Mahindra is working on several new and interesting cars, which include both ICE and EVs. Some time ago, they announced that they would be unveiling an all-new platform in August. The new platform is likely to be used in the next-generation Bolero, and we now have the first set of images and videos showing the next-generation Bolero being tested on the road.
The spy pictures have been shared by Motowagon on their Instagram page. In the pictures, we can see a fully camouflaged SUV being tested on the road. From the pictures, it is very evident that the Mahindra Bolero Neo is going to be extremely different from the current version.
The Bolero is currently the longest-running and oldest model in Mahindra’s lineup. It has not received a major update in a very long time. The new platform is called the New Flexible Architecture (NFA), and the Bolero will be the first vehicle to get this. As the name suggests, this platform is built in such a way that it can accommodate petrol, diesel, hybrid, and electric powertrains.
Coming to the spy pictures, the test mule seen here looks different from the current-generation Bolero. It remains to be seen whether Mahindra will launch this as the Bolero Neo or as a replacement for the original Bolero. It retains the boxy design, but it looks slightly more proportionate than the outgoing model.
The front of the SUV gets Mahindra’s vertical slat grille with the logo in the center. The headlamps seen on this test mule are dummy units, and we expect to see the production version units in the coming weeks. The side profile of the Bolero reminded us of the Defender. We also noticed the flush-fitting door handles and squared-off wheel arches on this SUV.
There will be a spare wheel mounted on the tailgate, but this test mule didn’t have one. The tail lamps are currently placed vertically on the rear fender, and we also see a set of lights on the rear bumper. Overall, the Bolero does look good in its new avatar.
The Bolero is going to be different from the outgoing model not just in design but in many other aspects. It will be based on a monocoque chassis. This chassis will also be used in strong hybrid vehicles, which will be a first for Mahindra.
Mahindra will initially offer the SUVs with both ladder-on-frame and monocoque chassis options in the market, but eventually, all these models will move to monocoque construction. The reason Mahindra will offer a monocoque chassis in the new Bolero is to save weight and also make it compatible with hybrid and electric powertrains.
By introducing a hybrid version, Mahindra will be able to meet the CAFE 3 norms, which will come into effect by 2027. Mahindra will be launching the electric and strong hybrid version of Bolero in the future. As mentioned above, the Bolero is the oldest model in Mahindra’s lineup, and this is the first time the model is receiving a comprehensive update like this in the last 20 years.