Will be the third monocoque-based product from M&M.
Autocar India reports that the new Mahindra MPV (codename: Mahindra U321) will launch in India in the second half of 2017 and replace the Mahindra Xylo which completes 8 years in market next January. Spyshots of its early test mules reveal a large 3-row vehicle with a sleek profile.
From what we can gather, the MPV will integrate cues borrowed from Mahindra’s range, such as the characteristic Mahindra toothed grille, large headlamps, heavily designed design and a strong shoulder line. It is expected to be slightly familiar yet contemporary.
Mahindra’s North American Technical Centre (MNATC) in Michigan is involved in its development, and this year the Mahindra Research Valley near Chennai began working on the product. It will be Mahindra's third model to be based on a monocoque platform designed around a front-wheel drive architecture, although its unclear if its a brand new one or a modified XUV500 chassis.
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The report states that the Mahindra U321 diesel variant will be powered by the 1.99L mHawk engine, while the petrol variant could pack a bigger engine from the 'mFalcon' family that originated in the KUV100. An automatic gearbox is likely to be optional.
[Source: Autocar India]
