Before its launch on 15 January, the Mahindra KUV100’s interior has been spied through detailed images. The ambience is set by acres of piano black trim contrasted with a light beige colour scheme. Dull silver and matte black inserts juxtaposed with each other add to the palette.
The highlight of the dashboard has to be the centre console mounted gear lever which has been accommodated there to make way for the occupant who’s supposed to be sitting in the middle. Say what?
That’s right. The KUV100’s front passenger seat will have an extension that allows for a third occupant to settle in between the passenger and the driver – a la Datsun GO and GO+. The arm-rest doubles up as the central occupant’s backrest not used as one. This unique 3+3 seating makes the KUV100 the only vehicle in its segment to offer 6 seats.
Other adjustments for the middle occupant include a high-mounted handbrake with a push-pull mechanism and a completely flat floor that wipes off the meddlesome transmission hump.
The HVAC control knobs are vertically stacked to make way for the gear lever. The integrated infotainment system is compatible with Mahindra’s new BLUESENSE app, via which one can control features of the infotainment system as well as see information related to climate control, TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System), fuel statistics, etc. However, there is no touch-screen feature here.
The new, multifunction steering wheel hosts the audio and telephony controls, while overlooking the conventional, analogue instrument cluster with a central MID. The steering also gets electronic power assistance with tilt adjustment.
Internal storage could be an issue because of the lack of central storage bins, but the door panels look like they could easily swallow 1-litre bottles.
The foldable rear seat looks accommodating enough, but the rising belt-line and lack of a quarter glass (which has been taken over by the hidden door handle on the outside), could make things a little claustrophobic. We’ll find out soon.
Spied here is the K4 trim level, which is a halfway house between the lowly K2 and range topping K6 and K8 variants. Features on offer here include body coloured door handles and wing flaps, wheel-arch cladding, wheel caps, foldable rear seat, power windows, central locking, LED turn indicators, rear spoiler, illuminated key hole, engine immobilizer, and a day/night inside rear view mirror.
The KUV100 will be powered by two fresh engines from Mahindra’s new mFalcon family – a 1.2-litre, dual VVT petrol motor dubbed the mFalcon80, good for 82 bhp @ 5500 rom and 114 Nm of torque available between 3500-3600 rpm, along with a 1.2-litre, turbo-charged diesel motor called the mFalcon75, which will develop 77 bhp @ 3750 rpm and 190 Nm of torque available between 1750-2250 rpm. Both will be starpped to 5-speed manual transmissions. Also read – Mahindra KUV100 Design Review: Shreds of Pininfarina
Stay tuned for a first drive review soon.
Images: Shifting-Gears
