Mahindra XUV 3XO is one of the few sub-compact SUVs to boast of Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), making it one of the safest cars in its segment. In fact, Mahindra has been one of the strongest proponents of safety in passenger vehicles in the country, and the company is planning to extend its dominance going forward.
The homegrown automaker is believed to be developing the next generation ADAS technology. This new ADAS technology was recently spotted testing onboard the XUV 3XO. The latest spy images show a fully camouflaged test mule of the XUV 3XO without its front and rear bumpers.
Mahindra new ADAS in works
On closer inspection, the prototype flaunts a radar sensor just in front of the radiator which suggests a new ADAS module is being tested. The radiator up front and the exhaust pipe at the rear confirm that this test mule isn’t the XUV 3XO EV slated to launch sometime later this year. The images also show a custom roof rack at the top that houses what looks like a camera used by Tech Mahindra for Apple Inc.’s Mapping system.
The custom roof rack houses five radar modules and a LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) sensor on the top rack. Besides the sensors at the front and on the top, the XUV 3XO prototype also has a camera stuck to its rear windshield using a suction mount. The latest set of images have reportedly been clicked in Bidadi, near Bengaluru, from where Bosch operates.
This is a significant development because there have been rumours of Mahindra and Bosch coming together to democratize ADAS tech by developing India-specific systems and algorithms. Hence, this upcoming ADAS tech will be developed keeping the Indian road conditions in mind. When launched, Mahindra is expected to integrate the LiDAR module into the front camera unit located near the IRVM, while the rear camera, currently mounted on the windshield, will likely be discreetly hidden.
Needless to say, most of the ADAS tech used in cars on sale in India today are sourced from outside where the ADAS is usually calibrated for cars driven in Europe or other foreign countries. An indigenous ADAS tech will not only provide solutions for Indian roads but also help bring down the cost of such advanced safety technologies.
