Mahindra S201: New spyshots REVEAL key details about Maruti Brezza rival

Months from now, the Maruti Brezza sub-4 meter compact SUV will get a new rival from Mahindra. Unlike the TUV300 and the Nuvosport, the new compact SUV, code-named S201, will feature a monocoque body and a front wheel drive layout. Derived from the Ssangyong Tivoli, the new sub-4 meter compact SUV from Mahindra will be totally restyled. In fact, the latest crop of spyshots reveal that the new S201 compact SUV will have a distinct silhouette compared to the Tivoli. It’ll have a high window line, a la TUV300, and of course will be much shorter than the Tivoli, at under 4 meters in length. It will have a five-seat layout.

The spyshots also indicate that Mahindra is going beyond just badge engineering for the S201 compact SUV. Apart from a totally distinct styling, the compact SUV will also get new interiors and powertrains suited to the Indian market. The petrol engine will be a 1.2-litre, turbocharged unit, making about 125 Bhp.

The S201 will be a class leader in  terms of output. The diesel engine will be a 1.5-litre unit with about 110 Bhp on tap, and again will be an all-new  motor offered on a Mahindra vehicle. An all-wheel drive layout is unlikely for the S201 considering the fact that such an option would increase costs significantly, with no proportional sales increase.

Mahindra is expected to launch the production version of the S201 compact SUV sometime during this year’s festive  season. The vehicle will sport a new name, which is yet to be revealed. An important launch for the automaker, the S201 is likely to be priced very competitively.

In fact, it could undercut vehicles, such as the Ford EcoSport and the Maruti Brezza, instead having a price tag close to that of the Tata Nexon – the current price warrior in the segment. Similar to Tata Motors, Mahindra does have the advantage of heavy localization and lower engineering costs. This should reflect in the final pricing of the S201.

Via AnythingOnWheels