A pre-production test mule of the coming Mahindra TUV500 MPV has been spied in Chennai. It is expected to launch in early-2017, and will replace the ageing Xylo.
Looking at its size and road stance, speculations suggest that Mahindra might position it against the rival popular MPVs like the Toyota Innova Crysta and Tata Hexa. The much-anticipated desi MPV is seen here for the first time in its own body heavily camouflaged. The curvy bonnet, wide sweptback headlamp and sloped windshield, all look familiar.
Still heavily disguised by thick cladding, the TUV500’s exterior silhouette can roughly be made out. For one, Mahindra’s design language is noticeable all over the front end – it appears to feature the home grown car maker’s signature vertical muscular grille with a honeycomb mesh pattern and Scorpio-like claws. The front-end of the MPV looks heavily borrow cues from the XUV500.
Under its skin, the TUV500 rides on a monocoque platform on a front wheel drive architecture. Engine lineup could pack either Mahindra’s 1.99-litre mHawk diesel engine or an all new diesel engine co-developed with Ssangyong. The company is also working on a petrol variant as well, which could pack an all new 1.5-litre 4 cyl engine that will be introduced soon.
To read more on Mahindra XUV500, Click here
Also see: Mahindra XUV Aero Coupe SUV Concept debuts @ 2016 Auto Expo
Source: Motor Vikatan
