The unstoppable new Force Gurkha
E.O.V. 4X4x4 steamrolls through the severest of trails without breaking into a
sweat
·
Price: $14,271 (Ex-showroom, Delhi)
·
Engine: 2,596-cc, 82PS, 232Nm
·
Transmission: Five-speed manual, all-wheel drive
As we entered the force motors’ facility, I
was pleasantly surprised to see the wall donning an outsize poster of Car
India’s Editor Aspi Bhathena driving the previous generation Gurkha on a
dirt-trail. Although the 4x4 was mainly exported, some might remember the 4x4,
based on the older generation Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, since some 40 odd vehicles
were also sold locally. Today, we are here to test the updated 2013 model of
the Gurkha, Force Motors’ second offering in the passenger car segment apart
from the Force One.
Although
the 4x4 was mainly exported, some might remember the 4x4, based on the older
generation Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, since some 40 odd vehicles were also sold
locally.
Funny as it may sound, it’s now called the
Force Gurkha E.O.V. 4x4x4. No, this isn’t a typo; the three 4s stand for a
four-wheel drive vehicle suitable for all four seasons and can be driven across
four different kinds of terrain. This truly is a thoroughbred off-roader that
can take some serious beating without flinching. The Gurkha isequipped with a
four-wheel drive, mechanical differential locks for front and rear axles,
low-ratio gearbox, off-roading tyres and a snorkel that allows it to wade
through 550-mm deep water!
Design-wise, the engineers have given the
Gurkha a completely new front, which a chunky plastic face, flared wheel-arches
and sturdy metal footboard on the side to suit modern taste and its 4x4
abilities. Thankfully, it retains the old-school boxy design, reminiscent of
the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, with short front and rear overhangs. The impressive
37-degree approach and 34-degree departure angle along with a high 210-mm
ground clearance can take you almost anywhere you would dare to go.
It’s
a complete off-roader with dedicated lever for 4x4, along with front and rear
differential locks
The fit-and-finish is just about average,
plenty of ordinary plastic used on the basic two-tone dashboard and I spotted
inconsistent gaps between the body-parts. It might be on a par with the
Mahindra Thar or even a shade better, but there is ample scope for improvement.
The visibility from the driver’s seat is great, thanks to the narrow A-pillars,
which helped me position the Gurkha more accurately on the tortuous trail.
However, the driving position is more truck-like with an upright, oversized
steering wheel, which comes without rake adjustment. The new seats are quite
comfortable and the large windows make the cabin nice and bright. The two-door
hard-top version comes with the modern front facing seats, which can be
accessed by toppling the front seats ahead. There is no scarcity of knee or leg
room and, like the front-seats, these offer great support.
The
minimalistic two-tone interiors are better than the older Gurkha
Under the square bonnet is a Mercedes-Benz
OM616-derived 2,596-cc turbo-charged, inter-cooled, direct-injection diesel
motor that is capable of a humble 82 PS which peaks at just 3,200 revolutions
per minute and 232 Nm of maximum torque between 1,800 and 2,000 RPM. Currently
the engine does not meet BSIV emission norms, but the engineers are working on
a cleaner version, which might come out in the near future. In the normal 4x2
mode the rear wheels are powered by a five-speed Mercedes-Benz-sourcedG18
gearbox and if the going gets tough, one can engage all-wheel drive using the
second gear lever.
I got a chance to experience the Gurkha’s
abilities on a short endurance test track especially created by Force Motors.
Although I expected it to do fairly well over tortuous roads (going by Aspi’s
2008 review) the vehicle left me stunned by its unbelievable off-roading
prowess. Mounted on a sturdy ladder-on-frame chassis, it’s sprung on an
independent, double wishbone arrangement with an anti-roll bar suspension in
front, while the rear is a leaf-spring with an anti-roll bar. The set-up soaks
up the severest of road, or the lack of it, in perfect harmony. On the
downside, the towering 2,055 mm of height makes the Gurkha unstable on roads
while negotiating a fast corner. But that’s something that one can overlook
while appreciating the SUV’s off-roading potential. Despite having disc brakes
in front and drums at the rear, it lacked the stopping power needed to bring to
halt this bulky 4x4 weighting 1,460 kg.
The
torque 2,596-cc engine does not meet BSIV emission norms, expect a cleaner
version soon
The clutch felt heavy and the gearbox a bit
botchy, but no sooner had I released my left foot than the Gurkha darted ahead
enthusiastically. It took me a while to get used to the dog-leg as slotting into
the first is quite a stretch. Due to the short gearing it was time to shift to
second gear as the engine revs only to 3,500 RPM. Although this translates into
good throttle control while off-roading, on normal roads it means frequent
gear-shifts. The Gurkha badly needs a better gearbox with shorter throws and
the same goes for the second gear lever that engages the 4x4.
The
Gurkha badly needs a better gearbox with shorter throws and the same goes for
the second gear lever that engages the 4x4.
Throughout the challenging course it
maintained its poise and ironed out sections which most soft-roads would shy
away from. I had no trouble driving it over massive craters and even posed for
the camera with two wheels in the air. When it got stuck, all I had to do was
to engage the differential locks manually by using a couple of levers dedicated
for front and rear axles and it simply clawed out. Engaging the 4x4 low it
climbed (jumped over to be honest) a 40-degree slope effortlessly and using the
engine’s low-speed idling calibration it even crawled up a 25-degree incline
without any throttle input from me, riding on the strong torque. In terms of
handling, the power-assisted steering has a slow response and has countless
lock to lock turns, which is common in many off-roading machines.
the
Gurkha E.O.V. 4x4x4 would fit perfectly in a farmhouse at the back of beyond,
so that you can savor its potential
Force Motors are offering the Gurkha in
three colors options matte black, metallic red and green – with an impressive
three-year/3,00,000-km warranty. Priced at $14,271 for the 4x4 hard-top
variant, it is more expensive than its competitors (although more capable than
most of its peers), but at that price I would expect a little more. This
thoroughbred 4x4 has some rough edges, but it is aimed at hardcore off-roading
enthusiasts who will make full use of it. Urbanites looking for an SUV just for
its posing value have to wait as it still just BSIII compliant, so it can’t be
bought in major cities until a BSIV upgrade happens. To be honest, the Gurkha
E.O.V. 4x4x4 would fit perfectly in a farmhouse at the back of beyond, so that
you can savor its potential.
