Spy Pics: The U321 MPV — Mahindra’s Toyota Innova Rival Spied, Again

Mahindra’s upcoming MPV, codenamed U321 has been spotted testing once again, with a few major updates. It is expected to be launched in 2018, with a reveal at the 2018 Indian Auto Expo

oi-Stephen

By Stephen

Updated: Thursday, September 7, 2017, 13:59 [IST]

The upcoming Mahindra U321 has been spotted testing once again, and this time near Davanagere in Karnataka as opposed to the last time when it was spied close to its home ground, the Mahindra Research Valley near Chennai. The MPV which is being developed by Mahindra's North American team also sports several changes compared to the last time it was spied.

The MUV, codenamed U321 is the replacement for the Mahindra Xylo, and the Mumbai based-company seems to have decided on making the most out of this opportunity, taking things up a level, targeting the Toyota Innova Crysta and its supremacy in the segment.

The Last time the U321 was spotted a few months ago, it seemed very rough edged, and as we had mentioned, it seemed to be using a number of substitute parts. Now though, the MUV looks more rounded and almost production ready.

The space which earlier missed the grille now sports an eight slat grille, with the Mahindra logo positioned on it in a similar fashion to the XUV 500. The ugly steel rims have now made way for alloy wheels, which though decent-looking, seems a little too small for a vehicle this big.

The tail lamp too has seen significant change, and the previous conventional tail-lamp design has now been replaced by a tall unit like the one on the previous-gen Mahindra Scorpio. The U321 from the side profile looks very similar to its main rival, the Toyota Innova Crysta, except that the front end is not as elongated as on the Innova.

Coming from Mahindra, it is obvious that the U321 will have utility and practicality a prerequisite. The U321 is said to have been built on an all-new platform and is using a monocoque chassis, making this the third mahindra vehicle to do so, after the KUV100 and the XUV500.

Details about the Mahindra U321 are scarce at the moment, and engine options are not known, but Mahindra in all probability would use their 2.0-litre mHawk turbo-diesel engine or could even plonk in their upcoming 1.6-litre petrol unit being developed jointly with Mahindra's Korean subsidiary Ssangyong.

The U321 is still under development, and would most probably be going into production in 2018. We wouldn't be surprised if the U321 is displayed at the 2018 Indian Auto Expo. Mahindra has invested heavily in the development of the U321 and the company's factory in Nashik will be used to produce the MPV.

The Mahindra U321 was spotted testing alongside another one of Mahindra's upcoming vehicles, the Mahindra TUV500. It is expected that the Mahindra U321 will be priced between Rs 10 and 15 lakh.

DriveSpark Thinks!

The Toyota Innova has been the king of the hill in the MUV/MPV segment for quite some time now, and if Mahindra prices the U321 right, which we think they will, Toyota might just have something to worry about.