Mahindra to showcase XUV500 Diesel Hybrid Crossover at the 2014 Indian Auto Expo

Snapshot: Mahindra won’t really make a big splash when it comes to showcasing new products at the 2014 Indian Auto Expo considering the fact that the auto maker plans to tide over 2014 with facelifts and upgrades of existing products. However, Mahindra will showcase the direction it will take in future by unveiling the XUV500 Diesel Hybrid. The hybrid technology showcased on the XUV500 will make it other Mahindra products in the coming years.

The Mahindra XUV500 Hybrid will consist of a small diesel engine, perhaps the 1.5 liter-3 cylinder twin turbo motor that powers the Quanto, along with an electric motor. Mahindra’s acquisition of Reva Electric will come to the fore for the electric motor-lithium ion battery combination. Mahindra is said to be working with German autoparts giant ZF for a manual transmission that combines the outputs of the diesel and electric motors.

Click here to know more about Mahindra’s plans in the diesel hybrid vehicle space

Interestingly, the only other diesel hybrid car sold internationally is the Volvo V70. In that light, a diesel hybrid vehicle from Mahindra will be quite unique in the Indian context with the XUV500 Hybrid being the first such vehicle here. Mahindra’s move to diesel hybrid technology has to do with maximizing fuel efficiency and cutting down on tail pipe emissions with an eye on the future.

Mahindra’s other major technological showcase at the Auto Expo will be the Automated Manual Transmission (AMT). With Maruti Suzuki taking the lead with the AMT for its Celerio hatchback, car makers such as Mahindra and Tata Motors seem to be scrambling in for a piece of action too. The AMT eliminates a manual clutch and makes driving more comfortable. Click here to know more.

Source BusinessStandard