With the new Toyota Innova Crysta racing ahead with 7,500 units sold in June 2016 itself, the very first month of its tenure, home grown makers Tata and Mahindra are yet to respond. While the former is dilly dallying the launch of its Hexa premium SUV (Aria replacement), the latter’s assault has been unearthed for the very first time. Spied here under a full body camouflage is Mahindra’s upcoming large MPV that’ll replace the aging Xylo.
Also read: All-new Mahindra SUV on the way, to be based on the Ssangyong X100 platform
Codenamed U321 and developed at the Mahindra North America Technical Center in Troy, US, the MPV is rumored to be called the TUV500. Initial impressions suggest a conventional, people-carrier themed styling, sprinkled with the usual Mahindra styling cues like the signature toothy grille, up-swept headlamp clusters, tall tail lamps and subtle chrome trimming all around. Rest assured, it won’t be as quirky to look at as, say, the KUV100 micro-SUV because it has to appeal to a wider variety of audience.
Also read: Probable Mahindra TUV500 rendered with third row seats
The interiors are expected to be all-new as well, while providing more space than the XUV500, which includes more boot space as well. Expect a gamut of XUV500 sourced comfort and convenience features, along with the capacity to seat seven occupants. Power could come from the 2.2-litre diesel m-Hawk diesel engine rated at 140 bhp and 330 Nm of torque, while th 1.99-litre m-Hawk diesel engine good for 140 bhp and 320 Nm could be also employed alongside for the NCR and Kerala regions. Both front and all-wheel drive systems are expected, with six-speed manual and automatic transmissions channeling power.
via GaadiWaadi
