Launches hold the key for Mahindra's sales turnaround.
The next-generation Mahindra Bolero, codenamed U301, might get a launch ahead of the new compact SUV S101, according to sources. Though fixed timings haven't been revealed, IAB has come to learn that the U301 is tentatively scheduled to be launched around September 2015 and the S101 around December 2015.
Both cars come at a time when Mahindra is trying to gain its market share in the UV segment which dropped to a seven-year low last fiscal.
The U301 is believed to be the next-generation Mahindra Bolero that has been spied several times over the last year. The compact SUV will get a centre console that is similar to the one on the SX4 S-Cross. The console will feature a polygonal cluster that houses the aircon vents and a 2-DIN music system. Reports also state that the top-end variant may not feature automatic climate control, but ABS and dual front airbags will come.
The S101, on the other hand, is a compact SUV that will feature bench seats at the front and a dash-mounted gear lever. The compact SUV will compete against the likes of the Maruti Swift in price, and a test mule has been spotted with an AMT lever.
Both SUVs will get power from a new family of engines developed with Ssangyong. While base variants are reported to get a 1.2L three-cylinder petrol and diesel engine, the utilitarian U301 could also be a beneficiary of the Quanto's 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine.
Mahindra Bolero became the top-selling SUV for the 2014-2015 fiscal year, retaining its spot for the 9th year in a row. Over 100,000 units were sold that year, keeping with its record that began in 2012.
