Mahindra’s upcoming compact SUV is christened XUV300
Mahindra has given a name to its upcoming compact SUV codenamed S201 and it is XUV300. The SUV will be based on the SsangYong Tivoli, which takes approx 35 per cent market share in the South Korean market. The Tivoli has also won many safety and design awards internationally. Expect the XUV300 to be launched sometime in February 2019.
While Mahindra has revealed the design and some of the features that it will get, there is no mention about the tech specs. You will have to wait until February for the same. The XUV300 will be equipped with a six speed transmission, and will be available in both petrol and diesel versions. Mahindra also says that it will have the best-in-class torque figure. The engines will conform to BS 4 standards as the BS 6 will kick in only in 2020. However, Mahindra will be ready with a BS 6 version when the time comes, according to the top bosses. An electric version, codenamed S210, which the company is working on, is also under development and will be out in 2020.
“We have tried very hard to make it an object of desire”, said Dr Pawan Goenka
At the event today, the design iterations of the XUV300 were revealed, along with final images of the compact SUV. Based on a monocoque chassis, the SUV boasts of best in class safety. Mahindra had also taken inputs from its customers for the design part to make it attractive. The ‘Cheetah’ is again taken as inspiration to make the exteriors ‘flamboyant’ and interiors ‘inviting’. The muscular wheel arches, the visible shoulder lines, the light catchers and floating-type roof courtesy the blacked out rear pillars, give it a bold look. The compact SUV get sharp LED DRLs that extend all the way down to the front fog lamps, giving it a distinct front fascia, and LED tail lamps which resemble the current gen XUV500. The XUV300 will get 17 inch alloys.
Check out our first drive review of the Marazzo here
Speaking at the name reveal, Dr. Pawan Goenka, managing director, M&M Ltd. said “The XUV300 is our latest offering in the next generation of aspirational Mahindra vehicles, after the Marazzo and the Alturas G4. Our new breed of vehicles are products of engineering excellence, offer high refinement and are built on global platforms. XUV500 enjoys huge equity in consumers’ minds and now with the XUV300, the XUV brand will evolve into a family of vehicles that stands for sophistication with performance.”
Rajan Wadhera, President Automotive Sector, M&M Ltd.said “The XUV300 is an all-new product that is built on a global platform and comes with many segment firsts. The XUV300’s head-turning, cheetah-inspired design, ‘fun-to-drive’ performance, first-in-class hi-tech features, best-in-class safety and class-defining interiors, make it an exciting & comprehensive package that will find a strong connect and appeal among consumers. We will offer the XUV300 in both petrol and diesel options.”
On the features front, it gets seven airbags, a touch screen infotainment system, steering mounted controls and sunroof to name a few. Full details of all the features and tech specs will be out when it is launched next year.
The compact SUV segment is growing at a staggering rate and Mahindra has dubbed it a ‘hot’ segment, with a compound annual growth rate of 44 per cent in the last five years. The company aims to capture 15 to 20 per cent of market share.
The Mahindra XUV300 has the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and the Ford EcoSport in its crosshairs. The Vitara Brezza is priced at Rs 7.74 lakh and the EcoSport has a price tag of Rs 7.82 lakh. Stay tuned for more details.
