Force Motors Gurkha History
Force Motors' iconic off-roader — a boxy, G-Class-inspired 4×4 that has evolved through four generations since 2008, now BS VI-compliant.
Photo: “Force Gurkha offroading” by Vish The Weekender / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 3.0. Cropped to 16:9.
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The Force Gurkha was launched in 2008 as a civilian spin-off of a platform developed during Indian Army trials in 1997, drawing heavy visual and mechanical inspiration from the Mercedes-Benz G-Class — the resemblance earning it the popular nickname "Indian G-Wagon." Early examples used a 2.6-litre Mercedes-Benz OM616 diesel engine and were sold as two-door hardtops emphasising durability over refinement.
A second-series update in 2013 repositioned the Gurkha as an "extreme off-road vehicle" with a turbocharged version of the same 2.6-litre diesel, while a third series in 2017 added BS-IV compliance and broadened the lineup with three distinct variants: the Xplorer (3-door and 5-door), the Xpedition (5-door with independent front / live rigid rear axle combination), and the Xtreme (3-door, with a 2.2-litre Mercedes-Benz OM611 engine producing approximately 140 hp and 321 Nm).
The fourth-generation Gurkha launched in October 2021 brought BS VI emissions compliance, a revised 2.6-litre common-rail diesel producing 90 hp and 250 Nm, locking front and rear differentials, a 700 mm water-wading depth, and a 5-door option as standard. The fourth-gen car represents the most refined Gurkha yet while retaining the body-on-frame construction and mechanical simplicity that define the nameplate.
Generations
First generation · Gurkha (2008)
Two-door 4×4 with Mercedes OM616 2.6-litre diesel; civilian adaptation of a 1997 army-trial platform.
Second generation · Gurkha (2013)
Turbocharged 2.6-litre diesel; marketed as an extreme off-roader; BS3-compliant.
Third generation · Gurkha (2017)
Photo: “Force Gurkha offroading” by Vish The Weekender / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 3.0. Cropped to 16:9.
BS-IV update with three variants: Xplorer, Xpedition, and the 140 hp Xtreme with Mercedes OM611 2.2-litre engine.
Fourth generation · Gurkha (2021)
BS-VI FM 2.6 CR CD engine (90 hp / 250 Nm); locking diffs, 700 mm wading; 3-door and 5-door body options.
Body styles
- SUV
- 3-door hardtop
- 5-door hardtop
Notable special editions & performance variants
Xtreme
3-door third-gen variant with Mercedes-Benz OM611 2.2-litre engine (~140 hp / 321 Nm) for the enthusiast segment.
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