A new LCV will also be introduced.
Mahindra officials have previously told Indian Autos Blog that the company will launch three new products next year. Speaking to the PTI, Dr. Pawan Goenka, Executive Director for Mahindra & Mahindra, said that two of these will be sub-4 meter compact SUVs.
The third product is identified as a commercial vehicle, which could be the P601 (codename) that has been spied testing many a time. Further, the director said that all vehicles will be based on new platforms.
Coming to the compact SUVs, Mahindra is currently testing two models which go by codename S101 and U301. The S101 is Mahindra's answer to B-segment hatchbacks like the Maruti Swift and VW Polo. However, the design and seating position of the S101 would be crossover like, sources tell Indian Autos Blog.
Based on a monocoque platform (the second monocoque for Mahindra after the XUV500), the S101 would be powered by new three-cylinder petrol and diesel engines and could receive an automated manual transmission (AMT).
The U301 on the other hand seems to be a replacement for the now aging Bolero. The test mule sports typical SUV design cues on a boxy shape and is likely to be based on a hydroformed ladder-frame chassis, in order to give it true off-roadability and ruggedness.
Also read: Mahindra sells 100,000 units of the XUV500 in 33 months
Apart from these all-new products, Mahindra is also expected to launch an AMT-equipped Quanto, a Scorpio AT and XUV500 Hybrid next year.
[Source - Economic Times]
