Mahindra XUV Aero concept revealed at Auto Expo 2016

Mahindra has revealed a coupé-SUV crossover concept based on the XUV500. The concept features a suicide door on one side and shares styling elements with the Mahindra SUV. The prototype has been built by Italian design firm Pininfarina (recently acquired by M&M) and styled in-house by the carmaker. 

While officially a concept, Mahindra has hinted that it could make production depending on feedback from the public: "With your help, we can launch this car; we need your feedback," the manufacturer said.  

The concept has multiple drive and suspension modes like Race, Off-Road, Street and Sport, and also gets an all-new 210bhp mHawk engine. Mahindra claims the XUV Aero can do 0-60kph in under 6 seconds. 

The coupé-SUV segment in India currently only has models from major luxury brands like Mercedes and BMW with the GLE Coupe and the X6, respectively. With the aggressively styled XUV Aero concept, Mahindra seems to be considering an entry into this niche segment. 

The XUV Aero concept’s styling mimics the XUV500's but gets a downward sloping coupé-like roofline and is likely to come with horizontally positioned tail-lamps and a muscular bumper with faux diffusers at the rear. The concept is also a demonstrator for Mahindra’s new infotainment and connectivity systems that will feature on future production models.

If it does go into production, the XUV Aero is expected to be an upmarket offering and will sit above the XUV500 SUV.