Seeing the growing competition in the compact SUV segment, India’s leading SUV maker, Mahindra & Mahindra, is also planning to launch a sub-4 metre SUV in the country. The company has already started working on a new mini SUV to compete against the likes of Ford EcoSport and others. Mahindra’s small SUV is already under development phase, which is likely to share its design with XUV500. Codenamed as “S101”, the vehicle will be sold alongside the Quanto as the entry level sports utility vehicle.
Mahindra S101 Design
The Mahindra S101 has already been spotted a couple of times during its test rounds on the Indian streets. Its design is yet to be finalized as the spotted vehicle misses out on features like the bumpers and headlamps. The S101 has been based on a new monocoque platform that has been formulated to develop vehicles which comes under the 4-metre mark.
Mahindra S101 features a “Clamshell” style bonnet which is visible in modern time vehicles. The hood is directly lifted from the Scorpio that sports scoop to add sporty character. Seeing the images, this model gets boxy design which means it lack interior space compared to competition.
This model will get sporty roofline to offer an aggressive look, while it comes with good headroom space for front as well as rear passengers. Moreover, the company is also working on a 7 seater version of the S101. We expect that this model will get plastic body cladding and creases to make the car look aggressive. Its wide front bumper has large air dam, and the grille is mounted high and the company has given several visual appeals to it. At the back, the vehicle will get hatch-mounted spear wheel just like the EcoSport.
Mahindra S101 Engine and Transmission
It is expected that the Mahindra S101 will be powered by the same 1.5-litre diesel engine that also powers the Quanto. This engine is capable of churning out a maximum power output of 100bhp and 240Nm of top torque. It is also speculated that the S101 will be a front wheel drive model, which will be powered by the Renault’s 1.5-litre K9K diesel engine. The petrol version of the SUV is likely to get a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine. Both the engines will be coupled to a five-speed manual transmission gearbox; however, the petrol engine might also get an auto gearbox.
Mahindra S101 India launch and pricing
The Mahindra S101 is likely to be priced around Rs. 6 lakh for the entry level model and Rs. 8.5 lakh for the top spec variant. It is expected to make its India debut by the mid-2015.
Image Courtesy: AutoCarIndia
