New Mahindra XUV500 design to be inspired by the new Ssangyong Korando

The Mahindra XUV500 is one of the most successful SUV by the company and was the flagship product of the company before the Alturas G4 was launched recently. However, the SUV now faces some serious competition in the form of the Tata Harrier, which is a brilliant product by Tata. To keeps its market share intact, Mahindra will launch the all new XUV500 in 2020. Speculations is rife that it will be inspired by the recently teased SsangYong Korando SUV, which will be unveiled at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show.

Visually, the Ssangyon Korando looks pretty similar to the e-SIV SUV concept that was previewed in 2018. The large front grille and the swept-back headlights suggest the same. The Korando has been spied a few times earlier too. In SsangYong’s model lineup, it will be placed higher than the Tivoli compact SUV. Also, the Korando is based on a modified platform that underpins the Tivoli and the soon to be launched Mahindra XUV300. The XUV300 is based on the Tivoli, albeit with a shorter overall length to get sub-4 meter taxation benefit.

Which brings us to the question whether the 2020 XUV500’s design will be inspired by the SsangYong Korando. Mahindra has been using its global expertise into its products since some time. This was especially visible in the Marazzo, which is a unique vehicle in many ways. The Alturas G4 is a rebadged SsangYong Rexton G4 and is the current flagship of the company. As already mentioned, the XUV300 is also based on the Tivoli. Therefore, there is a high probability that the XUV500 will borrow designing cues from the Korando.

Since the Korando will also be positioned in a similar range for SsangYong as the XUV500 is for Mahindra, the probabilities of them sharing design among other things increase. While the grille will be designed with typical Mahindra DNA in it, the overall body styling could be the same. The XUV500 was the company’s first monocoque frame SUV and that will be continued with the new version of the vehicle.

The new XUV500 will also come loaded with features along with a lot of other surprises. This is because of the launch of the Tata Harrier, which has overshadowed the market with its features and design. This is another reason why Mahindra would want to adapt Korando’s upmarket and international design.

The new Mahindra XUV500 is expected to be powered by an all new 2.0 litre engine by the company. It is being jointly developed by Mahindra and SsangYong and will power a range of vehicle in both company’s model lineup. It is the same unit that will also power the upcoming Mahindra Thar and Scorpio. In both these vehicles, the new engine is expected to produce around 140 Bhp of power. However, it is expected that the engine will be tweaked to produce more power on the XUV500.

The new XUV500 will be BSVI emission compliant and will also meet the new BNSVAP safety norms. When launched, it will have an advantage over the Harrier in terms of the AWD drivetrain it features. The Harrier is a FWD and is likely to remain the same in the coming time. However, new challengers will await the new XUV500 when it gets launched in 2020. The MG Hector and the Kia SP2 SUV will be its key rivals at that time, apart from the Harrier and Jeep Compass. That being said, the road is certainly not easy for Mahindra but with its international expertise at disposal, expect the new XUV500 to be a vehicle to be looked towards to.