Mahindra has officially announced to temporarily discontinue the existing XUV500, as the new XUV700 is ready to hit the Indian market. Previous reports claim that the XUV500 will be re-launched as a 5-seater version of the XUV700. However, a new media report claims that the new Mahindra XUV500 will be introduced as a mid-sized SUV to rival the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos.
The report further claims that the new Mahindra XUV500 will be significantly smaller than the current model, which measures around 4.6 meters. The new model is reportedly to measure around 4.3 meters in length and will be positioned against the similarly sized mid-sized SUVs. The next-gen Mahindra XUV500 will fill the void between the XUV300 and the upcoming XUV700.
Mahindra earlier planned the XUV400 mid-sized SUV, internally called the project S301, as the Creta rival. This SUV was expected to be based on the Ford’s B772 platform; however, the joint venture has already been called off. Instead of the XUV400, Mahindra now plans to introduce the 5-seater XUV500. The report claims that the new XUV500 won’t be launched before 2024.
It is expected that Mahindra will use the extended version of the XUV300’s platform to develop the new SUV. The XUV300 is based on the SsangYong’s X100 platform, which also underpin the Tivoli SUV. Mahindra engineers will have to work on reducing weight of the platform to reduce the cost.
The Mahindra XUV500 or S301 will be powered by a revised version of the XUV300’s 1.5-litre diesel engine, which is compliant to meet the tighter BS6 Phase II emission standards coming in 2023. The SUV will also receive the 1.5-litre mStallion turbocharged petrol engine, which can produce up to 163bhp of power.
The next-gen Mahindra XUV500 will be positioned against the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun and the upcoming MG Astor. To be placed between the XUV300 and the XUV700, the new XUV500 5-seater is expected to be priced around Rs 10 lakh to Rs 17 lakh. It will be designed at Mahindra Automotive Design Europe Studio, which is reportedly to be headed by Pratap Bose.
Source – AutoCarIndia
