2014 Indian Auto Expo: Mahindra unveils Ssangyong Rexton with a new 2 liter e-XDi turbo diesel engine

Snapshot: Mahindra-owned South Korean car maker Ssangyong has unveiled a new variant of the Rexton SUV. The new variant features a smaller, 2 liter e-XDi turbo diesel engine. The engine drives two wheels of the SUV through a Mercedes Benz derived five speed automatic gearbox.

As of now, Mahindra hasn’t indicated whether the 2 liter, diesel engined Rexton will be sold in India. However, the possibility of this happening is distinct given the fact that Ssangyong plans to eventually phase out the larger, 2.7 liter-5 potter that the India-spec Rexton currently comes with.

The 2 liter, e-XDi turbo diesel engine on the Rexton outputs 153 Bhp of  peak power and 360 Nm of peak torque. The turbo diesel engine was introduced in the summer of 2012 on the Rexton W, as a more fuel efficient alternative to the 2.7 liter-5 cylinder, Mercedes Benz-derived turbo diesel motor that currently does duty in certain variants of the Rexton including the India-spec version. The Rexton sold in India is available with two gearbox options: a 5 speed manual and a 5 speed automatic. Both variants of the Rexton feature an all wheel drive system.

In India, the Rexton is sold as a 7 seat SUV whose competition includes the Toyota Fortuner and the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. The Rexton W is currently assembled at Mahindra’s Chakan factory through the completely knocked down (CKD) kit route. CKD assembly has meant that Mahindra has managed to price the Rexton quite competitively, undercutting both the Fortuner as well as the Pajero Sport. However, the lower price tag hasn’t reflected on higher sales volumes for the Rexton. By launching a two wheel drive, automatic variant of the SUV with a smaller, 2 liter turbo diesel engine, Mahindra Ssangyong could be planning to go lower down the price spectrum.