The global C2 segment platform focuses more on comfort, safety, and driving dynamics.
15 Aug 2025 | 3027 Views | By Ketan Thakkar & Darshan Nakhwa
SUV maker Mahindra & Mahindra has unveiled its all-new NU_IQ architecture, a global platform that looks to raise the bar for compact vehicles in comfort, safety, and driving dynamics. Developed at Mahindra Research Valley with design input from the company’s centres in the UK, the architecture represents a step-change in ...
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SUV maker Mahindra & Mahindra has unveiled its all-new NU_IQ architecture, a global platform that looks to raise the bar for compact vehicles in comfort, safety, and driving dynamics. Developed at Mahindra Research Valley with design input from the company’s centres in the UK, the architecture represents a step-change in how the homegrown automaker intends to compete in both domestic and international markets. Mahindra’s new generation of SUVs, based on the NU_IQ platform are expected to be launched from 2027.
According to Velusamy R, the president of Automotive Technology & Product Development at M&M, NU_IQ has been designed with a clear focus on customer comfort. The platform offers a seating height of 1563 mm, giving drivers a commanding road view, while a wheelbase of 2665 mm provides generous interior dimensions. Rear passengers benefit from 937 mm of legroom, placing the platform ahead of most competitors in its class. Mahindra has also engineered a 15 percent increase in luggage space compared with global benchmarks, underscoring its intent to combine practicality with comfort.
“NU_IQ is a strategic blueprint for the future of Mahindra SUVs globally. With its modular, multi-energy architecture, it gives us the flexibility to innovate across multiple top hats and powertrains whilst staying true to our SUV DNA. Designed to resolve paradoxes, NU_IQ forms the foundation for our next generation of SUVs,” Velusamy said.
While compact SUVs typically compromise on dynamics to meet cost targets, NU_IQ boasts several firsts in the segment. A five-link independent rear suspension makes its debut in this segment, paired with Mahindra’s proprietary DominC damping technology. The combination is designed to deliver superior stability, agility, and comfort across varied road conditions, from highways to congested urban streets. Despite its extended wheelbase, the platform can achieves a tight turning circle of 10.5 metres, setting a new benchmark for manoeuvrability.
Approach and ramp-over angles have also been optimised to 28 degrees, ensuring that vehicles built on NU_IQ can handle Indian road conditions, speed breakers, and semi-urban terrain without compromise.
It also focuses on safety. The architecture features asymmetrically placed ribs in the floor for enhanced crash resistance and a patented uni-ring structure to improve side-impact performance. With over 101 patents filed during development, the platform has been validated for 5-star ratings across Global NCAP, Euro NCAP, and ASEAN NCAP standards. Lightweight engineering further contributes to agility without compromising crash performance, giving the platform an edge over rivals.
Beyond mechanical innovation, NU_IQ has been built to support the transition to software-defined vehicles (SDVs). Its hardware and functional architecture are cloud-ready, allowing for continuous digital updates and integration with advanced driver-assistance and connected-car systems.
Global Playbook
While NU_IQ is expected to anchor Mahindra’s next wave of products in India, its ambitions are global. According to the company, the architecture has been benchmarked against international competitors and is designed to cater to markets where compact SUVs represent a large and growing share of volumes. By bringing premium-level features such as five-link suspension, advanced damping, and superior safety into the mainstream, Mahindra aims to replicate its Indian playbook on a much larger stage.
“NU_IQ blends innovation, global design and advanced technology to disrupt the white spaces in the automotive industry in India and internationally across Right-and-Left-Hand-Drive markets," said Nalinikanth Gollagunta, CEO for Automotive Division at Mahindra & Mahindra and executive director at Mahindra Electric Automobile.