the company is currently developing.
While on the surface, developing a hardcore off-roader like the Thar using a monocoque construction is something that Mahindra hasn’t yet done, it could be a future option to lower the weight of the vehicle, which in an EV is crucial for range. Ladder-frame SUVs are much heavier than those built on a monocoque and the packaging is also an issue as the long and cross members limit the space available for a battery pack. However, despite these disadvantages, manufacturers have developed and launched ladder-frame EVs, like the Ford F-150 Lightning, because besides increased load capacity, they also allow for higher towing capabilities.
Mahindra, too, had earlier stated that ladder-frame EVs were something it was looking into, and since the brand also makes commercial vehicles, this is a direction it could be exploring. The Thar EV concept will thus offer a first glimpse at the direction the brand is headed in this regard.
Mahindra Thar EV price and launch date
Being a concept, the production feasibility needs to be addressed first before working out the price and launch date. For now, there is no word on the Thar EV concept getting the greenlight for production, but more news will emerge at the August 15 event. Stay tuned.
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Glenn Noronha
Dhruv Dhaka
