Mahindra pitches SUVs for the world, all built on one ambitious base

The Hindu

3 days ago

There's something about seeing a concept car under the spotlights that no slide deck or PDF can ever capture. At Mahindra's big reveal in Mumbai, the air was thick with expectation — not only because the company had promised 'a new era of SUVs,' but because this was the first time we were going to see the NU_IQ platform made real.
On paper, NU_IQ sounded ambitious: a modular base that could run petrol, diesel, hybrid or EV power, carry different body styles, and even switch between left- and right-hand drive. In person, that ambition took shape through four very different concepts, each making its case for what Mahindra's SUV future looks like.
One Platform – 4 Distinct Machines
The NU_IQ story was told not through charts but by the sheer variety of metal on stage. What struck me most was how each concept looked nothing like the other, yet all them sat on the same skeleton. The engineers made it clear: this wasn't just a 'skateboard for EVs,' but a genuinely flexible foundation where ICE and EV versions of the same model could be built side by side.
That point came hit home when they wheeled out the Vision T — unmistakably the next-generation Thar, but this time in five-door form. Taller and more planted than the current model, it felt more grown-up without losing its utilitarian charm. You could picture a rugged diesel 4x4 tackling a Himalayan pass, but Mahindra just as confidently talked about an all-electric Thar with instant torque for boulder-crawling. The idea that both versions could exist on the same line is something Indian manufacturers have not pulled off before.
Next came the Vision S, and here the message was clear: the Scorpio is evolving. The proportions were familiar — upright, muscular shoulders, that signature stance — but the detailing was more sophisticated, more international. Walking around it, you noticed cleaner surfacing and a cabin mock-up that looked leagues ahead of what we're used to in this segment. It wasn't hard to imagine this as Mahindra's family SUV for Europe or Africa, still tough but with enough polish to stand against global rivals.
If the Thar and Scorpio derivatives leaned on emotion and legacy, the Vision X aimed squarely at the future. The smallest of the four, but arguably the smartest, it looked sharp and athletic, carrying forward cues from the XUV3XO but with a more confident presence. What made it interesting was Mahindra's hint that this architecture could stretch — today's compact SUV, tomorrow's XUV700 successor. In other words, Vision X isn't just one car, but a scalable idea.
And then there was the Vision SXT. If the Vision T was the sensible, practical Thar for families, the SXT was its rowdy sibling. At first glance you recognised the shared bodywork, but the rear told a completely different story — chopped into an open back, it had the sort of lifestyle 'sports-UTE' vibe that felt more California than Colaba. It's not the kind of SUV you expect Mahindra to build for its core Indian buyer base, but as a statement of intent for markets like the U.S. or Australia, it hit the mark.
A global language
Another detail that stood out at the event was the balance of influences. Mahindra stressed that the designs were shaped both in Mumbai and at its Banbury studio in the UK. Looking at the four concepts together, that mix was obvious: bold Indian ruggedness married to international finesse.
Beneath the styling, the engineering team emphasised the benefits of NU_IQ's 'flat-floor' approach, which not only makes packaging smarter but also points to the possibility of the world's first flat-floor ICE SUV — a neat technical brag if it comes to production.
Beyond India
What set the tone, above all, was Mahindra's global ambition. This wasn't framed as 'our future SUVs for India,' but 'our SUVs for the world.' Left-hand-drive versions were explicitly called out, production is set to begin in 2027, and there was no hesitation in mentioning Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas as targets. That's a bold shift for a company that, until recently, was seen as largely domestic.
Walking out of the venue, the impression that lingered wasn't just about four shiny concepts. It was about Mahindra finally building a coherent family of SUVs on one architecture, each designed to wear different personalities without compromise. The Vision T may excite loyalists, the Vision S may reassure families, the Vision X may pull in new urban buyers, and the SXT may raise eyebrows — but together, they make Mahindra's intent impossible to miss.
The stage lights will fade, the show cars will head back under wraps, but NU_IQ feels like it could be Mahindra's passport to a bigger game. If the company can deliver these machines to market with the same presence they had in Mumbai, 2027 might just be remembered as the year Mahindra truly went global.
Motorscribes, in association with The Hindu, brings you the latest in cars and bikes. Follow them on Instagram