In 2016, Mahindra had confirmed that the Mahindra U321 will arrive in the second half of FY2017-18 (October 2017-March 2018). In February last year, the company more specifically announced that the U321’s launch will take place in the next 12 months.
However, the latest updates from Mahindra place the launch of the upcoming Mahindra MPV in FY2018-19 (April 2018-March 2019). The company has also made it clear that the MPV is not a replacement for an existing product (read: Mahindra Xylo) and that it will slot in a new segment. The Mahindra U321, the first model designed in the MNATC R&D centre, looks like a proper MPV, spy media has revealed.
The Mahindra U321 has a monocoque construction, a first for a Mahindra MPV. It will debut a new 1.6-litre diesel engine that produces 125 hp and 305 Nm of torque. The company will offer it with a petrol engine too, either a 1.5-litre unit or a 2.0-litre unit. Projector headlamps, LED DRLs, 16-inch alloy wheels, dual-tone interior colour scheme, automatic climate control, rear AC vents, touchscreen infotainment system with satellite navigation and a rearview camera are some of the expected main features of the MPV.
Mahindra e-KUV100 – Auto Expo 2018 Live
The Mahindra U321 is expected to slot between the Maruti Ertiga and the Toyota Innova. Its prices could start somewhere around INR 10 lakh (ex-showroom).
