Next Gen SsangYong Rexton to rival Fortuner under Mahindra name

The next-generation SsangYong Rexton (codenamed Y400) will be sold under the Mahindra badge in India and go up against the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Endeavour. This news comes just a few months after Mahindra announced that it does not plan to bring any new SsangYong cars to India in the foreseeable future.

The Y400 will be based on the LIV-2 SUV Concept, which was shown at the Paris Auto Show last year. If the production car retains the same proportions as the concept car, then the Y400 will measure 4850 mm in length, 1960 mm in width and 1800 mm in height. Furthermore, the LIV-2 has a wheelbase of 2865 mm, which is 120 mm more than the new Fortuner, indicating that the Y400 will have more interior space than its Toyota counterpart.

Stylistically, the Y400 will adopt an evolutionary design language with sharp body-lines and an imposing stance you would expect from a large, 7-seater SUV. Inside, the Y400 will borrow a lot of cues from the LIV-2 concept that gets a very posh cabin packed with three displays (a 9.2-inch infotainment screen on the dash and two 10.1-inch screens on the front headrests), Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, ambient lighting and a premium sound system.

Under the hood, the Indian market will get a 2.2-litre diesel unit producing 184 HP of power and 420 Nm of torque, the latter available from 1500 RPM. By contrast, the Fortuner gets a 2.8-litre diesel unit that makes 177 HP of power and 420 Nm of torque (when paired with the manual ‘box). The diesel lump will be available with a 6-speed manual or a Mercedes-sourced 7-speed automatic transmission.

The production-spec Y400 will be launched next year, most likely at the Seoul Auto Show and it will come to India by around December 2017. Regarding pricing, we can expect Mahindra to price it in such a way that it undercuts the Fortuner by at least a couple of lakhs.