Tastefully modified SUVs of India

Modified SUVs are plenty but tastefully modified ones are few and far in between. Today, we bring you five tastefully modified SUVs that take things to the next level, some in terms of aesthetics and others, in terms of performance.

The Archer, based on the Mahindra Thar

The Archer is a pick up truck based on the Mahindra Thar, a super customizable off roader sold in India. Abhishek Somani’s labour of love, the Archer muscle truck took the better part of a year and 10 lakh rupees to design and build. The custom build retains the stock chassis of the Thar CRDe.

The exteriors are modified with a custom built body while the interiors get a completely makeover. Under the hood, the 2.5 liter CRDe turbo diesel motor makes more power and torque courtesy a Dieseltronic tuning box and a performance exhaust. Suspension has been tweaked for better ride and handling.

Maruti Suzuki’s Gypsy Escapade

The Escapade is a concept based on the Maruti Gypsy. The modified SUV was shown at the 2014 Indian Auto Expo, as the automaker’s one-off off roader. The Escapade is essentially a Gypsy that sits on taller tyres. A yellow paint job masks the 30 year old design of the off roader. Revised front and rear bumpers and a hood scoop on the bonnet reinforce the butch looks. To round off the outdoorsy appeal of the mountain goat, Maruti even mounted a bicycle in the Gypsy’s loading bay.

Gurkha pick up truck

The Gurkha is essentially a Mercedes Benz G-Wagen modified for the Indian car market. Someone got so inspired by the original that he decided to build a pick up truck tribute to the G-Wagen. That’s how the Gurkha pick up truck came to be, replete with G-Wagen styling up front and a strategically placed AMG badge on the front grille. This Gurkha has the OM616 derived 2.6 liter turbo diesel engine, known for its ruggedness and reliability.

New Force Gurkha Modified

Someone’s already put the facelifted Force Gurkha on a modification diet. This vehicle retains the stock paint job, dumps the cartoonish front bumper and grille, and now seems rough and ready for action. The rough-and-ready bits on this customized off roader include the Maxxis Bighorn mud terrain tyres, steel wheels, custom front and rear bumpers, a new front grille, an LED light bar mounted on the roof and rock crawlers.

Mahindra Armada-based pick up truck

The Armada is the forebear of the Bolero, and a MUV that has been the base of many an off road custom machine. One such vehicle, from SMG Customs, is this pick up truck. This vehicle gets a twin cab body with a rear loading bay. The vehicle rides on Hankook Dynapro mud terrain tyres shod on alloy wheels. Custom front and rear bumpers, a new front end design replete with a winch, a new rear with a farm jack and unique mounting design for the spare wheel are the other bits that stand out on this vehicle.

Images courtesy 1, 3, 4 and 5