AFTER LOSING LAWSUIT, MAHINDRA TROLLS WITH A TRUE JEEP WRANGLER CLONE

If you’re an off-roading fan, you may have heard about the lawsuit that FCA filed over the Mahindra Roxor. This off-road toy bears an unmistakable resemblance to the Jeep Wrangler, which is something that FCA didn’t take too kindly too. Mahindra recently lost the lawsuit against the industrial giant, and are no longer allowed to sell their Roxor here in the United States. However, it appears that they haven’t lost their sense of humor. This is the all-new Mahindra Thar: the greatest automotive clapback we’ve seen in quite some time.

Whereas the Roxor was more akin to a UTV, the Mahindra Thar is very much a real SUV. You see, Mahindra owns the rights to the design of the CJ Jeep Wrangler, which was built from 1996 through 2006. After losing the lawsuit to FCA over building a Wrangler clone, Mahindra goes and builds an even more accurate rip-off that Jeep can’t do anything about. This is what we call an expert move.

Mahindra isn’t even hiding the fact that they used the CJ’s design language here either. The Thar’s timeless silhouette is the first thing referenced on their website’s homepage for the SUV, as its iconic design. The off-roader promises some real capability as well, as the Thar aims to take on the little and beloved Suzuki Jimny abroad. It’s got a part-time four-wheel drive system with a low-range gear, as well as a suspension tuned for off-roading.

Buyers have two powertrain options to choose from, either the 2.0L mStallion 150 gasoline engine or the 2.2L mHawk 130 diesel. They produce 150 and 130 horsepower respectively, and either can be equipped with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox. No pricing information is available at this time.

The Mahindra Thar is more of a Jeep Wrangler copy than their Roxor ever was, and yet they’ll have no issues selling them. That is something we’re sure that Jeep isn’t pleased with, but we can’t help but laugh just a little bit.