Here's the twist. Mahindra has just patented the Vision S in India, with a design that looks almost identical to the concept. But the spy shots tell a story our catalogue didn't: a sub-four-metre diesel SUV with a manual gearbox, not the premium electric SUV we had expected. So which Vision S is actually coming? Right now, nobody outside Mahindra knows for sure.
Patent vs catalogue: is this even the same car?
This is where things get messy. Our catalogue lists the Mahindra Vision S as a ₹25–35 lakh electric SUV on the INGLO skateboard platform (a dedicated EV base), with 500+ km range. But the new patent and recent spy shots point somewhere else entirely. The patented car sits on Mahindra's NU_IQ platform. And the Vision S has also been reportedly called 'Scorpio Sport', which if accurate would suggest a sub-four-metre SUV. Two very different cars could be wearing the same name. We're flagging this gap openly rather than pretending it's settled.
What the patent shows: a near-production design
The good news is that the design looks finished, not just a show concept. The front end has the face of the concept more or less intact. The side is more or less the same with the same wheel arches and roof rails. Earlier we saw what could be a production version of the connected tail-light setup (one light bar across the back). Inside the cabin, the concept’s vertically styled AC vents and steering wheel sourced from Mahindra’s BE electric series are carried forward, but that may change before launch. So this is production intent, not some far off dream.
Diesel and manual spied vs EV claimed: which powertrain is real?
Official technical specs have yet to be announced. But the diesel engine and manual gearbox have been spotted on test mules. That contradicts the all-electric 500+ km story we published in our catalog. “The NU_IQ platform is modular so it can take different powertrains so an EV version could still happen alongside,” he said. Our honest take: Mahindra could be developing an entire family of powertrains (diesel, petrol, maybe even EV) under the Vision S badge. Consider the EV spec unconfirmed until Mahindra confirms it.
Mahindra Vision S
SUVExpected price: what do we actually know?
Our catalogue positions the Vision S at ₹25–35 lakh as a premium EV, which would be about ₹5–6 lakh above the Tata Curvv EV (₹17.19–19.69 lakh) and rival the Hyundai Creta N Line (₹17.83–20.1 lakh) and other premium offerings. But if a diesel variant exists alongside the EV, pricing for that version is completely unknown. That's not one car's price range. That could be two completely different buyers.
Launch timeline: 2027 or August 2026?
Mahindra has said production of the NU_IQ-based SUVs begins in 2027. That's the only timeline the company has actually committed to. Our catalogue listed August 2026, which has come and gone, and Mahindra now says production begins in 2027. So, plainly: Mahindra has not announced a firm on-sale date for the Vision S. Anyone telling you it lands by a specific festive date is guessing. Expect more clarity closer to 2027.
Should you wait for the Vision S? And which one?
Our Expert Take already warned that the Vision S's specs, price and timeline are uncertain. This patent deepens that, it doesn't clear it. If you want a homegrown compact diesel SUV, waiting could make sense, but expect a launch sometime in 2027 (early to mid-year likely). If you want a premium EV, don't bank on the ₹25–35 lakh INGLO version until Mahindra confirms it exists. For most buyers who need a car now, the Tata Curvv EV or Creta N Line are here today and worth looking at. The Vision S is a watch-this-space story, not a buy-now one.
References: Mahindra India — official website
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