Mahindra Thar Roxx ATV: Military Off-Roader With 400 Nm & 230 mm Clearance

The Indian automobile manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra’s subsidiary Mahindra Defence Systems, which makes performance armoured vehicles for military and paramilitary forces, has come up with a Mahindra Thar Roxx ATV, which is a highly modified version of the Mahindra Thar Roxx off-road SUV. 

Exterior & Design 

Up front, it comes with a signature six-slot grille and is protected by a steel brush guard. A windscreen protector is added to the screen to protect the glass from debris or projectiles. There’s a stubby steel bumper at the front end, which increases its approach angle, and it also has a heavy-duty electric recovery winch that helps in recovering the vehicle from mud, sand, snow, and steep ditches. The high-intensity LED pods are also added to the bumper to enhance visibility. 

On the sides, it gets black tubular doors for better practicality so army personnel can easily jump in or out without waiting for the doors to open. It features black steel wheels instead of alloy ones that are found in the original Mahindra Thar Roxx, and to ensure better grip on the sand, mud, and rocks, it gets all-terrain tyres. Features a split running board for the front and rear rows in the steel-pipe version for better foothold. There are no C and D pillars, which make the B pillar’s backward profile look totally open.

This rugged open-frame design is becoming a trend, similar to the much-anticipated Nissan Xterra revival, which is also making waves in the off-road community.

The rear doesn’t have any glass, and its upper tailgate makes its boot space a ‘fast-load’ zone, enabling easy loading and unloading of gear. The back also has a metal bracket to help the army personnel so they can carry fuel in it if they have to go on long-range patrolling. There’s also a towing hook mounted with the chassis that helps in recovery as well as towing the small trailers. The badging of ‘Mahindra Defence’ is visible at the back to reflect its branding.

Dimensions & Interior 

The dimensions in terms of length, width, and height are 4,428 mm, 1,870 mm, and 1,923 mm, respectively. Its wheelbase is 2,850 mm, and its ground clearance is 230 mm. These measurements are the same as the original Mahindra Thar Roxx. Comes with a seating capacity of 5 people in a layout of 2 and 3. While it’s a 5-seater, its space management is being compared to the upcoming MPVs from Maruti and Hyundai, which are specifically designed to maximize cabin utility. It features a large boot space at the back and rear seats to carry essentials.

The cabin is equipped with tactical features, which include a heavy-duty 360-degree gun mount that helps the army personnel to use weapons even if the vehicle is in motion. it has a digital instrument cluster under the steering wheel that shows engine temperature, 4×4 status, and other driving data. Another tactical feature is Blackout Lighting Mode, which switches off all lights at once.

Powertrain & Performance 

Powered by the same 2.2-litre mHawk 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine that is found in the original Thar Roxx, but tuned to deliver a higher state of output, so added weight. Its power output is 128.6 kW (172 hp) at 3500 rpm, and peak torque is 400 Nm at 1750–2750 rpm. The engine is bolted to the 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission, and its drivetrain is four-wheel drive. 

In terms of performance, the Mahindra Thar Roxx ATV is slightly different from its civilian counterpart. Reportedly, it has a top speed of up to 120-130 km/h, and acceleration timing for 0-100 km/h is 10.5 seconds. The ARAI-certified range for the vehicle with the engine is 15.2 kmpl; for the tactical real-world conditions, it is most expected to be between 10-12 kmpl.