Revealed: The New Mahindra TR

Recent headlines have not given US Mahindra fans much encouragement lately: Mahindra’s Dismal EPA Fuel Economy, Global Vehicles Drops Lawsuit Against Mahindra, etc. Good ol’ MP is here to tell you it’s not all doom and gloom. Well, we don’t think so anyway…

We’ve alluded to this before on MahindraTruckForum.com, but MP believes that the much rumored the next generation Scorpio/Getaway/TR20/TR40 is very close to launch. The key to this? The Mahindra Genio:

"We are very keen on exporting this.. when we conceptualized this product, we were also looking at in exporting also...we are confident that it will drive the growth in the pickup segment...," - Senior Vice-President Sales and Customer Care, Mahindra & Mahindra, Arun Malhotra (at the Genio launch on 28-Jan-2011)

Why do we believe that the Genio is the basis for an all new TR? The numbers don’t lie:

                         Mahindra Genio Single 4x2   Mahindra TR20 4x2
GVWR              6,460 lb                                   6,945 lb
Curb Weight     3,704 lb                                    4,180 lb
Payload             2,756 lb/1.38 ton                     2,785 lb/1.39 ton
Width                72.4 in                                      69.7 in
Length              207.6 in                                     206.0 in
Height               73.6 in                                       71.8 in

“From this year to the end of March 2012, there will be a slew of products launched across passenger and commercial vehicles segments. There will be about 8-10 substantial new products, including variants and refreshes, launched during the period.” – President Automotive and Farm Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra, Pawan Goenka

The Genio (internally called U202) is built on the Mahindra Ingenio chassis launched in 2009 for the domestic market Xylo multi-purpose vehicle (basically what we would call a 7-passenger van, think Ford E-Series). The Ingenio chassis was designed to replace the current Scorpio chassis which sits underneath most of Mahindra’s light trucks built since 2002 (Scorpio, Bolero, and Thar). The obvious intent was to create a modern chassis with greater configuration flexibility which could carry a variety of powertrain options, wheelbases, and overall lengths.

A Genio-based next generation TR means that the US would get Mahindra’s latest and greatest chassis design. A chassis that was designed to carry diesel or diesel-hybrid powertrains (maybe even all-electric via Reva) and it was designed for 4WD or AWD drivetrains.

Replace the Genio’s utility bed with an integrated conventional pickup truck box and you have a new pickup with a distinctly more modern feel than the current TR (goodbye drip rails and 90’s Toyota rip-off styling). Is it pretty? Meh. Is it better styled than the TR? Maybe. But then the TR styling has grown on us over the last 3 years. It certainly is more modern and appears to be much higher quality inside and out.

Going back to our comparison of Genio versus TR20 specifications, the Genio weighs nearly 500 pounds less than the TR20 but still hauls a 1.3 ton payload. Combine that 500 pound diet with a more aerodynamic cab and suddenly 30 mpg becomes a more attainable reality once again. Could this be what John Perez is talking about?

Of course this is all Mahindra Planet’s famous speculation. But when things begin to add up, shards of reality begin to emerge. It could also just be wishful thinking…

Source: Economic Times, IndianAutosBlog.com, as hyperlinked

Breaking: Mahindra Launches Xylo Pickup, Genio!

The Xylo-based pickup launched in India today.  The Mahindra Genio website is now live: http://www.mahindragenio.com/

MP will update this post with more details as they emerge so keep checking back!

Source: IndianAutosBlog, BSMotoring

New Xylo-Based Pickup To Launch This Week

Our friends at IndianAutosBlog are reporting this morning that Mahindra has invited them to the launch of a “Next Generation Small Commercial Vehicle” in India on January 27th.

IAB is convinced that this is the much rumored utility pickup version of the Xylo people mover. Similar to the MUC image featured on the Mahindra North America website, but with a utility cargo bed instead of conventional pickup box with integrated styling.

For more info and photos, go to: Breaking: Mahindra “Small Commercial Vehicle” Coming on Jan 27

Source: IndianAutosBlog

Mahindra 2011: All-New World SUV, 2nd Gen Scorpio Retains Body on Frame, Xylo Gets 4WD

India’s Business Standard Motoring reports this morning on some future Mahindra products. It’s difficult to understand exactly what they are getting across about some models. To hopefully provide some better understanding, we will quote from the article, and comment below it.

