At its annual Independence Day extravaganza, Mahindra today debuted its all-new monocoque platform called NU_IQ. It is completely modular and will underpin a host of SUVs in the mid-segment, both above and below the 4-metre mark.
- 4 Vision SUV concepts underpinned by NU_IQ were revealed today
- First production-spec model based on a Vision SUV concept to launch in 2027
- Mahindra is aiming for a 5-star crash safety rating for these SUVs
NU_IQ is a modular, monocoque platform built to underpin global models
While ladder-frame platforms have been at the core of the Mahindra brand, monocoque-based vehicles are central to the future of passenger mobility, given their weight-saving potential and, thus, lower emissions. To that effect, Nalinikanth Gollagunta, CEO of the company’s Automotive Division, said at the unveiling that the new platform is a step towards the future as well as global markets, for which the plan is to disrupt the mainstream SUV segment with premium features.
Multiple top hats possible, but Mahindra will only focus on SUVs
While the new platform can spawn multiple top hats, they will all be SUVs, said Rajesh Jejurikar, executive director and CEO (Auto and Farm Sector) at Mahindra, as the brand does not want to stray from its core offerings and image. The platform has been designed with multi-fuel capabilities in mind and can support petrol, diesel and electric powertrains. Details have not been released, but Mahindra has stated that the battery packs from the BE and XEV line-up would find their way to the electric versions of the NU_IQ-based SUVs.
NU_IQ will offer AWD tech with both ICE and EV powertrains
Another key trait for Mahindra is the presence of all-wheel drive, and though providing the same for both ICE and EV powertrains with the same platform requires effort, Velusamy R, president – Automotive Technology & Product Development at Mahindra, told Autocar India that they “already have solutions in place to offer AWD on both ICE and EV powertrains”. Notably, the brand also shared that both ICE and EV SUVs will have a full-flat floor, leading to better passenger comfort.
The new platform will also bring in a lot of new tech and features, like a 5-link rear suspension with active dampers, a variable-ratio steering rack and a new domain architecture dubbed NU_UX, the UI design of which is clean, minimalistic and with harmonised colours, evident in a video briefly shared.
Sure of a 5-star NCAP crash rating globally for NU_IQ-based SUVs
As with all its new offerings, Mahindra is confident that its new SUVs will achieve a high safety rating, and it says the NU_IQ-based models will achieve 5-star BNCAP, ANCAP and EURO NCAP ratings.
NU_IQ-based SUVs likely to expand each of Mahindra’s model brands
The four concepts unveiled today will all make it to production, and Mahindra’s chief design officer, Pratap Bose, said, “All the concepts are at least 80 percent close to what the production models will look like.” And while the company did not divulge the final names of each concept – Vision X, Vision S, Vision T and Vision SXT – the alphabet is a clue as to the final moniker.
New Mahindra Vision concepts: T (left), SXT (back), X (front) and S (right).
Mahindra had earlier stated that rather than adding more nameplates, it intends to expand each model into its own sub-brand, akin to JLR’s House of Brands concept. It intends to expand the portfolio around its five brands: Thar, Bolero, Scorpio, XUV and BE. Thus, Vision S is likely to sit in the Scorpio family, Vision X would be an XUV member, while Vision T would be a Thar. Each of these concepts stylistically fits into the respective nameplates and also carries small traits, such as the pillar-mounted handle on the Vision T’s rear doors, identical to the Thar Roxx.
Development of the models is all underway, and the first model, expected to be the Vision S, will arrive in 2027, as per Mahindra.
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