Mahindra has revealed a heavily modified Thar Roxx-based ATV designed for military use, and no, this is not just a Thar with camouflage paint and a few extra lights. The company says the vehicle has been purpose-built for India’s security forces and will soon be presented to the Indian Army for trials.
Based on the Thar Roxx, the ATV keeps the familiar front end with its round LED headlamps and six-slot grille, but almost everything else has been reworked for harsher environments. The bumper is now far chunkier and houses a winch to help the vehicle pull itself out of difficult terrain. There is also added protection around the windscreen, along with mounts for auxiliary lighting.
The changes get more serious along the sides. Conventional doors have been replaced with lightweight metal pipe units that improve visibility and make getting in and out quicker. The roof is gone too, replaced by a modular roll cage that can support a 360-degree turret compatible with a 7.62 mm medium machine gun. It is the sort of setup that makes a regular SUV look rather underprepared.
The ATV also gets 18-inch all-terrain tyres, increased ground clearance, rock sliders and underbody protection. At the rear, there is storage for military equipment, a jerrycan holder for extended operating range and even twin spare wheels mounted on the tailgate. Mahindra has also added reinforced hoist brackets, meaning the vehicle can potentially be air-dropped into remote areas.
Under the bonnet sits the familiar 2.2 litre diesel engine producing 172 bhp and 400 Nm. Power is sent through a 6-speed automatic gearbox and a Four Wheel Drive system. Suspension duties are handled by a double wishbone setup at the front and a multi-link arrangement at the rear.
Mahindra has not detailed the cabin yet, though the images reveal army green seats and what appears to be a largely familiar Thar Roxx dashboard layout. Which is probably sensible because soldiers already have enough to learn without having to navigate three layers of touchscreen menus.
This is not Mahindra’s first military vehicle either. The company has previously developed models like the Armado, Marksman and Scorpio Classic for defence applications. The Thar-based ATV adds another chapter to that list, this time with a little more off-road theatre.
