Next-gen Mahindra Thar-like vehicle confirmed for Australia
While Mahindra states that it cannot produce the current-generation Thar and Thar Roxx in sufficient numbers to meet demand in its domestic Indian market, let alone Australia, it has promised that a next-generation off-road vehicle like the Thar is in development for our market.
Speaking to Australian media in India last week, Velusamy R, the president of Automotive Technology and Product Development at Mahindra, stated that current local demand for the Thar is almost double the company's production capacity.
'Demand is now 12-13,000 per month in India, [but] our production is hardly 7-6000, roughly,' Velusamy R said.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
'We also thought [demand for] the three-door Thar might come down after introducing the five-door, however, it didn't come down. Still, there is enough market for three-door Thar, and the capacity for three-door is still fully occupied.'
While he ruled out the current model for our market, Velusamy R confirmed that a new vehicle that will be very similar to the Mahindra Vision Thar.e concept (pictured here) unveiled in South Africa in August 2023 will be coming to Australia.
'The name can be different, but what you saw in South Africa, you will get it in Australia' Supplied Credit: CarExpert
Although the Mahindra Vision Thar.e is a fully electric off-roader concept that looks nothing like the combustion-powered Thar revealed in 2020, the version heading to Australia will be available with internal combustion engines as standard, and potentially hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains as well. It is unclear whether a fully-electric version of the model will also head to our market, but it seems unlikely.
The current-generation Thar, which controversially resembles a Jeep Wrangler, has its origins in the original CJ-series Jeep, which the company had been producing under license since the 1940s.
The Stellantis group, which owns Jeep, has gone out of its way to stop Mahindra from bringing the current Thar to our market in the past. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
Back in 2021, Mahindra was issued a 'cease and desist' request from Stellantis following its plans to bring the Thar to Australia, with the American company stating that it would 'pursue all available avenues to stop Mahindra from continuing to make misleading and deceptive representations in relation to our Jeep brand, pass off their Thar as a Jeep Wrangler and infringe our design rights'.
Given that Mahindra says the concept is very close to what the production model will look like, the new model heading to Australia in the coming years will appear very different to the Wrangler, which means Stellantis won't have to worry about it offending the 724 Australians who bought a Wrangler in 2024.
MORE: Everything Mahindra
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MORE: Explore the GWM Cannon Alpha showroom Content originally sourced from: Utes have always done a roaring trade in Australia, where diesel power has long dominated. It's only recently that we've seen hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric options join the segment. Electrified options continue to be vastly outnumbered by those with petrol or diesel power, but among these we picked the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV as the Best Electrified Ute in our inaugural 2025 CarExpert Choice awards. Launched earlier this year, the PHEV joins existing diesel and hybrid petrol versions of GWM's flagship ute. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. 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And the infotainment system is clunky, particularly if you need to operate things like the climate control or enable/disable driver assistance settings. "But the Cannon Alpha PHEV can tow, well. It manages its battery much better than its rivals and the fuel economy is superior to any other ute on the market. "It is a great all-rounder, for an excellent price and while there are better utes out there, the Cannon Alpha PHEV shows that the future of work vehicles doesn't have to be bleak. In fact, it looks pretty good." "Utes are finally getting electrified en masse, and GWM is one of the trailblazers," added marketplace editor James Wong. "Its on-paper credentials translate to the real world, with 90-100km of usable electric range, strong performance towing up to 3.5 tonnes, and rugged capability off the beaten track. "It offers more off-road and towing capability than a BYD Shark 6. Add to that its plush SUV-like cabin and swathes of in-car tech, and it has everything the modern site manager or lifestyle buyer needs from an electrified all-rounder." "It may not be quite as cheap – or as powerful – as the BYD Shark 6, but the GWM Cannon Alpha offers the most torque, the biggest battery, the longest range and the lowest claimed fuel consumption of the three PHEV utes currently available. And it's the only one with both front and rear diff locks, making it a clear winner here," concluded managing editor Marton Pettendy. MORE: Explore the GWM Cannon Alpha showroom Content originally sourced from: Utes have always done a roaring trade in Australia, where diesel power has long dominated. It's only recently that we've seen hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric options join the segment. 