Mahindra is hoping to lift its fortunes by introducing new products in the affordable compact segment. The sub 4-metre lineup of Mahindra already consists of the chopped off Xylo, the Quanto and will soon be joined by the Verito Vibe hatchback in the first week of June (5th). The compact SUV in talks, codenamed S101 is under works, which is intended to compete head on with the soon to be launched Ford EcoSport. We had recently seen spyshots of the S101 fully camouflaged and now more details of the compact SUV have emerged.
The Mahindra S101 will be a new design altogether compared to the Quanto. The baby SUV is being developed on a new monocoque platform that has been designed to duck the vehicle under the 4-metre mark to enjoy excise duty benefits. The S101 has a hatchback like stance but the designers have managed to add some muscle to give it a compact SUV appearance. The design includes high window line, wide front bumper with high mounted grille. The rear door will get a spare wheel housing, which will give an added SUV feel.
The rear-mounted spare wheel also helps the manufacturer for better interior packaging, which results in more cabin space. Talking about the interior space, Mahindra has fitted two bucket seats up front, a single driver’s seat with a wide two-seat passenger bench alongside. The gear lever has been positioned onto the dashboard for added legroom for the middle passenger. In this way the Mahindra S101 can accommodate six passengers but the automaker is rumored to offer a seven or even eight-seater option with the S101.
For the engine options, Mahindra is expected to offer the S101 with the same 3-cylinder 1.5-litre diesel engine powering the Quanto, producing 98 BHP. Power and torque figures will be tuned up for the S101 and the engine will be transversely mounted, as seen on the XUV500.
Mahindra is developing new engines ranging from 1.2-litres to 1.6-litres, with an investment of Rs. 4300 crore on development. The petrol engine is likely to be a 1.2-litre turbo motor, which comes mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. A more luxurious version is also considered, codenamed as the S102. The S101 is expected with a starting price of Rs. 5 lakhs, hitting the market during 2014.
Source – Autocar India
