Meet the all-new Force Gurkha! At first glance, it might look like a slightly updated version of the previous one. But no, it is an all-new model. The design is more on the evolutionary lines than on the revolutionary. And anyway, Force Motors say it out loud – the Gurkha takes inspiration from the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. And if that has stuck with a proven design formula, Force Motos need not take a different route.

Force has always built the Gurkha around its core competency – off-roading. But the new version tries to make things comfier, as it offers an array of creature comforts—more on that in a bit. First, let’s address the rough stuff. The new-gen Gurkha has a longer and wider body than its three-door predecessor. Like before, it has a ladder-on-frame chassis. But Force Motors has given it a new coil spring suspension to deliver a more grown-up ride quality.

Propulsion comes from a BS6-compliant (Bharat Stage 6), Mercedes-sourced 2.6-litre diesel engine. It puts out 90bhp, 250Nm of torque, and comes coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission. That, too, comes from the German brand. As per Force Motors, the new Gurkha can wade through water levels of up to 700mm. Combine that with a 35-degree gradability and mechanical differential locks on both axles, and the Gurkha is game for any type of terrain.

Coming to the list of features, the new Gurkha is a far cry from the previous one. It comes with stuff like a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ISOFIX anchorages for child booster seats, dual airbags, LED-powered headlamps with DRLs and rear parking sensors. The Gurkha also has four USB ports, one for each occupant. Also on offer are power windows, central locking and a tyre pressure monitoring system. Behind the rear seats, which have to be accessed using the tailgate, there’s a luggage space measuring 500 litres.

Force Motors has devised five colours for the new Gurkha – red, orange, white, grey and green. As for the standard warranty, that’s 3 years/1,50,000km. Besides that, the off-roader comes with free roadside assistance membership and four free-of-charge services.

The launch event has been scheduled for September 27, 2021. That’s when dealers will start accepting bookings. The vehicles are expected to reach the dealerships in the first week of the next month, and deliveries are likely to commence on Dussehra day. Initially, the new Gurkha will be available in select locations. Its footprint will then be expanded in a phased manner.