The Mahindra XUV Aero concept, which has been showcased at the 2016 Delhi Auto Expo, has been turning quite a few heads thanks to its good looks and futuristic design. In fact, the coupe crossover concept has got such a good response that Mahindra is considering a production version of the car in the near future. If that is the case, then the XUV Aero could be priced in the Rs. 20 lakh range, according to Mahindra's Executive Director Pawan Goenka.
Based on the company's XUV500 SUV, the XUV Aero has been conceptualised by Mahindra's Indian designers in Mumbai with inputs taken from Italian automobile design firm Pininfarina, which is now under the ownership of the Indian car manufacturer.
Mahindra XUV Aero Concept Side Profile
Resemblance with the XUV500 is quite visible in the front profile which features vertically-stacked LED lights and wider air intakes on the bumper. Furthermore, the flanks are highlighted by the flared arches, rising shoulder line, and a sharp character line. The sloping roofline atop lends the coupe-like stance to the concept which is further accentuated by the stubby rear-end and angular C-pillar. The concept gets suicide doors which allow for easy ingress and egress to the cabin.
Inside the cabin, the prototype gets Mahindra's new infotainment and connectivity system, while the bucket seats and beige upholstery adds an upmarket touch.
Mahindra XUV Aero Concept Rear Profile
Mahindra has not revealed any details on the specifications of the XUV Aero concept yet, but if in production, the model is likely to share its underpinnings with the XUV and the same 2.2-litre diesel engine with 140bhp of power.
The 4-door coupe crossover concept looks appealing, especially since it will be the smallest and most affordable of the coupe SUVs, if launched, as it will rival high-end luxury coupe SUVs like the Mercedes-Benz GLE Class and BMW X6.
"Pininfarina can help Mahindra go to the next step in our effort to become global," Goenka said. "We want to leverage the brand, design and engineering expertise. We are looking to see how to design a product that has a Mahindra kind of heritage but a Pininfarina kind of design and styling."
Mahindra's group company Tech Mahindra Ltd agreed to buy Pininfarina - the designer of Ferrari, Maserati, and Rolls Royce cars - in December last year, adding premium capability to a company known more for boxy, practical cars. Prior to that, Mahindra had also bought majority stakes in both South Korean carmaker Ssangyong in 2010 and the scooter business of France's Peugeot in 2015.
The acquisitions have edged Mahindra closer to becoming a global automaker, giving it access to markets outside of India as well as to technology, such as Ssangyong's petrol engines.
