A new full size utility vehicle has been spotted on Chennai roads that will get slotted above the existing Xylo MUV. The Mahindra MPV has a lot of testing equipment attached to it and seems to be based on the XUV500 platform.
Mahindra is the undisputed king of the utility vehicle market in India, with superhits like the TUV300, XUV500 and Scorpio adding to the sales numbers in huge bulk. Now it looks like the company is busy readying another contender for the MPV segment. Recent images of a test mule have surfaced showing a big car with heavy camouflage and testing equipment attached to it. The images say a lot about the company, which is always on its toes to keep its products fresh in public minds.
The latest set of spyshots have shown that Mahindra skunkworks is busy drumming up another people’s mover, but this time it is a size bigger and seems to be based on the monocoque chassis of the XUV500 SUV. The side profile of the vehicle showcases that the new MPV has a short front overhang but a long rear overhang, indicating the car might be a front-wheel-drive vehicle with a spacious third row of seating and good amount of boot space. Also visible are projector headlamps and the modern signature Mahindra grille.
The new MPV is likely to be placed above the existing Xylo and might get upmarket interiors and a spacious cabin. Mahindra, being always the first one to spot an opportunity and grab it with both hands, might also try to fill the void left by the old Innova with this new car and place it in the Rs. 10 – 15 lakh price bracket. Mahindra will also look to compete with the upcoming Tata Hexa crossover which is believed to be choked full of premium features.
Mahindra is currently going through a downward phase, with its traditional bread and butter cars such as the Bolero and XUV500 showing a slowdown in sales and are overtaken by newer entrants like the Maruti Vitara Brezza and Hyundai Creta. The new MPV will surely help Mahindra bring additional profits as well as uplift the brand to a more premium position. The car might also eat into the sales of Mahindra’s own XUV500 but the company has always adopted a policy of retaining the customer in the showroom, no matter what vehicle he chooses.
New Generation Mahindra MPV
– A new Mahindra MPV has been caught testing near Chennai
– The MPV was fully camouflaged but a signature Mahindra grille and projector headlamps were visible
– The vehicle is likely to be based on the XUV500 platform and will be positioned above the Xylo MUV
– Mahindra might try and fill the void left by the old Innova in the Rs. 10 – 15 lakh segment
Source – Team-BHP.com