All-New World SUV
BSM: “The world SUV that is to emerge from Mahindra's Chakan facility in 2011 is the third SUV in the lineup and will be priced in the range of Rs 16-18 lakh. A more powerful diesel engine and an automatic gearbox apart, the world SUV will also have automatic climate control, cruise control and ESP. Aimed at the likes of the Chevrolet Captiva and the Toyota Fortuner, this SUV would be primarily for export markets, apart from the local market with the aim of expanding the company's presence in the more developed markets such as the United States where the company is planning to begin the sale of its pickup trucks later this year.”
MP Interpretation: As we’ve reported before, an all-new Mahindra SUV with unitized construction is being (or has been) designed for release late this year or early 2011. As the article states, the intention of this SUV is to be a world market truck. We assume that this SUV is being designed with the US and European markets in mind first and foremost. The amenities are a given, but it is interesting that they mention a “more powerful diesel engine” for the new SUV.

Second Generation ScorpioBSM: “Sources suggest that apart from a new generation Scorpio, two more SUVs are in the pipeline.” “The new Scorpio could retain its body-on-ladder format and a new petrol engine is also being developed to be fit under the bonnet of the Scorpio and the world SUV.”

MP Interpretation: The confusing thing about these statements is that the Indian press often lumps together the Scorpio SUV and the Scorpio Getaway pickup (our TR20 and TR40) together. Either way, this statement continues to affirm previous rumors of a second generation SUV/pickup being developed. This also puts into question why Mahindra is bringing the first generation TR pickups to the US when the next generation is just on the horizon.

Xylo 4WDBSM: “According to sources, the Xylo has been designed to be a part time 4wd system using an advanced version of the Borg & Warner system. Reports seem to suggest that it could be a real-time all-wheel drive system like the Honda CR-V, where the focus is on road grip and tackling bad roads and not specifically as a pure off-roader. However, there is no confirmation yet whether Mahindra will adopt such a system. The Xylo 4x4 would end up becoming the first MPV in the country with a 4-wheel drive system, but it remains to be seen how big a market is there for such a concept. Mahindra could also be seriously looking at the export markets such as South Africa for such a vehicle."

MP Interpretation: This article has a narrow focus on the Indian market. We believe the true intention of the Xylo 4WD system is for implementation in the Mahindra MUC which could be introduced in the US by 2012. MP has previously surmised that the MUC will be a pickup version of the Xylo. The addition of a 4WD or AWD system certainly emphasizes this theory.

The article also fuels the US launch delay fire with the statement: “…such as the United States where the company is planning to begin the sale of its pickup trucks later this year.” The statement is not well defined, but does not seem to suggest an immediate launch of US spec Mahindra vehicles.

Source: Business Standard, Motoring

Xylo Wins Awards, D2 and Panel Versions Launched

Awards
Mahindra has won three Indian automotive media awards with their multi-purpose/multi-utility vehicle, the Xylo. Xylo was introduced in January of 2009 as a 7-passenger people mover and has quickly become a very successful vehicle for Mahindra in India.

A new version of the recently crowned MUV of the Year, UV of the Year, and MPV of the Year has recently been introduced, the Xylo D2:

Xylo D2
The Xylo D2 comes with the new 2.5 liter mDI CRDe engine which combines direct injection with Mahindra’s common rail diesel engine technology. The D2 version obtains 30mpg with its BS III (Bharat Stage III) compliant engine. The 4-cylinder diesel has 95bhp and 159lb-ft of torque. The D2 engine is 17bhp less than the previous 2.5 liter m-Eagle CRDe engine (non-direct injection), but showcases Mahindra’s latest engine technology and their focus on meeting more stringent emission requirements. This engine would still be a couple of steps away from US EPA requirements (BS III is equivalent to Euro III), but it is interesting nonetheless.

We mention the Xylo here since that platform will likely be the basis for the Mahindra MUC that is teased on the Mahindra North America website. The MUC appears to be an integrated body/cab pickup which could fit somewhere between a Chevy Avalanche and a Honda Ridgeline.

The new mDI engine seems to be a variation (i.e. head configured for direct injection) of the m-Eagle engine architecture which the Xylo was initially launched with. This could also be a look into the development of future (more powerful?) DI diesels from Mahindra for the US and other markets.

