Force Motors is openings its doors in South Africa towards the end of June with its first vehicles to arrive in dealerships by July.
One of the most exciting entries in the line-up of five inbound models is undoubtedly the Gurkha – a compact 4x4x4, yes, a four-by-four-by-four.
The moniker hints at the off-roader’s ability to perform in four-wheel drive during all four seasons of the year on four extreme terrains (sand, water, rock, and ice).
The Gurkha is coming to our showrooms in three and five-door body styles, and it has the popular Suzuki Jimny right in its crosshairs.
What to expect
The Gurkha’s local specifications have yet to be revealed but looking at what’s on offer in its home market, India, it seems to be well-equipped to deal with demanding off-road scenarios.
In this market, the SUV is powered by a “Mercedes-derived” 2.6-litre, diesel motor putting out 67kW and 250Nm, driving all four wheels via a five-speed manual transmission with 4×4 High and 4×4 Low modes.
A manual diff lock at the front and rear is additionally fitted, as are a 63-litre fuel tank, air intake snorkel, and 16-inch steel wheels.
Ground clearance for the Gurkha comes in at 205mm resulting in an impressive maximum water fording depth of 700mm, and it offers an approach angle of 37 degrees, break-over angle of 25 degrees, and departure angle of 33 degrees allowing for a maximum incline gradeability of 35 degrees.
It also boasts a “lowest-in-class turning radius” of 5.65 meters, said Force, and the squared-off shell occupies a footprint of 4,116mm long, 1,812mm wide, and 2,075mm tall – putting it about halfway between a Jimny and a Jeep in terms of size.
The Gurkha’s feature set is not the pinnacle of luxury but it has a few welcome amenities to make your trips a bit more comfortable.
It brings a 17.78cm touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, four speakers, 12V and USB charging sockets, electric windows, a tilt and telescopic-adjustable steering wheel, central locking with speed-sensing door locks, manual airconditioning, and full-LED headlamps with daytime running lights, fog lights, and cornering lamps.
Moreover, two airbags, ABS with electronic brake force distribution, rear parking sensors, and a tyre-pressure monitoring system round out the safety features.
Individual “captain seats” with armrests then provide a place for up to four passengers – with the second row only accessible from the rear hatch in the three-door model – and it offers 500 litres of cargo space with all four seats up.
The South African pricing for the new Gurkha is still around two months away from being announced, but it’s expected to be one of the more affordable 4×4-capable SUVs in the country upon its arrival.
In India, the SUV retails from 1.5-million Rupees which equates to roughly R350,000 at today’s exchange rates.
Force Gurkha
Keyword: Force Gurkha 4x4x4 on its way South Africa – What to expect