Mahindra today announced that it will reveal the name of its latest product, the MPV which is known by its codename 'U321', on July 31. The name and information about the vehicle will be announced by Mahindra MD Pawan Goenka at a press conference to be held in Mumbai. According to rumours, the U321 is expected to get an Indian language name.
Name aside, the Mahindra U321 is the brand’s first passenger vehicle to be developed at Mahindra’s North American Technical Center. The MPV will also debut Mahindra’s new 1.6-liter diesel engine which is expected to develop around 125 hp and 320 Nm of torque and will be paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox. Given that the brand wants its portfolio to be petrol-ready by April 2020, a petrol variant of the U321 can be expected at a later date.
Mahindra is likely to offer the U321 in seven- and eight-seat configurations, with features such as projector headlights with LED daytime running lights, alloy wheels, keyless entry, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and automatic climate control. Given the positioning of the U321 as a more premium product than the Mahindra Xylo, expect safety features like ABS and dual front airbags to be standard across variants.
Also read: IAB reader snaps Mahindra S201 (SsangYong Tivoli based compact SUV) undergoing testing
The Mahindra U321 will be assembled at Mahindra's Nasik production facility, and its market launch is expected in September this year. It will rival the Renault Lodgy and the forthcoming second-gen Maruti Ertiga (which is also expected to launch around that period).
