Indian car-maker Mahindra is embarking on new global product offensive that will include a brand-new compact SUV, pictured here testing in Germany.
Wearing a cool new camouflage wrap, the baby SUV appears almost production ready, although the name of the vehicle is not yet known. Likely to slot in underneath the companies XUV 500 medium SUV that sell in Australia from $29,990, the tiny SUV has every chance to be one of the most affordable SUVs yet.
Mahindra will pitch the vehicle in established markets, possibly including Australia, as a no-frills but reliable and rugged alternative, complete with a spare tyre on the rear door.
About the same size as a Holden Trax, the design of the nuggety little SUV is as utilitarian as it gets, with no practicality compromises made via curvy hips or swooping c-pillars. Instead the car features an boxy, upright design that flies in the face of contemporary vehicle design.
Riding on small 14-inch steel wheels, the test vehicle snapped by Automedia photographers is a five-door, presumably five-seat vehicle that will give the company another global model with which to rival other Indian-made compact SUVs, such as the Ford EcoSport.
Expected to make use of a small 1.5-litre turbo-diesel engine, the Mahindra SUV's square lines and uncompromising design could serve to help set it apart from the increasing number of compact SUVs.