Ford-Mahindra partnership will result in an all-new premium SUV from the American brand and the recent reports in the industry claim that the model will be based on the next-generation XUV500. The new model will debut in 2021, offering a period of less than 2-years for those who plan their cars in advance. The next-generation XUV500 is codenamed W601 and expectations for the model include all-new engines, revised platform, an increase in both wheelbase and the overall length. The legroom available in the car is impressive in the current-gen variant but, Mahindra may work on the third-row comfort by improving space between the wheels.
Unlike the most recent example of Maruti Baleno and Toyota Glanza, the Ford-Mahindra SUV will be different as badge-engineered product placement is not their first preference. The frame and engine will be common between both the products while the exterior styling will be totally different. However, the brands like Chevrolet and Isuzu have already tried the same as the Trailblazer and MU-X shared a lot more than just interior features for the buyers. Chevrolet was unable to justify its presence as the price of Trailblazer was not competitive enough to beat the popular full-sized SUVs like Ford Endeavour and Toyota Fortuner.
The next-gen XUV500 will share the architecture with Ssangyong products and that will help them make their cars safer for future use. Ford is currently missing from the INR 14-25 lakh price segment, giving them a chance to bring two different SUVs to cover the huge area. They can also go for the five and seven-seat variant of the same car to keep them in competition with products like Tata Harrier and Cassini. The arrival of the premium Tata Harrier SUV has brought shivers across other brands as adding a small amount to the price of top-spec Hyundai Creta takes the premium feel to the next level.
