Visual Proof – The 2015 Mahindra S101 compact SUV is much shorter than the Quanto

Mahindra & Mahindra is feverishly testing the 2015 S101 codenamed compact SUV on Indian roads ahead of the sub-4 meter SUV’s launch next year. Based on a new monocoque platform that Mahindra has engineered alongside its South Korean SUV maker acquisition Ssangyong, the S101 sits much lower than the Quanto and is also shorter than the former. CarToq’s latest set of spyshots showing the S101 and the Quanto together indicate just this.

The Mahindra Quanto is a sub-4 meter SUV that is essentially a chopped version of the Mahindra Xylo MUV. Chopping the Xylo to spawn the Quanto resulted in a SUV that looked odd ball right from the word go. In contrast, the 2015 S101 is a clean sheet design and is expected to be much better proportioned than the gargoyle-like Quanto. The S101’s compact size and monocoque body means that it will be lighter than the Quanto.

Also, a front wheel drive layout will further reduce weight on the S101, vis-a-vis the Quanto. All these factors indicate that the S101 compact SUV is likely to be priced and positioned well under the Quanto as Mahindra is looking to make inroads into the big volumes hatchback segment by offering a compact SUV for B-Segment hatchback money. The S101 will get petrol and turbo diesel engine options. Expect a sub-5 lakh rupees price tag for the base variant of the SUV.

Mahindra is betting big on a new range of SUVs and MUVs that will use all-new platforms. The S101 and S102 are two such crossover that will use a monocoque body while the U301 is the replacement to the Mahindra Bolero. The S101 and the U301 are expected to be launched next year with the S102 likely to hit the launch circuit in 2016. All three new utility vehicles will get turbo diesel engines with the S101 and S102 adding petrol power to the equation.