Mahindra Thar.e previews a chunky retro SUV

Much like the Suzuki Jimny and the new Toyota Land Cruiser, the Thar.e concept gets an unashamedly boxy shape with squircle headlights that expertly walk the tightrope between contemporary and retro.

Around the sides, you'll find massive boxed wheel arches housing unashamedly aggressive tyres, although what looks like rear-facing cameras (neither as usable nor as cheap as wing mirrors) are less welcome. Nevertheless, there's a strong flavour of Toyota FJ Cruiser – always seen as a good thing around these parts – to the Mahindra in profile thanks to its hidden rear door handles.

And there's more good news from the back, where the Thar.e reveals an eye-catching inward-sloping chassis (much like the IED defeating V-hull on an APC), an easily accessible boot-mounted spare wheel and yet more squircle-shaped lighting. 

The interior, meanwhile, is said to "emphasise Thar.e's practicality for both urban and off-road adventurers" thanks to its pivoting central screen and, er, "robust grab handles".

That lot sits on Mahindra's new Inglo EV skateboard platform, which will also underpin the company's newly announced BE.05, BE.07 and BE.09 electric SUVs. They use a 286PS rear-wheel drive configuration or a four-wheel drive setup, with an additional 107PS motor spinning the front axle. A similar configuration will likely be used for the Thar.e.

Will the Thar.e be sold in the UK? It's too soon to tell, but with the spiralling cost of cars and the corresponding success of cheap-and-cheerful brands like Dacia, our appetite for budget brands is unlikely to fade anytime soon.