Mahindra is redefining itself, and part of that effort includes a whole new stylesheet. We’ve already seen the path that its BE and XUV.e future electric car ranges will go, and now comes an entirely new direction for the Thar. What’s certain is that the Thar.e concept eliminates the prior CJ-related design cues in one fell sweep, making it seem more like its ICE forefathers. It’s also a born electric, so no ladder-frame chassis, and Mahindra has gone straight for the five-door this time.
Exterior Design of Thar E Concept
The Thar.e concept appears to have a lot of ground clearance and wheel travel thanks to its raised Baja-style suspension. The upright shape, boxy size, and squared-off fenders give it the appearance of a hardcore off-roader.
The surface is made out of ‘flat’ panels with corrugations and exposed door hinges. The Thar’s redesigned face features a pair of quartered and square headlight units placed in a rectangular ‘grille’ with three LED’slat’ components on one side, and a large hefty front bumper completes the look. The Land Rover and early Land Cruisers also employed similar stylistic ideas.
To make the concept appear more compact, the back section has been blacked off. And you can easily see the wide tack, with the wheels outside the main body line, from here. The Thar.e concept has a flat dashboard with grab handles at each end, as well as a flat three-spoke steering wheel, a central touchscreen, and a noticeable centre tunnel, which help complete the minimalist but tough aesthetic.
Unlike its INGLO counterparts, the Thar lacks wall-to-wall touchscreens, but it does have a fighter aircraft-style live’status’ pictogram on the instrument panel.
Platform, battery, and range of the Mahindra Thar Electric
The Thar EV will be constructed on a modified version of Mahindra’s new INGLO dedicated EV platform known as the P1, rather than a ladder-frame chassis like the existing Thar.
The INGLO (INdia GLObal) platform, which also serves as the foundation for five other all-new electric SUVs, employs a skateboard structure, with a flat battery hanging between the wheels. The length, wheelbase, and height of this chassis are all adjustable.
The conventional INGLO’s wheelbase can be adjusted by 130mm, while the P1, on which the Thar.e will be based, is claimed to have a wheelbase that ranges between 2,775mm and 2,975mm. According to a diagram supplied, the extra length is inserted between the firewall and the hub of the front wheel.
For earlier vehicles like as the XUV.e8, Mahindra will initially source its INGLO batteries and motors from BYD, but the Thar.e is anticipated to employ more powerful motors sourced from Volkswagen. These now provide 80kW and 210kW for the front and rear axles, respectively, but this amount is subject to change. Also, with 135Nm and 535Nm of torque pouring in from idle, there may be no need for a low-range transfer case.
The battery will be shared with other INGLO SUVs, with the 60kWh battery being the most likely. According to Mahindra, the larger 80kWh battery should provide a driving range of roughly 435km to 450km under the WLTP cycle, so the smaller battery pack should provide around 325km.
With Mahindra’s launch calendar booked up until October 2026 – when the BE.07 is scheduled to be released – don’t expect the Thar.e to visit showrooms anytime soon. And it won’t be cheap; expect a starting price of roughly Rs 18 lakh-20 lakh.