Mahindra Project S204

SUVs have been the preferred choice among customers in the fast growing Indian automakers. Automakers are experimenting with their designs to make SUVs more attractive and offers different proposition to buyers. Earlier, Coupe SUVs (a form of crossover between SUV and coupe) were manufactured by luxury car buyers including Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Now, many mass market car manufacturers are following this trend of giving their SUVs a fastback or Coupe-styling. In the next couple of years, a total 4 new Coupe SUVs will be launched in the Indian market.  Tata Curvv First debuted in 2022 as an EV concept, the Tata Curvv SUV Coupe will be launched in the Indian market in the next 3-4 months - by mid-2024. The SUV Coupe will measure around 4.3 meters in length and will be positioned against the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder and the Honda Elevate. It will be offered both EV and ICE powertrains. The EV version will be built on Tata's new Acti.ev platform, which underpins the Punch EV. It is expected to offer a certified range of up to 450km to 500km on a single charge. The ICE version will be offered with two engine options - a 1.2L turbo petrol and a 1.5L turbo diesel.  Citroen Basalt Citroen has officially announced plans to launch the much-awaited Basalt SUV Coupe in the Indian market in the second half of 2024. It will be produced in India and will also be exported to South American markets. Based on Stellantis's CMP (Common Modular Platform, the new Basalt will directly rival the upcoming Tata Curvv and the existing mid-sized SUVs including Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, VW Taigun, Maruti Grand Vitara and others. It is likely to measure around 4.3 meters in length, which is very similar to its direct rivals. The Coupe SUV will be powered by a 110bhp, 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine. Transmission choices will include a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed torque convertor automatic. Mahindra BE.05 Mahindra will launch an all-new BE.05 electric SUV, which will be positioned above the XUV400 in the brand's EV line-up. It measures 4370mm in length and has a wheelbase of 2,775mm. This SUV comes with a sloping roofline that merges into the chunky rear-end, giving it a SUV-coupe styling. The SUV Coupe will rival the MG ZS EV and the upcoming Maruti eVX and the Hyundai Creta EV. Marketed as a Sports Electric Vehicle (SEV), the new Mahindra BE.05 will be designed and developed on an all-new skateboard architecture. It is expected to be equipped with a 60kWh battery pack, which will send power to the front-axle-mounted electric motor. We expect the new SUV Coupe to offer an estimated range of up to 500km on a single charge.  Mahindra XUV.e9 The next model in the list of upcoming Coupe SUV is the Mahindra XUV.e9, which will be launched in 2025. It will be based on the skateboard architecture, called the INGLO, which will also underpin the XUV.e8 and the BE range of E-SUVs. This electric Coupe SUV will be a premium offering and will come with features like Level 2 ADAS, a HUD with augmented navigation, and a vehicle-to-load (V2L) function. It comes with a raked roofline that extends into the rear, and flush-type door handles. It could be offered with different battery pack options including a dual-motor setup with an 80kWh battery pack. Also See - Top 8 Upcoming New SUVs In 2024

In the first 3 months of 2024, we have witnessed several new SUV launches including the Creta facelift, Sonet facelift and others. In the next 9 months, a wide range of new SUVs will be launched in our market. In this article, we talk about the top 8 upcoming new SUVs in the country in 2024. 1. Mahindra XUV 3XO It is basically the heavily revised version of the Mahindra XUV300. Scheduled to make its debut on April 29, 2024, the Mahindra XUV 3XO can be booked online or at authorised dealership by paying a token amount of Rs 21,000. The SUV will receive significant design changes and a more premium interior along with several segment-leading features. It will be the first car in its category to offer a panoramic sunroof. It is likely to be equipped with Level 2 ADAS, a 360 degree camera, ventilated front seats, dual-zone climate control, powered driver's seat, wireless charger, a new 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment unit and a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument console. The SUV will retain the existing 1.5L diesel, a 1.2L turbo petrol and 1.2L direct injection turbo petrol engines. The TGDi petrol engine will also receive AISIN-sourced 6-speed torque convertor automatic gearbox. 2. Force Gurkha 5-Door The long-awaited Force Gurkha 5-door lifestyle SUV is finally ready to launch, as the company has started releasing its teasers on the Internet. The SUV is likely to be offered in 3 seating layout - 5-seater, 6-seater with captain seats in 2-row, and 7-seater with bench-type seat in 2nd row. The SUV will also receive a shift-on-the-fly 4WD knob, which is placed next to the driver's seat on the centre console. It will have new alloy wheel designs with CEAT Czat H/T rubber. It is likely to retain Mercedes-sourced 2.6-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox. 3. Mahindra Thar 5-Door The much-awaited 5-door Mahindra Thar lifestyle SUV will finally make its global debut on August 15, 2024. The SUV is expected to be offered in 3 or 4 variants, and the top-end variant will come with 4x4 capabilities and a sunroof. The wheelbase of the SUV will be increased by up to 300mm to accommodate third-row of seats. It is likely to be equipped with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with smartphone connectivity, a digital instrument console, a 9-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, auto-dimming IRVM, ventilated front seats with electric adjustment, automatic climate control with rear AC vents. The SUV is likely to get ADAS tech, 6 airbags, traction control, ESP, hill hold, and hill descent assist. The lifestyle SUV is expected to use the 2.0L turbo petrol and 2.2L turbo diesel engines, which also powers the ScorpioN.  4. Hyundai Alcazar Facelift The Korean automaker will also launch the Alcazar facelift by mid 2024. It will come with enhanced styling and a wide range of new features. The SUV is likely to share some design elements with the new Creta, featuring new front grille, revised bumpers, and restyled LED headlamps and DRLs, new alloys and restyled taillights. The new model will retain the 2.0L, 4-cylinder petrol and 1.5L, 4-cylinder turbo diesel engines.  5. Tata Curvv EV & ICE Tata Motors will launch the much-anticipated Curvv SUV Coupe in the Indian market by mid-2024. The company will first launch the electric version of the SUV, followed by ICE version by the fag end of this year. The Curvv's ICE version will be offered with two powertrains - a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder turbo petrol and a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel. The electric version will be based on the Acti.ev platform that underpins the Punch EV. It is likely to be packed with a bigger battery pack compared to the Nexon EV. We expect the new Curvv EV to offer a range of up to 500km on a single charge.  6. Jeep Meridian Facelift First launched in 2022, the Jeep Meridian is all set to receive a facelift by the end of 2024. The new SUV is likely to receive minimal changes inside and out. It could feature slightly tweaked front and rear bumpers, revised headlamps, a slightly tweaked grille, new alloy wheels and others. The Meridian facelift could receive some additional features such as an air purifier, and dashcams. The SUV will be powered by the same 2.0-litre 4-cylinder Multijet turbo-diesel engine that produces 170bhp and 350Nm of torque. Transmission options include a 6-speed manual and a 9-speed torque convertor automatic.  7. Mahindra XUV.e8 Mahindra will introduce its first Born-electric SUV, the XUV.e8 in the country by December 2024. The SUV shares styling cues from the Mahindra's flagship SUV, the XUV700. The concept measures 4740mm in length, 1900mm in width, and 1760mm in height, which makes it larger than its ICE counterpart. The powertrain setup of the SUV will include a larger capacity battery pack, around 60-80kWh. It is likely to offer an estimated range of around 500km on a single charge.  8. Kia EV9 The Korean automaker will introduce its flagship electric SUV, the Kia EV9 in the Indian market before the end of this year. It is built on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) architecture, which also underpins the EV5. In the international markets, the EV9 is available in 3 engine options - a single-motor RWD with a 76.1kWh battery, a 99.8kWh battery RWD, and a 99.8kWh battery pack with dual-motor setup. The electric SUV features both fixed and portable charging options. Using a DC fast charger the battery can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in just 24 minutes.  Also See - Upcoming 7-Seater SUVs In 2024, 2025

