Mahindra S101 (KUV100) to rival Maruti Wagon R; Could start at INR 4 lakhs - Report

Will see Mahindra enter the petrol compact car segment.

Mahindra's next passenger vehicle, codenamed the S101, will target the Maruti Wagon R mainly, states a report on Autocar Professional. The S101, which is reported to be named the KUV100 (where the 'K' could stand for Krossover) was developed keeping the Wagon R in mind, senior executives at two Tier I component suppliers told the publication.

Unlike the recently launched TUV300 which is positioned in the UV space, the S101 will occupy the compact car space, which accounts for 43 percent of the total passenger vehicle market (sales data from April-July 2015). The product also sees Mahindra enter the petrol segment, which accounted for 65 percent of compact car sales.

Keeping in mind its competition, Mahindra is likely to offer the S101 with a starting price of INR 4 lakhs, ex-Showroom, the report states.

Apart from a diesel engine (likely the mHawk 80 three-cylinder 1.5-liter unit seen on the TUV300), the S101 will also see a 1.2-liter petrol engine co-developed with Ssangyong. The S101 will feature a standard front-wheel drive architecture with both manual and automated manual transmissions (AMT).

Also read: Mahindra TUV300 will not launch in Australia, S105 planned instead – Report

The S101 will be the second monocoque product for Mahindra. The platform is expected to spawn a family of cars in the future, reports say.

[Source - AutocarPro]