India’s leading utility vehicle manufacturer, Mahindra has been absent from the premium MPV space. The result, Toyota Innova Crysta taking over the market with record high sales. This is about to change as a new Mahindra MPV is in the works. Upcoming Mahindra MPV was spied testing recently in Chennai.
Few of our readers from Chennai have managed to capture premium MPV recently. Though it remains to be seen whether it is bigger than the Innova Crysta or not, first impression it gave those who have seen is that the new Mahindra MPV has a larger road presence than the Innova Crysta.
Reports also suggest that the upcoming Mahindra MPV is the first product to be designed at Mahindra’s North American Technical Centre (MNATC) in Troy, Michigan. Mahindra MPV could launch in India besides Mahindra export markets sometime in 2018. But, ahead of its launch, it is scheduled to debut at the 2018 Auto Expo in February.
Set to rival both Toyota Innova Crysta, Mahindra MPV could be a 7 / 8 seater vehicle, depending on the seating option you choose. It was spied with vertical slat front grille and a slanting bonnet while the front bumper receives two horizontal air slits positioned just below the grille. Extended C pillars indicate space for third row occupants while rear-end design elements are not known due to heavy camouflage. It also gets projector headlamps and LED DRLs.
Said to be based on a monocoque platform on a front wheel drive architecture, Mahindra MPV could be powered by the company’s new 1.6 liter turbo diesel engine. This new 130 hp engine is being developed in association with SsangYong and is said to be more fuel efficient than any Mahindra diesel engine till date. More details are to be revealed once the car is revealed at the 2018 Auto Expo in a few days.
Below is a short video Youtube Vlogger Gowtham Naidu published on his channel showing the new Mahindra U321 MPV.