Indian SUV and tractor manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra will soon enter the compact SUV segment of vehicles with the introduction of its product, code named, S101. This sub-four meter SUV would be a toned down variant of Mahindra XUV500. Mahindra has been thoroughly testing the S101 on Indian roads and dozens of spy images have flooded the internet.
The latest set of images come from Motoroids reader Vaibhav Dhaimodkar who spotted the test mule of the S101 on Pune-Nasik highway. The car, as seen in the images, seems to have a long way of testing to go before hitting the production line. The S101 will be based on the all-new monocoque platform developed by Mahindra and Mahindra and will be one of the two new platforms that the company will launch in 2015 along with three new models.
Under the bonnet of the S101 would most likely be the 1.5-litre, three-cylinder, twin scroll turbocharged oil burner from the Quanto. Mahindra may also offer a three-pot petrol variant along with the diesel model. Both engines would come paired to a manual gearbox. An AMT laden edition may also make way post the introduction of manual vehicles.
The car is expected to be unveiled sometime in 2015. Once launched, the S101 will compete against existing products like Ford EcoSport and Renault Duster. The competition will get stiffer with the introduction of upcoming SsangYong Tivoli, Tata’s compact SUV and Maruti’s compact SUV.
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