Mahindra Marazzo: 10 things you DON’T know about the shark-inspired MPV

Indian automotive giant Mahindra & Mahindra launched the all-new Marazzo MPV in India yesterday at a starting price of Rs 9.99 lakh, ex-showroom (pan India). The new Marazzo is named after the Basque word for a shark and its design is inspired by the feared predator of the seas. In this post, we list 10 things you may not know about the Mahindra Marazzo.

1) Petrol Engine in the works. Will be cheaper than diesel

The new Mahindra Marazzo is currently only available with an all-new 1.5-litre diesel engine. However, Mahindra is currently working on a brand new petrol engine with its South Korean subsidiary Ssangyong. The new engine, which is expected to be a turbocharged unit will arrive in 2020 and will be compliant with BS-VI emission norms that go into effect that year. The petrol powered variants of the Marazzo will be cheaper than the diesel variants though prices are expected to increase by around Rs. 50-60,000 by 2020, as carmakers prepare their vehicles to meet BS_VI emission norms.

2) Marazzo will get an automatic gearbox

Mahindra confirmed at the launch event that the Marazzo will get a new automatic gearbox option. However, the new automatic gearbox will only arrive in 2020, along with the new petrol engine.

3) First ladder-frame vehicle in the world to have a transverse engine-FWD layout

Mahindra claims that the Marazzo is the world’s first front-wheel-drive vehicle with a ladder-frame chassis to have a transversely mounted engine. This basically means that the crankshaft of the Marazzo’s diesel engine lies perpendicular, i.e at a 90-degree angle, to the direction of travel.

4) All-new 1.5-litre diesel engine

The Mahindra Marazzo is powered by an all-new 1.5-litre diesel engine. The new diesel engine has been developed by Mahindra with the help of AVL Austria and complies with BS-IV emission norms. The new engine is a four-cylinder turbocharged unit unlike the turbo three-cylinder 1.5-litre mHawk powerplant found on the TUV300 and makes 121 Bhp and 300 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox.

5) Quietest vehicle in its class

Mahindra claims that the new Marazzo is the quietest vehicle in its class. According to the carmaker, with the Marazzo’s engine kept at idle, the intensity of the sound recorded inside the cabin of the new MPV was just 45 decibels. This shows that Mahindra has worked hard on the refinement of the way its new engine runs and on increasing sound deadening.

6) Largest footprint of any Mahindra till date

The new Marazzo has the largest footprint (wheelbase x front track) of any passenger vehicle released by Mahindra till date. This means that the Marazzo has more space on the inside which is a boon for passengers.

7) Indian version is FWD only

The Marazzo is an MPV that Mahindra has designed with the global audience in mind. While export markets are expected to feature all-wheel-drive variants, the Marazzo will be sold solely as a front-wheel-drive car in India.

8) Aircraft-inspired handbrake is extremely cool

The Mahindra Marazzo’s design may have been inspired by a Shark but that handbrake lever looks like it has been pulled straight out of an aircraft’s controls and will draw attention towards itself, whenever you use it. Also, the roof-mounted A/C vents too look like they’ve been taken from an aircraft.

9) Accessories

Mahindra has loads of accessories for customers looking to make their Marazzo their own. From chrome inserts for the fog lamp surrounds and chromed-out door handles to a roof box from Thule, Marazzo owners have a host of options that they can fit on their new MPV, at the dealership itself.

10) The new Marazzo will not replace any other car in Mahindra’s line-up

The new Mahindra Marazzo will not be replacing either the Xylo or the TUV300 Plus in Mahindra’s line-up. So if you don’t fancy an MPV in your garage, you can always opt for any of Mahindra’s SUVs.