Mahindra exploring Hybrid powertrains for XEV 9e and XUV 7XO

New! Launched the XEV 9e as a pure electric SUV. But now, a range-extender hybrid variant is reportedly under development. At the same time, the XUV 7XO, which replaced the XUV700, is being explored for a strong hybrid setup. This shift is happening because electric vehicle adoption has been slower than expected, while interest in hybrids is rising.

The XEV 9e was originally designed as a pure electric vehicle on the INGLO platform. Adding a hybrid setup requires significant re-engineering to fit an engine. The expected hybrid type is a range-extender, which is often called a REx. The core powertrain details suggest it will likely use a 1.2-litre petrol engine. But this engine will not drive the wheels directly. Instead, it will act solely as a generator to charge the battery while the electric motor drives the wheels. This setup is intended to appeal to customers who want the performance and smoothness of an electric car but are worried about running out of charge on long trips. It eliminates range anxiety, which is the fear of being stranded with a dead battery.

The XUV 7XO currently has refined 2.0-litre turbo petrol and 2.2-litre diesel engines. The expected hybrid type for this model is a strong hybrid. The core powertrain details suggest it will pair the existing 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine with a strong hybrid system. The goal is to improve fuel efficiency significantly and also increase total system power. This means the car will be both more powerful and more fuel-efficient than the current petrol-only version. Alongside hybrids, Mahindra is also exploring flex-fuel variants for this model, which can run on higher ethanol blends like E85. The company has previously showcased a 1.2-litre flex-fuel engine.

Beyond these specific models, Mahindra is also working on a new architecture called NU_IQ. This platform is versatile enough to natively support petrol, diesel, hybrid, and electric powertrains from the very beginning of the design stage. This will make it much easier for Mahindra to offer multiple powertrain options on the same car without expensive re-engineering.

If you are thinking of buying a Mahindra SUV, you should wait for the hybrid versions if you want better fuel efficiency than the current petrol models, if you want the instant torque and smoothness of an electric motor without the range anxiety, or if you want a more powerful version of the XUV 7XO. The range-extender XEV 9e will be perfect if you want an electric car for the city but a petrol generator for highways. The strong hybrid XUV 7XO will be perfect if you want a powerful, fuel-efficient family SUV.

You should buy the current Mahindra models now if you need a car immediately, if you prefer a pure petrol or diesel engine, or if you have a lower budget. The current XUV 7XO is already a very good SUV with powerful engines. The current XEV 9e is an excellent pure electric SUV if you have access to charging.