Mahindra plans to launch a compact SUV in India early next month. The Thar (reworked Commander Jeep) will be priced at Rs. 7 lakhs and will be first launched in Kerala and Rajasthan. Powered by a 2.5L CRDi diesel motor producing 105hp of power and 250Nm of torque mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox, the Thar will be offered in both soft top and hard top versions. The Thar will feature a Borg Warner shift transfer case and will be manufactured on the Scorpio assembly line at the company’s Kandivili facility. The company expects to sell 5,000 units of the Thar a year.