Xylo Panel Van
With 30mpg, a large carrying capacity, and low emissions, the Xylo panel van could also be a potential export vehicle for the US. The D2 might be the perfect delivery or transport vehicle for a business that requires a fuel efficient diesel powered van, but needs something bigger than a Ford Transit Connect, yet smaller and cheaper than a Sprinter Van.

Sources: As Hyperlinked

What the MUC? The US Gets a Version of the Mahindra Xylo in 2012

If you have explored around the Mahindra North America website, you have probably seen the “Future Vehicle” tab containing a highly stylized image of a vehicle and the tagline stating “MUC Expected US Landing 2012”. No further description is given, so Mahindra Planet will lay down some speculation:

Most likely, the vehicle shown and referred to as MUC is an iteration of the Mahindra Xylo. The Xylo was launched in India in January of 2009. It was originally designed to be a high capacity people mover for domestic and world markets. The design is body-on-frame like the TR20/TR40 and Scorpio SUV. It is currently equipped with a diesel 4-cylinder engine like other Mahindra trucks. For more info on the Xylo click here: Mahindra Xylo Coming to America?

Since the release of the Xylo last winter, the rumor has been that this vehicle will reach US shores in some form. The Xylo was designed from the start with intentions to be a world-market vehicle. It is likely that the MUC is some derivative of the Xylo platform.

Several sketches and renderings of Xylo variations have been circulating the web for quite a while. Interestingly, most have shown some type of pickup truck version. Looking closely at the image on Mahindra’s website, it’s easy to make out the shape of an integrated body/cab pickup version of the Xylo. Kind of a Mahindra version of a Chevrolet Avalanche.

The Xylo platform was designed at birth to handle either Mahindra’s diesel engine or hybrid powertrain. The version coming to the US could very well contain the hybrid system exclusively.

Maybe the most important aspect of the MahindraNA.com teaser is that Mahindra is looking forward and already planning future product for the US market. This is positive reinforcement of Mahindra’s long term commitment.

Source: MahindraNA.com, and IndiaAutosBlog.com (lots of good Xylo links and photos)

Xlyo Pickup?

This is an interesting concept drawing by Indian designer Shoeb Kalania of SRK Design. He’s taken the people-mover Mahindra Xylo and crafted a pickup out of it: ala Subaru Baja.

It’s certain that the Xylo would never make it to the US market, but Kalania’s Xylo Adventure is still an interesting concept and it shows the potential in another of Mahindra’s vehicles.

Source: IndiaAutosBlog

Mahindra Xylo to hit US auto market in 2010?

In mid-January Mahindra launched the Xylo MUV in India to compete with the Toyota Innova. The vehicle is a meld of small SUV and large capacity minivan, priced at the equivalent of around USD $12,000. In many ways it’s the updated reincarnation of the conversion van (small recreational vehicle) which was popular with interstate travelers in the 1990’s until the popularity of SUV’s killed off a good portion of the conversion industry.

The Xylo features a 2.5 liter, 4-cylinder, diesel m-Eagle CRDe engine with 112 bhp and a 5-speed manual transmission. Mahindra claims the Xylo will crawl from 0 to 40 mph in 5.8 seconds. Fuel economy numbers are unpublished, but it can be assumed that they will be decent for a 4000 pound vehicle with an efficient diesel engine that can carry 7-8 passengers. Also consider that the Xylo would be a likely candidate for Mahindra’s fast developing hybrid technology in the near future, giving it even better range and fuel economy. With ever increasing air travel and fossil fuel costs, the Xylo could be the Family Truckster for the 21st century: A vehicle capable of carrying the entire family across the country in relative comfort and for reasonable cost.

From an interview in India’s Business-Standard, President of Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra, Pawan Goenka, states that 20% of Xylo sales will be in export markets outside of India. It does seem unlikely that the Xylo will actually be imported to the US due to its lack of power, availability of an automatic transmission, and homely styling, but it is a fantastic look into the corporate vision Mahindra has for itself the world market.

Mahindra may be onto something. As with the very niche pick up truck they have committed to bringing into the States late this year, this could be another interesting small market vehicle for the brand. You may not get the status or styling of an Escalade Hybrid, but you will certainly get a decent level of comfort and better fuel economy for far less cash.