Is the new Mercedes-Benz G-Class just a bit to glitzy for your liking? Maybe the once hardcore mil-spec go-anywhere do-anything utility vehicle has been sanitized by the addition of all that leather and comfort. Or maybe the new G is just a bit too pricey. Either way, if you’re one of the people who longs for something a bit more rugged and rustic than anything Mercedes offers here, and you happen to live in Southeast Asia, you might want to take a look at the Force Gurkha.
It isn’t some crazy million-dollar G-Wagen restomod. Instead, it’s an unrelated but rugged vehicle that draws inspiration from the famous Mercedes off-roader. There are a couple of engine options, including a turbocharged 2.2-liter inline four-cylinder diesel engine that makes 140 horsepower and 237 lb-ft of torque and a 2.6-liter that makes 85 hp and 170 lb-ft. Yes, the bigger engine is less powerful since it makes do without forced induction. And in actuality, both diesel engines are licensed from Mercedes-Benz and produced in India as part of an ongoing business relationship for more than 40 years now.
There’s also a conventional transfer case that offers a low-range for off-roading. There are coil springs at all four corners, seating for up to nine, 8.3 inches of ground clearance, an approach angle of 44 degrees, and a departure angle of 40 degrees. In case you were wondering, the current G-Wagen has an approach angle of 31 degrees and a departure angle of 30 degrees.
Perhaps the best thing about the Force Gurkha is the price. The most expensive model rings in at 1,330,000 Indian Rupees or $17,745 USD. No matter how you slice it, that’s one heck of a deal.
