Indian firm Mahindra & Mahindra seems to be on something of a roll lately. Following its acquisition of storied Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina last month, as well as the innovative KUV 100 compact SUV, the company today took the wraps off the svelte XUV Aero concept at the New Delhi Auto Expo.
Previewed in sketches last month, the vehicle appears to be based on the XUV 500 ,which is sold in Australia. It features a sloping roofline, ala BMW X6, Mercedes GLE Coupe and Mazda’s upcoming CX-4. Pravin Shah, president and chief executive of auto at Mahindra & Mahindra, spoke about the concept in a statement, saying:
“The launch of the XUV Aero today is a significant way forward for us in our design story as it reflects the bold design together with the presence of all futuristic connected technology. Through our product offerings at Mahindra Reva like the e-Verito and the e-Maxximo, we are shifting the paradigm of alternative technology while being committed to a clean and green tomorrow.”
Uniquely, the car is a three-door, but unlike the similarly-arranged Hyundai Veloster, the rear door hinges at the back, opening to reveal a pillar-less, modern cabin. The XUV Aero utilises Mahindra’s next-gen mHawk turbo-diesel 2.2-litre engine. Impressively, it is good for 157kW and 450Nm, and a 0-100km/h sprint of under 6.0 seconds. Six-speed automatic and manual will be available on the production version.
With decidedly premium concepts like this, Mahindra is moving into new market territories, an ambition that will be helped no end by Pininfarina. We are picking Mahindra to be a brand to watch closely, with a chance the production version could land on our shores. What do you think, would you like to see more of this Down Under?