The much-anticipated Mahindra XUV 3XO is scheduled to be launched in our market on 29th April, 2024. The company has released multiple teasers, revealing different details including styling and interior changes, and features on offer. A new teaser reveals the mileage figures and acceleration of the upcoming XUV 3XO. The SUV will also receive multiple segment-leading features including a panoramic sunroof. It is expected that the new Mahindra XUV 3XO will be offered with 3 engine options - a 110bhp, 1.2L turbo petrol, a 131bhp, 1.2L direct injection turbo petrol and a 115bhp, 1.5L turbo diesel. Transmission choices will include a 6-speed manual and an AMT unit. The direct injection turbo petrol engine will also receive a new 6-speed torque convertor automatic gearbox. The teaser reveals that the new XUV 3XO will accelerate to 60kmph from zero in just 4.5 seconds. Adding to it, the new compact SUV is claimed to offer a fuel economy of 20.1kmpl. While Mahindra has not specified which engine option the mileage figures are for, we believe that this could be the diesel version of the SUV. Similarly, the acceleration figures are expected for the most powerful direct injection turbo petrol engine.   In terms of features, the new Mahindra XUV 3XO will come with perforated leatherette upholstery, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 10.25-inch digital driver's display, a new 7-speaker Harman Kardon music system, dual-zone climate control, electrically adjustable driver's seat, ventilated front seats, ambient sound modes and others. For safety & security, the new XUV 3XO will come with up to 6 airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), a 360 degree camera and reversing camera with parking sensors. It is also expected to receive Level 2 ADAS tech with features like adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane assist, automatic emergency braking and others. Also See - 2 New Hatchback Cars Launching Next Month

Global NCAP has crash tested 3 made-in-India cars including the Mahindra Bolero Neo, Kia Carens and Honda Amaze, and results are not very promising. In the recent round of crash tests under #SaferCarsForIndia campaign, the Bolero Neo scored just 1 star. The SUV was tested with the latest protocols and it secured low protection scores for adult rating. Mahindra Bolero Neo: Global NCAP Safety Rating Explained In the crash test, the Mahindra Bolero Neo scored 20.26 points out of a maximum 34 points. The structure and footwell area were found unstable. The report claims that the SUV offers weak and poor protection to the driver's chest and feet, respectively. The SUV misses out on curtain airbags and seat belt reminders for all passengers, which results in a stark difference between the front & side impact protection.  For child occupant protection, the Bolero Neo scored just 12.71 points out of a maximum 49 points. The Bolero Neo misses out on 3-point seat belts and passenger airbag switch. Adding to it, the SUV only offers a single child restraint system (CRS). All these contributed to low scores; however, the GNCAP report stated that the child protection showed "acceptable dynamic performance".  The Bolero Neo comes with side-facing 3rd row seats, which is one of the big reasons behind its low scores in GNCAP crash test. The GNCAP also stated its dissatisfaction with Mahindra to continue offering side-facing seats in its SUVs. The Bolero Neo is based on the old-gen platform, which was found unstable many times in crash tests. However, Mahindra's latest breed of SUVs including the Scorpio N, XUV700 and the XUV300 have scored very good in GNCAP crash tests.  Mahindra has already started working on the next-gen Bolero SUV, which is expected to be launched by 2026. The new SUV will be based on an all-new platform, which is currently under development. Also See - 9-Seater Mahindra Bolero Neo Plus Launched at Rs 11.39 Lakh