Mahindra’s upcoming rival for the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Endeavour, first seen at the Auto Expo 2018, has been spotted testing once again ahead of its expected launch later this year. The new SUV, which is expected to bear the XUV700 name, and is currently known by the codename Y400, is a rebadged version of the new G4 Rexton from Ssangyong, Mahindra’s South Korean subsidiary.
Spotted by 4×4 India Facebook group member Patel Priyank, the upcoming XUV700 from Mahindra is almost totally undisguised with only the badging still kept under cover from the car-spotting paparazzi. While the front grille also tries to stay hidden, the distinctive vertical slats that Mahindra uses can easily be seen under the covers.
The new Mahindra XUV700 is for all intents and purposes a Ssangyong Rexton in a slightly tweaked form. Underpinning the full-size SUV is a ladder frame chassis based on Ssangyong’s Quad frame platform which is lighter and stronger than the one found on the previous-gen Rexton thanks to the extensive use of materials like high-strength steel and 1.5-Gpa giga-steel in its construction.
The G4 Rexton on which the new XUV700 is based is quite a large SUV, measuring 4,850 mm in length, 1,960 mm in width, 1,825 mm in height, with a wheelbase length of 2,865 mm. Powering the over two-tonne SUV is a 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine producing 187bhp and 400Nm of torque, which is sent to the rear wheels via a 7-speed automatic gearbox sourced from Mercedes. The Rexton weighs in at just under 2.1-tonnes.
The new Mahindra XUV700 will be a 7-seater SUV. Considering that the new XUV700’s wheelbase measures around 120 mm more than the current segment leader Toyota Fortuner, space, even in the final row of seats, should not be an issue. The XUV700 seen at the Auto Expo 2018 sported leather-wrapped seats with massage function, a 9.2-inch infotainment display on the centre of the dash and 10.1-inch monitors placed behind the headrests of the seats. The new Mahindra XUV700 will also get a host of safety features including 9 airbags, ABS, emergency braking assistance along with other features, such as lane departure warning systems.
Also Read: Upcoming Hyundai Santro to get a new Maruti rival