Mahindra XUV500 Electric On Cards; Here's Why

The new platform, which will debut with the next-gen SsangYong Korando, might also underpin the second-gen XUV500

Pictured: First-gen SsangYong Korando facelift 

SsangYong’s UK boss has revealed that the next-gen Korando will come in an all-electric avatar alongside conventional powertrains. Expected to hit European markets next year, the all-electric midsize SUV from the Mahindra-owned South Korean automaker is said to be unveiled in 2020. In Europe, the Korando goes up against midsize SUVs such as the Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Compass and the Kia Sportage.

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Why is it important to us? 

Mahindra has already announced that it will co-develop the second-gen XUV500’s platform with SsangYong. And, we believe, there’s a possibility that the second-gen versions of the Korando and the XUV500 will have a lot in common.

Although it isn’t official (about the new Korando and XUV500 sharing platform), it doesn’t make sense for the group to come up with two different platforms for cars in similar segments. Ford too might share this platform for its midsize SUV aimed primarily at the Indian market as the American automaker recently partnered with Mahindra for joint development of vehicles.

Pictured: 2018 Mahindra XUV500 Facelift 

How will the next-gen Korando shape up?

Pictured: SsangYong e-SIV Concept 

Nick Laird, Managing Director, SsangYong Motor UK said that the upcoming Korando EV, which is likely to be based on SsangYong’s e-SIV concept that was showcased at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, will be “a huge step forward, even over the current model. It sticks to the company’s roots and DNA of trying to be a proper SUV and crossover brand". 

The all-electric e-SIV puts out 190PS of power and features a 61.5kWh battery pack. The concept offers a cruising range of 320km-450km and its batteries can be juiced up to 80 per cent in 50 minutes using a fast charger. It has an electronically limited top speed of 150kmph.

Pictured: SsangYong e-SIV Concept 

Now, Mahindra has recently announced that it will invest Rs 500 crore in its Chakan facility to manufacture EVs and various related components. So, the next-gen XUV500 might also feature this all-electric powertrain. 

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Coming back to the next-gen Korando (probably the XUV500 as well), it is expected borrow design cues from the concept as SsangYong highlighted that the ‘e-SIV previews the design of SsangYong’s next-generation C-segment SUV (midsize SUV)’. 

The e-SIV follows SsangYong’s latest design language, New Horizon, Smart Dynamism, which can also be seen on the upcoming Rexton. The concept looks boxy in comparison to the outgoing model. While the 2010 first-gen Korando was designed by Giugiaro, the second-gen model might take inputs from Mahindra-owned Pininfarina. Here’s how the e-SIV stacks up against the existing XUV500 and the Korando in terms of its dimensions. 

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Besides equipping it with the e-SIV’s EV powertrain, SsangYong is also planning to introduce a diesel-hybrid version of the upcoming Korando. “I’m interested to see how diesel hybrid plays out. I think there's a place for diesel hybrid,” said Laird. The next-gen XUV500 might also benefit from the same. In 2022, we expect stricter emission norms, in the form of CAFE (corporate average fuel efficiency), to be implemented in India. It would require automakers to take strict measures to improve fleet efficiency and curb CO2 emissions. In such a scenario, we expect carmakers to have multiple mild- and fully hybrid products in their portfolio.

Check out: 2018 Mahindra XUV500 Facelift: First Drive Review

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