Upcoming Mahindra XUV500 testing alongside MG Hector & old XUV500 before official launch

Mahindra will launch two vehicles based on two all-new platforms later this year. One of them is the XUV500, which Mahindra is testing relentlessly for a long time on the Indian roads. The vehicle is slowly taking its production form and is getting spotted more often. Closer to the official launch, Mahindra is now benchmarkingthe all-new XUV500 with the current-generation model. Also, a video of the all-new XUV500 testing alongside the MG Hector has surfaced too.

After the successful launch of the all-new Thar last year, Mahindra announced that its primary focus will be the full-fledged SUVs in the future. The brand also said that it will stay away from car-derived soft-roaders and will also focus on the electric vehicles in the future. The Mahindra XUV500, which is codenamed as W601 is currently in development stage will be launched in the coming months.

Also read: MG Hector Facelift to be launched in 2021

The latest videos show that the all-new XUV500 will come with sophisticated looking headlamps with integrated LED DRL. The all-new XUV500 is also bigger in size compared to the current version of the model. It translates into bigger cabin space and more legroom, especially for the third-row passengers.

XUV500 testing with MG Hector

MG launched the all-new Hector in the Indian market two years ago. The manufacturer is almost ready to launch a facelifted version of the Hector later this year. In a different video, the all-new Mahindra XUV500 was spotted testing with the MG Hector for benchmarking. Manufacturers do such tests to know which vehicle performs better in different conditions and where is the product lagging behind. These data points are then studies by experts so that necessary changes can be made in the upcoming vehicle.

Mahindra is also benchmarking the all-new XUV with the current version of the model. This will allow the manufacturer to determine how much improvement the all-new XUV500 commands over the older-version of the vehicle. These data points are mostly revealed during the launch show how much improvement is achieved with the all-new product over the current version.

Cold weather testing

In India, many manufacturers resort to mountain testing of the vehicles before the official launch as the temperature dip provides an extreme condition for the vehicles. Since BS6 vehicles require to start in cold temperature, manufacturers take the vehicles to the Himalayas for testing. Also, high altitude provide difficult conditions for the vehicle that makes it prone to breakdowns. Such cold and hot weather testing that happens in areas like Rajasthan and about every other corner of India ensure that the production model remains worry-free when launched.

More premium XUV500

Mahindra is yet to give us a glimpse of the production version XUV500. However, videos of the test mules show that the all-new XUV500 will become much more premium than the current version. It will get a dual-screen set-up for the infotainment and the instrument cluster. The all-new XUV500 will also get flush-type handles and some modern-looking highlights on the outside. On the inside, it will offer advanced telematics system like the Hyundai Creta and the Kia Seltos, electrically adjustable front seats, wireless phone charger and more.

Mahindra will launch the new XUV500 with two engine options – 2.2-litre mHawk diesel and 2.0-litre mStallion turbocharged petrol. Both the engine options will offer a manual as well as an automatic transmission.

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