You’ve heard of the Gurkha 4×4 off-roader, right? Well, Force Motors – its manufacturer – recently appointed ETG Logistics as its distributor in Southern Africa, so we might see it on our roads in the not-too-distant future.
ETG has confirmed that a comprehensive product portfolio is planned, including the Gurkha, the Traveller midi-bus
and the Kargo King bakkie range. Homologation of these vehicles for the South African market is currently underway
and the first vehicles are expected to reach our market during the first quarter of 2023.
The Gurkha three-door mini-SUV was clearly inspired by the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. It is aimed at serious off-road enthusiasts and features independently controlled diff locks, as well as a water-wading ability of up to 700mm and a maximum incline gradeability of 35 degrees. It has a 37-degree approach angle, a departure angle of 33 degrees and a breakover angle of 25 degrees. It also has manually locking differentials both front and rear. Power comes from a 2.6-litre diesel engine with 67kW available at 3 200rpm and 250Nm of peak torque on tap at 2 400rpm. It is paired
with a five-speed manual gearbox.
Standard equipment includes a 7-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, full-LED headlamps, rear parking sensors, central locking, a tyre pressure monitoring system, ABS, and dual airbags. Offering seating for four passengers, the Gurkha is 4 116mm long, 1 812mm wide, and 2 075mm tall, with 500 litres of boot space. This places it squarely in competition with the highly popular Suzuki Jimny.
ETG is playing its cards close to its chest, so there’s no information on pricing and warranty yet. It should be competitive though.
