All-New Mahindra XUV500 Caught Testing With BS6 Diesel Engine

Mahindra has begun testing the XUV500 with a BS6 compliant turbocharged diesel engine ahead of the deadline to move to Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) emission norms before April 1st, 2020. Here are fresh spyshots of the SUV testing the new engine. The XUV500 was spied alongside the 2020 Mahindra Thar, which will also get the new, BS6 compliant turbo diesel engine. The 2.2-liter mHawk engine of the XUV500 will make way for a downsized, 2 liter-4-cylinder unit.

Power and torque outputs are likely to be largely unchanged at 154 Bhp-360 Nm. What could change though is the fuel efficiency. The smaller engine that’s BS6 compliant is likely to be more fuel efficient than the outgoing motor. It remains to be seen if Mahindra offers a new turbo petrol engine on the XUV500 given the fact that the older 2.2-liter turbo petrol motor has been recently discontinued.

There’s a strong likelihood of a new 2-liter turbo petrol engine for the new XUV500. This engine could not only be offered on the XUV500 but other SUVs in Mahindra’s line-up including the 2020 Thar and the Scorpio. Mahindra has already begun testing the all-new, 2nd generation XUV500, and the SUV will share its platform with a new Ford SUV that will be introduced in India a couple of years down the line. Notably, the new XUV500 could borrow the SsangYong Korando platform but Mahindra is yet to make a clear announcement in this regard. The new XUV500 will be introduced late next year but the current version will get the BS6 compliant diesel engine early next year. The BS6 diesel engine is expected to be offered only with a 6-speed manual gearbox option. Both front wheel drive and all-wheel drive options will be on offer.

Coming to the all-new, 2020 Thar, the off roader will get a massive makeover inside-out. The second-generation Thar will share its ladder frame with the all-new Mahindra Scorpio, and will get larger overall. However, Mahindra is likely to persist with the three-door layout, and offer both soft top and hard top versions of the off roader. The interiors will be all-new, with a new dashboard, more safety features such as airbags and ABS, better seats, a touchscreen infotainment interface and many more such options. The SUV will also get a totally different suspension set-up, dumping the leaf springs at the rear with coil springs. The front end will continue to use independent front suspension and a torsion beam set up.