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"Yes, there is room for improvement. The spare wheel placement is not good – you are losing a lot of space in the tub. The towbar positioning needs to be raised especially if you intend to do any off-roading. And the infotainment system is clunky, particularly if you need to operate things like the climate control or enable/disable driver assistance settings. "But the Cannon Alpha PHEV can tow, well. It manages its battery much better than its rivals and the fuel economy is superior to any other ute on the market. "It is a great all-rounder, for an excellent price and while there are better utes out there, the Cannon Alpha PHEV shows that the future of work vehicles doesn't have to be bleak. In fact, it looks pretty good." "Utes are finally getting electrified en masse, and GWM is one of the trailblazers," added marketplace editor James Wong. "Its on-paper credentials translate to the real world, with 90-100km of usable electric range, strong performance towing up to 3.5 tonnes, and rugged capability off the beaten track. "It offers more off-road and towing capability than a BYD Shark 6. Add to that its plush SUV-like cabin and swathes of in-car tech, and it has everything the modern site manager or lifestyle buyer needs from an electrified all-rounder." "It may not be quite as cheap – or as powerful – as the BYD Shark 6, but the GWM Cannon Alpha offers the most torque, the biggest battery, the longest range and the lowest claimed fuel consumption of the three PHEV utes currently available. And it's the only one with both front and rear diff locks, making it a clear winner here," concluded managing editor Marton Pettendy. MORE: Explore the GWM Cannon Alpha showroom Content originally sourced from: Utes have always done a roaring trade in Australia, where diesel power has long dominated. 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"Yes, there is room for improvement. The spare wheel placement is not good – you are losing a lot of space in the tub. The towbar positioning needs to be raised especially if you intend to do any off-roading. And the infotainment system is clunky, particularly if you need to operate things like the climate control or enable/disable driver assistance settings. "But the Cannon Alpha PHEV can tow, well. It manages its battery much better than its rivals and the fuel economy is superior to any other ute on the market. "It is a great all-rounder, for an excellent price and while there are better utes out there, the Cannon Alpha PHEV shows that the future of work vehicles doesn't have to be bleak. In fact, it looks pretty good." "Utes are finally getting electrified en masse, and GWM is one of the trailblazers," added marketplace editor James Wong. "Its on-paper credentials translate to the real world, with 90-100km of usable electric range, strong performance towing up to 3.5 tonnes, and rugged capability off the beaten track. "It offers more off-road and towing capability than a BYD Shark 6. Add to that its plush SUV-like cabin and swathes of in-car tech, and it has everything the modern site manager or lifestyle buyer needs from an electrified all-rounder." "It may not be quite as cheap – or as powerful – as the BYD Shark 6, but the GWM Cannon Alpha offers the most torque, the biggest battery, the longest range and the lowest claimed fuel consumption of the three PHEV utes currently available. And it's the only one with both front and rear diff locks, making it a clear winner here," concluded managing editor Marton Pettendy. MORE: Explore the GWM Cannon Alpha showroom Content originally sourced from:
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The original 1976 Golf GTI had a 1.6-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine making 81kW and 140Nm, and came fitted with a four-speed manual transmission. The extra power is matched to retuned steering and revised Dynamic Chassis Control settings. Compared to the regular eighth-generation Golf GTI, the Edition 50 sits 15mm lower to the ground. For those who want a few more frills, there's an optional GTI Performance pack, which lowers the ride height by a further 5mm, has 235mm Bridgestone Potenza Race semi-slick tyres, and stiffer springs for better response and reduced pitching and rolling. It also comes with 19-inch Warmenau forged alloy wheels that weigh just 8kg each – down 3kg on the standard 19-inch wheel – and an Akrapovič titanium exhaust, which saves a further 11kg. The GTI Edition 50 is available in five exterior colours: three (Pure White, Moonstone Grey, and Grenadilla Black Metallic) of which are available on elsewhere, and two (Dark Moss Green Metallic and Tornado Red) that are exclusive to the Edition 50. Visual tweaks include a black roof, unique side sill trim, black wing mirrors and exhaust outlets, and a stripe along the bottom of the doors that fades from black to red. There are also 'GTI 50' logos to be found the steering wheel, rear wing, wing mirrors, and side step protectors. On the inside there are red seat belts, and sports front seats trimmed in faux velour with a check pattern and thin Racing Green stripe. As we learnt last week, the Edition 50 is the fastest Golf around the Nurburgring Nordschleife track with a lap time of 7 