It is difficult to fathom the reason why there are not even a handful of options when it comes to budget pickups in India. Toyota Hilux is an extremely costly option and even when it comes to Isuzu D-Max V-Cross, one has to spend upwards of Rs 25 lakh to get the ownership tag.
In the past, we had a couple of options to choose from such as Tata Xenon and Scorpio Getaway though today market is clamoring for one such affordable product that can satiate the urge of petrol heads on a shoestring budget. This brings us to the crucial point of analysis as to Why Mahindra must come up with a Thar-based pickup.
The launch of the Thar with 5-door is expected to happen next year and the practical version of the SUV is based on the N Platform of Scorpio. So, we guesstimate that pickup version should also be on the cards of Mahindra as it will further push the momentum for already fast selling range of Thar. What is further going to help the popularity of Thar pickup is the huge gap in the segment with V-Cross costing above Rs 25 lakh and there is no affordable option available in the budget category. Mahindra Thar pickup will amply bridge this gap and attract a lot of customers including youngsters to buy the lifestyle utility vehicle that brings both style and adventure to the table. Underpinned by the new Scorpio platform also means that the pickup is likely to come equipped with an optimal combination of ride and handling.
In terms of engines, Mahindra can plonk a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine and 2.2-liter diesel motor in Thar Pickup and to drive home the message that it wants business, both manual and automatic transmission can be offered with companies legendary 4X4 system. All this will come together to make Thar pickup popular option if you if Mahindra decides to bring this proposition to life in the coming years. In sum, today the Indian auto market has a solid demand for lifestyle vehicles and Mahindra Thar Pickup fits the bill completely.
 - Mahindra can plonk a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine and diesel){kind=link}