Mahindra & Mahindra have been working on a compact SUV for quite some time now, and it has been spotted a number of times while it was out on camouflaged testing and it is now a well known fact that, the Compact SUV codenamed S101 will be revealed soon. But a lesser known fact is that, Mahindra is working on two more compact utility vehicles
The S102 will be loosely developed around this, the Ssangyong-X 100
The first one is codenamed S102 and this too will be a compact SUV, like the S101 but with a longer wheelbase and more features. The S102 will be priced and positioned at a slightly higher level than the S101 and rightly so, because it will be the first vehicle to come out from the Mahindra-Ssangyong co-development synergy and will be based on the X100 platform. While the S101 will compete with the likes of the Ford EcoSport and Renault Duster, the S102 will compete with the more premium SUV‘s like the Nissan Juke and Peugeot 2008. Yes, you heard right, the S102 will be made available in European countries too. Mahindra has confirmed a Geneva motor show debut for this premium compact SUV, and after the premiere, it will eventually be put on sale in India by early 2016.
The second addition to the upcoming compact UV line-up from Mahindra is a Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and Honda Mobilio competitor and is codenamed as the S103. The S103 however has not yet been confirmed and still is at the Discussion stage. Another rumour in the mill is that, the engineers at both Mahindra and Ssangyong are jointly developing a new 1.0 liter turbo-petrol engine, with direct injection and variable valve timing, as is the global standard for turbo-petrol engines today.
It sure looks like Mahindra is heading in the right direction with its co-development synergy with Ssangyong, but only time will tell how successful it really will be.
