On August 15, 2022, Mahindra will have a grand showcase of its ‘Born Electric Vision’ – or future EV plans, but rather than three futuristic concept cars as originally previewed, there will now be five; the first two of which will be somewhat familiar.
The most significant among the EV concepts being shown at the Mahindra Advanced Design Europe (MADE) studio in Oxfordshire, UK will be a near-production-ready electric version of the XUV700, which will likely be called XUV800 (codename: W610).
- XUV800 to use XUV700 ‘top hat’ on new EV platform
- Could get single and dual-motor options for FWD and AWD
- Battery cells to be sourced from Volkswagen
Mahindra XUV800: existing design, new platform
The XUV800’s design is expected to have a clear visual link to the XUV700, and will, in fact, share the ICE SUV’s ‘top hat’ or bodywork, and even its 2,750mm wheelbase. As such, expect the overall silhouette to remain the same, a fact that was alluded to in Mahindra’s teaser campaign for the EVs, where one of the SUVs looked pretty much identical to the XUV700. What’s likely to change, however, are the front and rear end of the SUV, with the grille likely to be blanked out and the bumpers and lights getting a redesign. Some futuristic detailing to better reflect its all-electric propulsion can also be expected.
But while it may bear resemblance to an XUV700, the XUV800 will use Mahindra’s new born-electric skateboard platform underneath. This may not be Mahindra’s first electric SUV (the all-electric XUV400 will come first in early 2023), but the XUV800 marks the debut of Mahindra’s first bespoke EV platform.
On the inside, the basic layout, including the seating is unlikely to change, even though the new skateboard platform would technically allow for a flat floor and the deletion of the transmission tunnel. You can, however, expect new trim and colour changes on the interior to go with the electric theme, as well as Mahindra’s new EV-specific infotainment system, recently teased to include personalised comfort presets that owners can set.
Mahindra XUV800 battery, motors to be sourced from Volkswagen
Mahindra and Volkswagen joined forces in May this year to evaluate component sharing for EVs. This partnership will bear fruit with the XUV800, which will source electric motors and battery cells from VW’s MEB modular electric platform. The prismatic cells will be imported from Volkswagen’s plant in Salzgitter, Germany, which will be VW’s first EV battery hub and part of its new PowerCo battery business unit. Except for the battery cells and motors, all other electrical components like the battery pack, the BMS and other ancillaries will be locally made in Mahindra’s plant in Chakan, Maharashtra.
While the final battery size and motor outputs are not known, it’s safe to take the Volkswagen ID 4 as a point of reference. After all, the German crossover’s 4,580mm length and 2,760mm wheelbase are not far removed from the XUV700’s. Therefore you can expect a battery capacity of around 77-82kWh, with a range rating of over 500km; the real-world range will likely be less. Much like the VW, and in keeping with the XUV700’s philosophy of offering AWD on the top variant, expect the XUV800 to offer the option of a dual-motor powertrain that drives all four wheels. The difference is, as with many BEVs, the 2WD model could be rear-wheel drive, unlike the ICE XUV700, which is front-wheel drive.
XUV900 Coupe will also get an EV counterpart
We’ve reported for a while now that Mahindra is working on a coupe derivative of the XUV700, which will likely be christened the XUV900 (codename: W620). It is expected to draw design inspiration from the XUV Aero concept from 2016, share its powertrains with the XUV700, albeit with potentially higher outputs, and, of course, be restricted to a five-seat layout.
However, as part of Mahindra’s EV push, there will be an electric version as well (codename: M310), and this too will be represented by one of the concept SUVs shown on August 15. Going by Mahindra’s apparent SUV naming practice with ICE and EV counterparts taking on alternate numbers – XUV300 and 400, XUV700 and 800 – could this coupe SUV EV be called XUV1000? We'll just have to wait and see. Like the XUV800, it will use the same top hat as the XUV900 with the BEV skateboard platform and powertrains underneath.
Launch timeline for Mahindra’s new electric SUVs
Mahindra may have lost ground in the EV race, notably to fellow homegrown SUV maker Tata Motors, but it’s clear from this aggressive and ambitious plan that it intends to catch up fast. It will start with the XUV300-based XUV400 EV that will be shown in September, with a launch expected in early 2023.
Supplier sources tell us the XUV800 (W610) will follow next with a start of production (SOP) date of 2024. Incidentally, this SOP date is shared with the XUV1000 electric coupe (M310), which means we could very well see both models launched around the same time.
And the brand has big ambitions for how well these cars will perform, too. For the W610, suppliers have been told gear up for a volume of 9,000 units in the first full year of production, rising to 12,000 in the subsequent year, whilst the M310 has a more modest volume target of 2,500 units in the first year, rising to 10,500 units thereon.
This falls in line with Mahindra’s plan to launch eight new EVs by 2027, accounting for 20 percent of its total UV volumes. This bold push comes on the back of big investments into Mahindra’s new electric-vehicle subsidiary, known simply as the EV Co, which is valued at a solid Rs 70,070 crore, and is expected to get additional funding to the tune of Rs 8,000 crore by FY2027.
Will Mahindra’s new XUV700-based EVs take the market by storm? Let us know in the comments below.
Also see:
New Mahindra EVs to get customisable driver comfort presets
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