The KUV100 was introduced as yet another entrant trying to broaden the net of the SUV domain in the market. Positioned as a rugged hatchback with SUV ambitions, the KUV however, did not manage to capture the imagination of the market quite as well as Mahindra would have hoped. The company is now looking to release a facelift of the model to reinvigorate sales and to help it achieve wider acceptance in the market.
When it was released in January 2016, the KUV received a fair number of brick-bats for its polarising looks. In typical Mahindra fashion, most felt that the micro-SUV looked vaguely designed and way too exuberant. The facelift, then, will attempt to tone down the styling by a fair bit, to make it palatable to a wider audience.
The changes, however, are likely to be very mild. The test car that has been spotted by IAB sported a very heavy camouflage but little seems to have changed in metal. The grille gets teeth that extend into the bumper. The facelift might ditch the eyelashes from the present model but it is difficult to say anything with certainty owing to the heavy cloaking.
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Mild tweaks all around in the sheet-metal and the bumper should help water some of the cuts down. A new alloy wheel design also seems to be in order. It is unclear if the updated model will feature changes to the interiors but a minor alteration in the colour palette or the upholstery might come through. It might even get a touchscreen infotainment system to help it keep up with the competition.
Expect it to retain the same engine options from the mFalcon family. The current engine variants include a 1.2 Litre Dual-VVT petrol engine that puts out 82 BHP and 115 Nm of torque as well as a 1.2 Litre diesel motor that pushes out 77 BHP and 190 Nm. Prices are also likely to be left untouched.