Mahindra at Indian Auto Expo 2016

The homegrown manufacturer, Mahindra & Mahindra, will be a pivot of the talks at 2016 Indian Auto Expo, probably because of their concept “XUV Aero”. The SUV has been laid out in the sporty Coupe body style and it suits its the don’t-mess-with-me attitude of the bruiser. Apart from the Aero concept, Mahindra is also expected to showcase Quanto facelift, E2O four door and some off-road versions of their popular SUVs. Mahindra looks pumped up for the Auto Expo, here’s a take of their vehicles. 

The XUV Aero Concept

Let’s just take a moment to contemplate the idea of an SUV coupe from Mahindra. Firstly, it would be a sportier version of the XUV 500. Secondly, it will get a dropping roofline like a sports car, something has till now only been sported on cars like BMW X6 and Mercedes GLE Coupe. Thirdly, since it’s based on XUV500, it will be only somewhere around the Rs. 16 lac marker. This makes it bound to be popular amongst buyers when launched. Also, there's nothing like this in the country till now at a lower price. We are eagerly waiting for this vehicle to make its way to the Indian market, but as of now there has been no word from the manufacturer about the expected launch.

The e2o four Door

Mahindra’s electric aspirations rely on this little car named as e2o and the manufacturer sure wants to boost it up further. For this reason, they will be showcasing the 4 door version of the car. This will add versatility to the vehicle which has now become a common sight in some of the big Indian cities. The vehicle is loved for its small proportions and low running cost. A 4-door version will attract more green car lovers in the country, who till now have maintained their distance from it because it is available in 2-door only. 

The Quanto Facelift

Okay, to be very honest, I am a Mahindra fan, but Quanto is the one vehicle, that I feel looks odd when compared to other Mahindra cars. Moreover, it is just not the design, but the driving dynamics as well as mileage, which renders you disappointed. However, the manufacturer is planning to bring in another facelift of this vehicle at the expo, which has been spied on a couple of times. The spy shots suggest that it will get a new front fascia along with all around body cladding and a redone rear. Though the basic body shell is expected to remain same (hence, that the won't make a big difference in the overall appearance of the car), the 1.5-litre motor is expected to be more refined. The car is also expected to get better looking interiors.

Ssangyong Tivoli

Another car to look out for at Mahindra’s pavilion is the Ssangyong Tivoli. It’s a compact SUV whose chief rivals would be the Hyundai Creta and Renault Duster facelift. For this reason, it will be priced in the bracket of INR 8 to 14 lacs. The manufacturer has been spotted testing the vehicle on the Indian soil couple of times.

Mods on Current SUVs

Much like the Indian Auto Expo 2014, the manufacturer is expected to bring in some modified vehicle as well, based on Thar or, Scorpio or Bolero.