Mahindra owned South Korean auto manufacturer, SsangYong, will be unveiling the new generation Korando SUV at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show in March this year. The production ready variant will be based on the SIV-2 concept, which was showcased in Geneva last year.
The new Korando is positioned above the SsangYong Tivoli in the company line-up. It will be based on the X100 architecture, on which the Tivoli as well as the Mahindra XUV300 are based. This new platform is designed for better driving dynamics, with a bolder body design and more efficient engine lineup.
The new SsangYong Korando will be a 5 seater SUV. Spied on test earlier, the SUV gets similar headlamps and front grille layout but a bolder and more aggressive stance. It will receive spacious interiors with new leather and Alcantara seats and dashboard while quality wood finish will be seen on all other elements along with aluminum inserts.
The next gen SsangYong Korando will get both petrol and diesel engine options. These include new generation of turbocharged engines, in the 1.5 – 2 liter capacity range. SsangYong could also launch an electric version. This will make the new Korando company’s first all electric SUV.
In terms of pricing, the new gen SsangYong Korando is expected to be priced between £19,000 (INR 17,72,027) and £27,000 (INR 25,18,143) while the electric version should be priced above the £25,000 (INR 23,31,614) mark.
There are no plans of the Korando to be launched in India. But, there is a possibility that we get a car based on a similar platform, if not the same. Last year Mahindra launched Alturas in India, which is a rebadged Rexton. While in the next few days, Mahindra will launch XUV300, which is based on SsangYong Tivoli.
Mahindra is working on new generation XUV500, which will launch next year. It is possible that Mahindra XUV500 and the new gen Koranda are underpinned the same platform. Unlike Korando, Mahindra XUV500 will be a 7 seater. It will be offered with a 2 liter diesel engine generating 180 hp. Apart from sharing platform, the two SUVs could also share interiors, exterior design, etc.
