I have seen automobile companies do some queer things to conceal their test vehicles from curious eyes. What Mahindra has done to mask its upcoming S101 definitely belies belief. It is thoroughly, intensively and comprehensively covered up; so much so that making out anything more than the rough outline of the vehicle is asking for an x-ray vision.
This test mule or some of its near and dear ones have been spotted out on the roads since May this year and hidden between those Rexine/plastic camouflage is an all new monocoque chassis with front wheel drive. And as you have guessed it already (or you know about it), its a sub 4 meter compact SUV/Crossover!
One thing that unmistakably stands out in the pictures available on autocarma.in is S101’s height. It appears tall; compare it with Fiat Palio in the above pic. In fact, it looks asymmetrically tall for a vehicle of that (small) wheelbase. Obviously, the vehicle is in early stages of conception and it will take some time before we will be able to have a proper look at it.
Other bits about S101 are that Mahindra is planning to pack in as many as 6 in that small shell. And if that’s surprising, add in a couple more to the imagination and it becomes an 8-seater. How? we don’t know and it is speculated! With regards to the engines that S101 will get; Mahindra is developing a range of petrol and diesel engines and they also have Quanto’s 100 horses 3 cylinder diesel motor which complies to the sub-4 meter excise duty policy.
What these spyshots tell us is that Mahindra has still not been able to finalize its bumpers (at least the rear one) and nor the rear tail lamp cluster. Those alloys look interesting but those tyres look puny and the overall compact car looks undertyred.
Oh, by the way, it is speculated that Mahindra is targeting a 5-Lakh entry point for its S101! Do you feel, Ford needs to bother?
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– By Sufi
