Mahindra working on a new crossover in KUV100 segment

Mahindra & Mahindra is working its way up the ladder in sales with an array of launches in the last financial year. This year the brand will be focusing on enhancing the sales of the newly launched vehicles. The only new product that the company is  considering is a new crossover that is based on the KUV100 platform and is in the same segment. The KUV100 is a micro-SUV and it has attracted a waiting of six to eight weeks for the Indian utility maker. 

The new Mahindra crossover will be a bridge between SUVs and hatchbacks in this price range. This will have more hatchback like styling than SUV. The new crossover will be launched with the same 1.2-litre petrol and diesel engine options. The new crossover will have similar interiors like the KUV100 and will come with a six-seater option. The KUV100 has contributed to a major growth in sales for Mahindra and the company will want to further explore this segment. The S105 will be coming with an AMT option too, so shall be the KUV100. Both will share the same monocoque platform. The other features will be the two driving modes for performance and economy.

Mahindra will be exporting the KUV100 to multiple countries including Australia, where the Scorpio and the XUV500 are already exported. Mahindra is even working towards adding new 2.2-litre petrol engine on the Scorpio and the XUV500 in this year itself. The other models will be getting petrol engines too. the company is working on five variants of petrol engines between 1.2-litre to 2.2-litre. This will include gasoline direct injection and even turbocharged petrol engines. These engines will be made available in the next two and a half years.

The company doesn’t see any gaps in its product portfolio and hence it won’t work on any more new products, unless it needs a new-generation one. Mahindra is working towards adding more features to its micro-hybrid technology. This will enable the company to get a concession of about 12 percent, instead of a 24-27% excise duty that exists. Maruti Suzuki is enjoying the benefits of this technology on the Ciaz and the Ertiga. Today, a buyer can drive the Ertiga and the Ciaz in new Delhi despite the existing odd-even rule being functional.