3 Compact SUVs from Mahindra & Mahindra in Next 2 Years

Mahindra & Mahindra, the home-grown automajor, is currently working on three compact SUVs for India that are expected to launch in the next two years. Despite facing heat from the contemporary-looking SUVs like Ford EcoSport ad Renault Duster, the Indian carmaker still sells more SUVs than others. However, there is no denying that the company has lost its market share because of rising competition. As a matter of fact, the company's market share, in SUV segment, has dropped to 42 percent from 48 percent last year. And with other three leading carmakers, Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Honda, planning to enter the compact SUV segment, it has become more of a necessity for M&M to overhaul its existing line-up along with bringing in new products to continue dominating the SUV segment.

Three products that the company is planning to launch are - The Mahindra S101 (Codename) compact SUV, the New Quanto facelift and the new-gen model of the Bolero. Of the three cars mentioned, the all-new S101 will be the first to enter the market that the company has been testing for quite a long time. The S101 will take on the likes of Ford EcoSport, Renault Duster and other upcoming sub-compact SUVs. Based on a monocoque platform, the S101 is expected to be offered in both, petrol and diesel, engine options.

The second product will be the updated version of the Quanto. Launched in the year 2013, the Quanto failed to attract buyers despite being priced quite competitively. I personally think that a typical boxy design was one of the major reasons behind failure of this product, and people had some good-looking options like the EcoSport and the Duster. So, the first thing that the company needs to rework upon is the exterior design along with features. Codenamed as the U215, the updated version of the Quanto will be positioned between the new sub-compact SUV S101 and the Scorpio.

The Bolero, the company's most successful product to date, too will receive a makeover by the next year. Expected to be offered in two body styles, a sub-compact version and a 7-seater model, the new-generation Bolero is being developed under the codename U301. Interestingly, the new-gen Bolero is expected to have a Jeep-wrangler like design, and will be positioned below the Thar.

The updated model of the company's flagship SUV, the Scorpio, too will receive an update very soon. The company is planning to launch the facelifted Scorpio during the upcoming festive season. Expect the car to be launched sometime in October 2014. Other products that the company is working upon are the hybrid version of the XUV500 and the updated Xylo.

Note: The image used above is for the representational purpose only.