A mysterious compact SUV spotted in Mahindra Thar video

Earlier this month, Mahindra had released a video demonstrating the off-road capabilities of the new Thar. It appears to have been filmed at a Mahindra test track and if you look closely, you will notice a prototype of a compact SUV testing in the background.

The prototype appears at the 45 second mark in the video. The SUV can be seen testing on the banked section of the track in the background. While it is difficult to comment on what this car might be, it appears to be smaller than the XUV300.

In the sub-compact SUV segment, Mahindra currently offers the KUV100 NXT. It is powered by a BS6-compliant 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine that produces 82 BHP @ 5,500 rpm and 115 Nm @ 3,500-3,600 rpm. The engine is paired with a 5-speed manual transmission.

Earlier, Mahindra's Rajesh Jejurikar had stated that the carmaker plans to focus on SUVs instead of crossovers and will not target segments where it does not have a competitive advantage. So, it would be safe to assume that Mahindra does not plan to enter a new segment with the new model.

Thanks to BHPian CrAzY dRiVeR for sharing this with other enthusiasts!