Could The Force Gurkha Get An Automatic Option Soon?

The choice of an automatic transmission option would easily charge a premium of over a lakh over the manual gearbox variants

• The Force Gurkha is now available in a more practical 5-door avatar, but only with a 5-speed MT.
• Force could make the Gurkha more practical by offering the choice of an automatic transmission, like the Mahindra Thar.
• The Gurkha has a 2.6-litre diesel engine that produces 140 PS and 320 Nm.
• Prices of the 3-door and 5-door Gurkha range from Rs 16.75 lakh to Rs 18 lakh (ex-showroom).

The Force Gurkha is a purpose-fit off-road SUV and has been available with only the manual gearbox since launch. While Force did bring out a more practical 5-door version of the SUV recently, with an updated engine, it still gets a 5-speed manual as its only transmission option. Given how its prime rivals, the Mahindra Thar and Maruti Jimny, are offered with an automatic gearbox option too, Force Motors could also look to provide a 2-pedal setup on the updated Gurkha to broaden its appeal beyond the hardcore off-roaders.

UPDATE:- Following our initial story, Force Motors has reached out with the following statement on the topic of a Gurkha-AT:

“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 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 our high standards of quality and performance.”

The company concluded by stating that it will “share more concrete information on this topic” in due course of time as it continues its product development processes.

Current Gurkha Lineup

The Force Gurkha is available in both a 3-door and a 5-door variant, and it recently received an update that increased the power output of the 2.6-litre diesel engine to 140 PS and 320 Nm. For now, both of these versions of the SUV get a 5-speed manual gearbox only.

On the feature suite, it gets a 7-inch digital driver’s display, a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, manual climate control, dual front airbags, rear parking sensors, and a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS).

Force Gurkha Price and Rivals

The Force Gurkha 3-door costs Rs 16.75 lakh, while the 5-door costs Rs 18 lakh (ex-showroom, pan-India). 

In terms of pricing, the 3-door Force Gurkha competes directly with the Mahindra Thar. The Maruti Jimny is another competitor with a 4x4 drivetrain but a significantly lower price and a petrol-only powertrain. The 5-door Gurkha has no direct competitors, but it will compete with the 5-door Thar when it is launched around the festive period of 2024.

Do you think the addition of an automatic gearbox alone will make the Force Gurkha a more appealing choice to a wider range of buyers? Tell us in the comments section below.

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