minutes 46.13 seconds in the hands of race driver Benny Leuchter. It beat the 7 minute 47.31 second time set by Mr Leuchter in an all-wheel drive 2022 Golf R. Production of the Edition 50 is set to start at the end of 2025, and the first customer vehicles won't be delivered until 2026. Pricing has yet to be announced, and Australian availability isn't confirmed. In a chat with CarExpert at the local launch of the new Mk8.5 Golf range, general manager for product at Volkswagen Australia, Arjun Nidigallu, said the German brand's local arm is actively looking into how the GTI Clubsport could fit into the local lineup, but noted, "There are some technical things with the GTI Clubsport – engine and suspension variations that we need to make sure we have clearances for the Australian market". MORE: Everything Volkswagen Golf Content originally sourced from: For the 50th anniversary of the Volkswagen Golf GTI's unveiling, the German automaker has cooked up the Edition 50, which features a few more spuds under the bonnet, a dash of styling changes, and a sprinkle of chassis upgrades. Based on the already uprated Clubsport, the Edition 50 boasts a revised 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that now delivers 239kW and 420Nm. It continues to drive the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automated transmission. The Edition 50 can reportedly complete the 0-100km/h dash in 5.5 seconds, or 0.1s faster than the Clubsport. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. For reference, the standard GTI makes 195kW/370Nm, while the Clubsport punts out 221kW/420Nm. The Edition 50's engine is just 6kW down on the latest all-wheel drive Golf R. The original 1976 Golf GTI had a 1.6-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine making 81kW and 140Nm, and came fitted with a four-speed manual transmission. The extra power is matched to retuned steering and revised Dynamic Chassis Control settings. Compared to the regular eighth-generation Golf GTI, the Edition 50 sits 15mm lower to the ground. For those who want a few more frills, there's an optional GTI Performance pack, which lowers the ride height by a further 5mm, has 235mm Bridgestone Potenza Race semi-slick tyres, and stiffer springs for better response and reduced pitching and rolling. It also comes with 19-inch Warmenau forged alloy wheels that weigh just 8kg each – down 3kg on the standard 19-inch wheel – and an Akrapovič titanium exhaust, which saves a further 11kg. The GTI Edition 50 is available in five exterior colours: three (Pure White, Moonstone Grey, and Grenadilla Black Metallic) of which are available on elsewhere, and two (Dark Moss Green Metallic and Tornado Red) that are exclusive to the Edition 50. Visual tweaks include a black roof, unique side sill trim, black wing mirrors and exhaust outlets, and a stripe along the bottom of the doors that fades from black to red. There are also 'GTI 50' logos to be found the steering wheel, rear wing, wing mirrors, and side step protectors. On the inside there are red seat belts, and sports front seats trimmed in faux velour with a check pattern and thin Racing Green stripe. As we learnt last week, the Edition 50 is the fastest Golf around the Nurburgring Nordschleife track with a lap time of 7 minutes 46.13 seconds in the hands of race driver Benny Leuchter. It beat the 7 minute 47.31 second time set by Mr Leuchter in an all-wheel drive 2022 Golf R. Production of the Edition 50 is set to start at the end of 2025, and the first customer vehicles won't be delivered until 2026. Pricing has yet to be announced, and Australian availability isn't confirmed. In a chat with CarExpert at the local launch of the new Mk8.5 Golf range, general manager for product at Volkswagen Australia, Arjun Nidigallu, said the German brand's local arm is actively looking into how the GTI Clubsport could fit into the local lineup, but noted, "There are some technical things with the GTI Clubsport – engine and suspension variations that we need to make sure we have clearances for the Australian market". MORE: Everything Volkswagen Golf Content originally sourced from: For the 50th anniversary of the Volkswagen Golf GTI's unveiling, the German automaker has cooked up the Edition 50, which features a few more spuds under the bonnet, a dash of styling changes, and a sprinkle of chassis upgrades. Based on the already uprated Clubsport, the Edition 50 boasts a revised 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that now delivers 239kW and 420Nm. It continues to drive the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automated transmission. The Edition 50 can reportedly complete the 0-100km/h dash in 5.5 seconds, or 0.1s faster than the Clubsport. