Mahindra is feeling the heat from the competitions already. With the launch of Maruti Suzuki Ignis and the forthcoming Tata Hexa, Mahindra is likely to launch new variants of its vehicles to keep its product line-up fresh in the market strife. Reports suggest Mahindra is readying new variants of the XUV500 and KUV100 with expected aesthetic changes and added features without disturbing the current prices.
The Mahindra XUV500 might get an array of new connectivity features such as the new EcoSense telematics. It displays a real-time information of the vehicle, which includes fuel economy and wear and tear of parts. It can also get an added safety button which can be triggered in an event of a crash to inform the stored emergency contact numbers. This feature can also be installed in the existing XUVs with a simple software update.
The KUV100, on the other hand, might come with a dual-tone paint scheme with an option of larger alloys, and a more efficient powertrain than the current model along with various other accessories. The automatic variant for the KUV100 is also on the cards. Mahindra has already partnered with Google to integrate the Android Auto in its cars and is in talks with Apple as well; both of which can be found in the upcoming Mahindra vehicles.
Mahindra being the highest selling UV manufacturer in India faced a stiff competition from the likes of Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai last year. The ICOTY winner, Vitara Brezza provided Maruti with a boost in the sales last year, whereas Mahindra managed a modest growth of 4 per cent. With the onslaught of competition, Mahindra will try to keep its line-up updated to have a successful 2017.