Mahindra U301 dashboard exposed - Spied [Update]

30/03/2015 - 13:02 Mahindra U301, Mahindra, Spy pictures Shrawan Raja

Update - Motorbeam has carried a spyshot of the Mahindra U301's dashboard that looks production ready. The cabin is appointed with beige seats, black dashboard with silver accents, steering wheel similar to the XUV500's, chrome ringed instrument cluster and switchgear, and a new gear knob. The overall design conveys that the U301 is built for utility and price than for style.

March 16, 2015

Center console reminds one of the SX4 S-Cross.

MotorOctane has nabbed the first clear image of the dashboard of the Mahindra U301 SUV. The sub-4m utilitarian SUV will launch in the second half of the year.

Mahindra U301 interior spyshot — The U301 mule's interior is built from parts borrowed from the Scorpio, but the production model may have it differently.

Believed to be based on the shorter platform of the Scorpio, the U301 will get a combination of silver and chrome inserts. The instrument binnacle is composed of two chrome-ringed dials like the XUV500, flanked by a new three-spoke steering wheel with provision for audio controls.

The central air vents and stereo are designed into a polygonal console that is reminiscent of the SX4 S-Cross. Placed below are the USB and aux-in ports, along with a 12V socket. The rotary air-con knobs on a fully-loaded test mule spied earlier conveyed that even the top-end variants (like the ZLX) would not get auto climate control.

Mahindra U301 USB and power socket — This mule is a five-speed manual transmission variant, but an earlier spyshot showed the car also getting an AMT.

The spied variant has a manual gearbox, but the earlier spyshot showed the car with an AMT. The technology, showcased first on a Mahindra at the Auto Expo 2014, has been confirmed for the Quanto this year.

The U301 comes with near-vertical flanks, tight overhangs and wheels at the extreme corners, suggesting generous interior room. Image - IAB follower Kanika.

Likely to come only in the 2WD guise, the top-end U301 is getting rear AC vents, ABS and dual front airbags speculates MotorOctane.

Rivals: Tata Movus, Chevrolet Tavera, Tata Sumo
Expected Price: INR 6-8 lakhs, ex-Showroom
Launch Date: Late-2015 (unconfirmed)

[Source - MotorOctane.com & Motorbeam.com]