Moving on from Tata Motors, we head straight to Mahindra camp. Mahindra presented the Rakshak Plus. Like the Safari Storme Armored, the Rakshak Plus will provide you Level-3 protection.
However, this vehicle is manufactured for an entirely different motive. It is engineered for a rapid action in case of a terrorist attack and as you would have guessed already, the vehicle will only be available to Defense forces. After the 26/11 attack, Mumbai Police have already included this vehicle into its fleet of the anti-terrorist cell.
Another IAB scoop provides insights into the upcoming Mahindra Mini-Xylo, which is production ready. A test mule was spotted in Chennai giving us a clear view of what the final production car will look like. It better have good brakes and ABS as the cow resting under the tree (to the car’s left) may decide to cross the road for no tangible reason.
Mahindra’s been testing the car since mid-2010 and to make it a niggle-free product, the team behind this model has worked very hard. In a price sensitive country like India the under-four-meters length will give the mini-Xylo a cost advantage over the EcoSport and Duster.
A war is upon us. A war of two international automotive giants competing for supremacy in the compact SUV segment. Ford is readying the EcoSport for India and Renault is pumping up the Duster. Both very competent products, both ready to fire their engines to woo the Indian consumer.
Brilliant designs, oodles of street presence and extremely fuel efficient engines. What could the Indian consumer ask for? However, price will determine their fate. If both companies do not manage a sub 10 lakhs pricing, a death knell will ring on the compact SUV segment before it even took off!
Our good friends at Motor Vikatan have received a spyshot of the five-seat mini Xylo from one of their readers. Before you think this post is for the less-informed reader, look closely and you’ll find something interesting – the front-end is from the updated Xylo.
The acrylic vertical slabs that form the grille and bumper are direct carryovers from the facelifted Xylo’s parts store room. This spyshot clarifies doubts posed on the design option Mahindra will take with the compact Xylo. Some believed the older design would live on in the mini Xylo which is codenamed U203.
Mahindra’s first global SUV received a mind-blowing response from the Indian audience. It was and still is so popular that M&M is not able to keep up with the demand resorting to a lucky draw system for bookings. However, XUV500 was destined to be a Global SUV world-wide ambitions and M&M isn’t resting on the success in the domestic market alone.
The company has been publicly talking about its expansion plans in the Europe and US. However, some markets in Europe and the entire US follows a left hand drive (LHD) system. Thus M&M is developing an LHD version of the XUV500 for export markets. An LHD version was spotted in Italy a long time back. However, our good friends at TeamBHP have snapped another mule testing in India.
Leveraging on Ssangyong’s international reach, Mahindra & Mahindra is planning to expand in Russian markets. M&M in collaboration with Ssangyong, is planning a vehicle manufacturing plant in Russia by 2014. The basic idea behind this move is to establish presence in one of the fastest growing markets. Once the plant is set up, it can be also used as a hub for exporting cars to other European countries.
Although the details of this development are unknown, Mahindra may consider a partnership with Sollers which is currently responsible for the assembly of Ssangyong cars in Russia. This deal will not only help Mahindra but also Ssangyong because Russia is the second biggest market for the Korean automaker.
Mahindra-owned Korean utility vehicle maker Ssanyong has revealed a revised Korando at the Geneva Show providing the newcomer a new powertrain, upgraded interior and exterior along with a higher level of safety equipment. A new 2.0-litre 149PS ‘eco diesel engine’ reduces CO2 emissions to 147g/km (2WD, manual) and 157g/km (AWD, manual). The improved model is scheduled to for a mid-year debut in Europe.
