The Mahindra XUV500 is set to be facelifted soon in an attempt to fend itself against a growing influx of rivals. Reports claim that the flagship vehicle will gain updated looks, added equipments and more powerful engine.
To give an idea of what a 2017 Mahindra XUV500 facelift would look like, BharathAutos artist Mohammed Afraz has created a rendering based on Imperio-like toothed grille and full-LED Headlamps.
The design of the XUV500, claimed to be inspired by Cheetah, has not aged and it’s hard to believe that it has already been nearly seven years since it came out. Thus, much of the ‘Cheetah Inspired’ exterior design is likely to be untouched. At the moment, it is difficult to comment on the extent of cosmetic changes, as XUV500 facelift test-mules has not been spotted yet.
Its logical to assume, the changes to the exterior styling are pretty subtle, beginning with a new Imperio-like toothed grille on offer along with revised front and rear bumpers. Don’t expect the side and rear profiles to get major update, save for the new 17-inch alloys and reworked detailing on the LED tail lamps. The XUV500 facelift may get a dual-tone paint scheme that finishes the roof in a contrast shade and new paint shades as well.
Moving inside, the 2017 XUV500 is reported to get better materials, a revised dashboard, improved seat upholstery and changes to the instrument console. The current XUV500 already comes loaded with countless features and Mahindra would want to bring in a few more equipments for the updated model. Another vital update could be the inclusion of Apple CarPlay, in addition to Android Auto for the touchscreen infotainment system introduced in April-2017.
Image of the XUV Aero Concept’s interior seen with tan-leather upholstery, larger high-resolution touchscreen infotainment system, flat-bottomed steering wheel, digital instrument diplay and fighter jet-styled buttons.
The drivetrain upgrade will be the main headline, when launched. Report says that the 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine will receive few tweaks to improve power and torque figures with 6-speed Manual or 6-speed Automatic. The updated engine is expected to produce 170 BHP of power and more than 350 Nm of torque. That’s a major increment over the current 140 BHP and 330 Nm of torque. However, the power increase could see a vehicle getting a mild drop in fuel efficiency figures.
We won’t be surprised if Mahindra introduces a petrol variant on the facelifted XUV500, as the company has invested around Rs 1000 crore towards the development of a new family of petrol engine, and also confirmed the launch for this fiscal year. It may be recalled that a refreshed version of the XUV was launched in 2015. Thus, the 2017 update will be the second facelift for the first-gen XUV500. The new XUV500 is expected to be introduced by the end of this-year, possibly around the festive season.
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Also see: Mahindra Scorpio & XUV500 to get petrol engine this year
