Mahindra has been working on the next generation of XUV500 in India and according to a recent confirmation by Dr Pawan Goenka, MD & CEO, Mahindra & Mahindra, at a recent earnings call, the mid-size SUV will be hitting the Indian market in the first quarter of next year.
The launch is expected to take place in March 2021 and for that, the company is already testing the next-gen XUV500 in India. Till the time though, Mahindra will be offering the current generation XUV500 with a BS-6 compliant engine that will be rolled out soon.
Interestingly, the XUV500 will be borrowing its design and form factor from Mahindra¡¯s Funster concept showcased at the Auto Expo 2020. This would include the body panels and possibly the interiors as seen on the Funster, only this one would, of course, not come in a convertible format.
As described by Autocar in a report, the next iteration of the XUV500 will come with a more upright stance, something on the lines of the Tata Harrier. This will be thanks to a vertical nose on a squarish design with flatter body panels. The highlights would include the signature vertical LED daytime-running lamps (DRLs) as seen on the XUV300.
Meanwhile, Mahindra might be doing away with the ¡®cheetah claw¡¯ handles in the second-gen XUV500 and bring in flush-fitting handles instead. If so, the company would probably be the first one to offer such door handles in the price segment.
Autocar reports that the XUV500 will take cues for its interiors from the Funster. So we might be seeing the same digital instrument cluster, and a large infotainment screen. The seating capacity is also expected to be the same.
As for its engine, the next-gen XUV500 is expected to come with a BS6-compliant 2.2-litre diesel motor with 180 hp of power. The transmission will be the same as on the current model, i.e. a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed torque converter automatic. In addition, it might also feature Mahindra¡¯s new 2.0-litre petrol engine with 190 hp power, 380 Nm of torque, direct injection and turbocharging.
As we move closer to the BS-6 compliant variant of the prevalent XUV500 model, we will get more clues about the next-generation of the SUV and once out, it will compete with the likes of the Kia Seltos and the 2020 Hyundai Creta. To stay on top of these developments, join our FB group below.