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. For reference, the standard GTI makes 195kW/370Nm, while the Clubsport punts out 221kW/420Nm. The Edition 50's engine is just 6kW down on the latest all-wheel drive Golf R. The original 1976 Golf GTI had a 1.6-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine making 81kW and 140Nm, and came fitted with a four-speed manual transmission. The extra power is matched to retuned steering and revised Dynamic Chassis Control settings. Compared to the regular eighth-generation Golf GTI, the Edition 50 sits 15mm lower to the ground. For those who want a few more frills, there's an optional GTI Performance pack, which lowers the ride height by a further 5mm, has 235mm Bridgestone Potenza Race semi-slick tyres, and stiffer springs for better response and reduced pitching and rolling. It also comes with 19-inch Warmenau forged alloy wheels that weigh just 8kg each – down 3kg on the standard 19-inch wheel – and an Akrapovič titanium exhaust, which saves a further 11kg. The GTI Edition 50 is available in five exterior colours: three (Pure White, Moonstone Grey, and Grenadilla Black Metallic) of which are available on elsewhere, and two (Dark Moss Green Metallic and Tornado Red) that are exclusive to the Edition 50. Visual tweaks include a black roof, unique side sill trim, black wing mirrors and exhaust outlets, and a stripe along the bottom of the doors that fades from black to red. There are also 'GTI 50' logos to be found the steering wheel, rear wing, wing mirrors, and side step protectors. On the inside there are red seat belts, and sports front seats trimmed in faux velour with a check pattern and thin Racing Green stripe. As we learnt last week, the Edition 50 is the fastest Golf around the Nurburgring Nordschleife track with a lap time of 7 minutes 46.13 seconds in the hands of race driver Benny Leuchter. It beat the 7 minute 47.31 second time set by Mr Leuchter in an all-wheel drive 2022 Golf R. Production of the Edition 50 is set to start at the end of 2025, and the first customer vehicles won't be delivered until 2026. Pricing has yet to be announced, and Australian availability isn't confirmed. In a chat with CarExpert at the local launch of the new Mk8.5 Golf range, general manager for product at Volkswagen Australia, Arjun Nidigallu, said the German brand's local arm is actively looking into how the GTI Clubsport could fit into the local lineup, but noted, "There are some technical things with the GTI Clubsport – engine and suspension variations that we need to make sure we have clearances for the Australian market". MORE: Everything Volkswagen Golf Content originally sourced from: For the 50th anniversary of the Volkswagen Golf GTI's unveiling, the German automaker has cooked up the Edition 50, which features a few more spuds under the bonnet, a dash of styling changes, and a sprinkle of chassis upgrades. Based on the already uprated Clubsport, the Edition 50 boasts a revised 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that now delivers 239kW and 420Nm. It continues to drive the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automated transmission. The Edition 50 can reportedly complete the 0-100km/h dash in 5.5 seconds, or 0.1s faster than the Clubsport. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. For reference, the standard GTI makes 195kW/370Nm, while the Clubsport punts out 221kW/420Nm. The Edition 50's engine is just 6kW down on the latest all-wheel drive Golf R. The original 1976 Golf GTI had a 1.6-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine making 81kW and 140Nm, and came fitted with a four-speed manual transmission. The extra power is matched to retuned steering and revised Dynamic Chassis Control settings. Compared to the regular eighth-generation Golf GTI, the Edition 50 sits 15mm lower to the ground. For those who want a few more frills, there's an optional GTI Performance pack, which lowers the ride height by a further 5mm, has 235mm Bridgestone Potenza Race semi-slick tyres, and stiffer springs for better response and reduced pitching and rolling. It also comes with 19-inch Warmenau forged alloy wheels that weigh just 8kg each – down 3kg on the standard 19-inch wheel – and an Akrapovič titanium exhaust, which saves a further 11kg. The GTI Edition 50 is available in five exterior colours: three (Pure White, Moonstone Grey, and Grenadilla Black Metallic) of which are available on elsewhere, and two (Dark Moss Green Metallic and Tornado Red) that are exclusive to the Edition 50. Visual tweaks include a black roof, unique side sill trim, black wing mirrors and exhaust outlets, and a stripe along the bottom of the doors that fades from black to red. There are also 'GTI 50' logos to be found the steering wheel, rear wing, wing mirrors, and side step protectors. On the inside there are red seat belts, and sports front seats trimmed in faux velour with a check pattern and thin Racing Green stripe. As we learnt last week, the Edition 50 is the fastest Golf around the Nurburgring Nordschleife track with a lap time of 7 minutes 46.13 seconds in the hands of race driver Benny Leuchter. It beat the 7 minute 47.31 second time set by Mr Leuchter in an all-wheel drive 2022 Golf R. Production of the Edition 50 is set to start at the end of 2025, and the first customer vehicles won't be delivered until 2026. Pricing has yet to be announced, and Australian availability isn't confirmed. In a chat with CarExpert at the local launch of the new Mk8.5 Golf range, general manager for product at Volkswagen Australia, Arjun Nidigallu, said the German brand's local arm is actively looking into how the GTI Clubsport could fit into the local lineup, but noted, "There are some technical things with the GTI Clubsport – engine and suspension variations that we need to make sure we have clearances for the Australian market". MORE: Everything Volkswagen Golf Content originally sourced from:
