Auto Expo 2014: M&M displays Quanto AMT, XUV hybrid, Formula E car

Mahindra & Mahindra is betting big on the electric future. This was evident at the manufacturer's diverse display of hybrid and electric vehicles at Auto Expo 2014. The company, which announced last month that it will be participating in the Formula E championship in September 2014, has displayed its entrant to the racing series. This open-wheel race car resembles a F3 car but is powered solely by an electric motor which produces a maximum of about 270bhp.

There is also the hybrid XUV500, claimed to offer 18 percent better fuel efficiency than its conventional counterpart. This is achieved by supplementing the internal combustion engine with an electric motor at lower speeds and battery powering. The motor is recharged during coasting and braking – known as regenerative braking. 

Also, in a bid to improve sales of the Quanto, M&M is introducing an automated manual transmission variant of the Quanto called the Quanto auto shift. This technology is the same as seen on the Maruti Celerio, and uses a conventional gearbox and clutch that is actuated by a mechatronic unit. Top company executives also call the automatic Quanto the future of transmissions in India. Their confidence in the tech means one could expect more AMT variants of other Mahindra models.

Also showcased is the SsangYong LIV-1 concept SUV. LIV is short for ‘Limitless Interface Vehicle’ and it gets a four-wheel drive system that’s controlled by an interface. The LIV-1 is big and bold and it could lend some of its design elements to the next-generation SsangYong Rexton.