The second facelift model of the Mahindra XUV500, the 2018 XUV500 has been spied performing test runs for the first time in India. The model in question was with two other Mahindra’s products, the S201 SUV (codename), Hyundai Creta’s rival and the all-new TUV300 Plus and was covered with camouflage clothing.
The Mahindra XUV500 was introduced in the Indian automotive industry in September 2011 and in May 2015, after a long interval of four years, the model received its first mid-life update. It is also being considered that the upcoming facelift XUV500 would be the last updated model of this current generation monster SUV. As it has already been six years and the second generation model of the XUV500 would also be projected to mark its presence in the following one or two years.
2018 Mahindra XUV500 that is expected to hit the Indian market early next year at the forthcoming 2018 Delhi Auto Expo in February, will pack an uprated 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine. The engine is likely to churn out bumped power and torque in the range of 170PS/360 Nm as compared to the current 140PS/ 330Nm. On the designing front, the upcoming model could carry forward the similar design of the 2015 facelift with tweaks made on the Introduced model.
Under the hood, the 2018 XUV500 is likely to be packed with a retuned 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine due to two possible reasons. One is the expected inclusion of a 2.2-litre diesel engine on the Scorpio facelift from outgoing XUV500 model. The next is increased power figures of 170PS/360Nm that will pose a fierce competition against rivals such as the Tata Hexa (156PS/400Nm) and the Jeep Compass (173PS/350Nm), compared to the outgoing model (140PS/330Nm). As per the reports, the XUV500 is going to get a new petrol engine.