Aiming to take on the B-segment e-SUVs in India, the utility vehicle maker Mahindra & Mahindra has unveiled its first EV, the XUV 400. Being the first EV product under the new brand, Mahindra Born Electric, the XUV 400 wears M&M’s new ‘Electrified Twin Peaks’ logo, which is finished in satin copper to signify the fact that ‘electron flow through copper,’ explained Pratap Bose, Executive Vice President and Chief Design Officer, M&M.
With the new product, Mahindra aims to create its own segment by operating in the C-segment and competing with those in the B-segment, Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director, Mahindra & Mahindra, said.
The new EV from the M&M stable measures 4,200 mm in length with a wheelbase of 2,600 mm and height and width of 1,634mm and 1,821 mm, respectively.
Based on the X100 platform from the company on which the XUV 300 also sits, the XUV 400’s chassis uses 45%of high strength steel, with 10% of it used for the battery compartment, R Veluswamy, Senior Vice President, Mahindra Rise, stated. The vehicle uses a PSM motor with a power output of 110 kW with 310 Nm of torque. Meanwhile, the lithium-ion battery pack powering the motor stands at 39.5kWh with a cell density of 237 Wh/kg dual vent pack design and is IP 67 rated.
M&M says the battery can provide the e-SUV with an MIDC range of 456 kms on a single charge, while using a 50kW DC fast charger, it can be topped up from 0-80% in 50 mins.
Furthermore, built in collaboration with global partners from South Korea, the XUV400 leverages their strengths across various segments – an advanced tech eco-system for speed and expertise – including calibration, system integration and vehicle validation, a press release from M&M said.
It added that powered by global technology leaders, the XUV400 comes equipped with high precision micro-controllers for critical parts such as smart vehicle control units and battery management systems with the highest level of safety compliance according to global standards.
Design
The new e-SUV can easily be recognised as an M&M product with the similarities it carried from the XUV 300. However, the company has tried to give the vehicle some unique styling elements, such as the copper treatment for the logo, arrowhead inserts on the Aero Fascia, LED tail lamps, and roof and side skirts.
Meanwhile, the front and rear also have distinct styling elements, including blanked-off front grilles, new projector headlamps, and LED tail lights.
Matching Interior To Take On Competition
During the presentation, Bose emphasised that special focus has been given to the vehicle’s interior as the target audience of Gen Z customers and to compete with the B-Segment e-SUVs. The XUV 400 comes with single pedal drive with three driving modes that include Fun, Fast and Fearless.
It also gets a 17.78 cm infotainment system, equipped with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. At the same time, the BlueSense Plus App offers 60-plus mobile app-based connected features, including accessibility to nearby charging points, Mahindra service stations, track vehicle location and many more powerful and useful features. Moreover, the system also provides over-the-air updates, Bose mentioned.
Regarding safety, the XUV 400 has been loaded with six airbags, disc brakes all around, and ISOFIX seats, among others, M&M noted.
Action Packed Four Months
During his presentation, Jhejurikar noted that with the XUV 400, the company is testing its ground on the EV front. To give a taste of the product, M&M plans to start with ‘Fun Fest’ from October 2022 till November 2022.
The idea behind the programme is to present the customers with a sense of what the product is and what it is like to own an EV, he noted.
“We think it a very important part of the journey, when you are trying to create a category where the (EV) penetration is very low (B-segment: 4%, C-segmen: <1%); the opportunity for us is to get the customers, give an experience about the product,” Jhejurikar added.
The company plans to start with the test drives and showroom displays in December 2022, with an expected launch in January 2023.
Veejay Nakra, President, Automotive Division, said, “The Mahindra Group is committed to becoming Carbon Neutral by 2040 and our EV game plan is at the core of this mission.”
The market, too, is extremely receptive to a clean, enjoyable and capable vehicle, and the company foresees significant growth in the category, he added.
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