Mahindra & Mahindra has announced the introduction of the new Super XUV300 for the upcoming rally season. The new Mahindra Super XUV300 replaces the Super XUV500 that raced for Mahindra Adventure since 2013 and marks a new chapter for the team and the drivers. Mahindra will be fielding both petrol and diesel powered rally-spec versions of the subcompact SUV with the cars set to make their debut in the 2019 Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) this weekend. Mahindra successfully completed the first shakedown in Coimbatore with the first round of INRC scheduled to kick off in Chennai on June 28, 2019.
The Mahindra Super XUV300 gets upgrades to the engine, suspension & brakes with a rollcage for safety and rigidity
The Mahindra Super XUV300 petrol will be piloted by Team Mahindra Adventure drivers Gaurav Gill and co-driver Musa Sherif powered by the 1.2-litre engine. The second XUV300 with the 1.5-litre diesel will be driven by Amiittrajit Ghosh and co-driver Ashwin Naik. Both cars have been prepped by Arka Motorsport, which also worked on the Super XUV500 AWD. The XUV300 though will be a front-wheel drive model. The diesel version has reportedly received minimal changes over the stock version, save for the ECU remap, while the petrol motor has received a larger turbocharger, intake and exhaust, among other upgrades. The Super XUV300 petrol will be the only rally car with a three-pot motor on the grid this season.
The Super XUV300 petrol will be the only car with a three-pot motor on the grid this season
In addition, Gaurav Gill's XUV300 will be using JK Tyre's motorsport developed 15-inch tyres, given his latest association with the tyre brand. Amittrajit Ghosh's XUV though will continue to use MRF rally-spec tyres of the same size. Apart from the engine upgrades, both cars have been received an rally tuned suspension from Reigers. All four disc rotors from the production car have been carried over, but the brake pads are new on the rally version.
This is just the first step for the Mahindra Super XUV300 and the cars will be further developed as the season progresses. Mahindra Adventure's Super XUV500 consistently dominated the Indian rallying championships and also took home the drivers' and constructors' championships in 2017 and 2018. We will be keeping a close watch though on how the SUV performs in the coming rounds. The Super XUV300 has big shoes to fill.
