DELHI MOTOR SHOW: Mahindra unveils hero XUV Aero

Mahindra has lifted the wraps from its new concept car, the XUV Aero at the Delhi motor show.

Based on the XUV500 SUV platform and running a 2.2-litre diesel engine that powers the production XUV500, the new concept is a showcase for what the Indian manufacturer's own in-house styling team can do — without any help from recent Mahindra acquisition, famed Italian design studio and coachbuilder, Pininfarina.

The production model will produce 210hp/450Nm and will be matched to either a six-speed manual or Aisin automatic option.

While Mahindra has not confirmed that the design study will go into production, the company's design chief Ramkripa ('Kripa') Ananthan has indicated that the company rarely develops such concepts. This and the fact the XUV Aero is close to production-ready are both signs that Mahindra is prepared to build the vehicle.

“We've treated it more like a production car,” Ms Ananthan told motoring.com.au yesterday at the car’s launch.

“We've not flattened the roof more than it can be flattened. What you see is what will be...”

“We've never really shown concept cars before,” she continued.

“And there's a reason for that. We were always uncomfortable showing something; what exactly are we showing it for? Are we showing it for what our philosophy is, are we showing it to get some feedback?

“We would never show why we should be doing it. And then we said: 'Okay, let's do this then, where we show show cars that we could productionise.'

“Let's then see what the market says, what the journalists say, what the critics say – and let's have this dialogue going.”

Ms Ananthan strongly believes India's growing domestic automotive market could support a production car based on the XUV Aero, and cashed-up Indian buyers would flock to such a vehicle.

“I look at it and wonder 'why didn't I think of this before?',” she concluded with a grin.