Mahindra has now one-sided dominance in the SUV segment of the country. During the last 3 to 4 months, the company's stature has grown rapidly in this segment. The company's portfolio includes the highest number of SUVs.

In such a situation, the company is now preparing a future roadmap for its SUV. It is being built around the Next Generation architecture named NU_IQ, which is expected to go into production from 2027. Designed as a global-ready platform, NU_IQ will support multiple body styles and segments.

One of the biggest changes that NU_IQ brings is powertrain neutrality. Instead of adopting the platform later for electrification, Mahindra has engineered the NU_IQ to support petrol, diesel and electric setups from the very beginning. It helps the company to customize the vehicles for different regions. At the same time, it shares several engineering elements to reduce costs and shorten the development cycle.

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One of the first vehicles to be built on this architecture could be a compact SUV derived from the Vision S concept, which was shown last August along with three other concepts. Test mules like the small size of the Scorpio N have been frequently spotted, hinting that this could be the production debut of the model NU_IQ. Positioned below the Scorpio N, its price is also expected to be competitive.

This could herald Mahindra's new focus on the sub-four-meter SUV segment, an area that the brand did not prioritise earlier. The recent changes in the tax structure and the positive market response to the XUV 3XO have re-established the compact SUV as a high-volume opportunity. While Mahindra is performing strongly in the midsize and full-size SUV categories. Small SUVs are now being seen as a major growth lever.