Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), which has a stable full of diesel-engined cars, today began its petrol journey. It has revealed its new mFalcon engine family, for which 18 patents have been filed. The company has invested Rs 500 crore in the design, development and manufacture of the new engines. The 1.2 petrol engine is the base of the SsangYong Tivoli’s 1.6-litre engine.
M&M also took the covers off its all-new entry-level compact SUV – the KUV100. Earlier known by its internal codename S101, the KUV100 will slot below the firm’s other compact SUV models – the TUV300 and the Quanto. The KUV100, which is based on a new platform and powered by a new family of engines (mFalcon G80 petrol and D75 diesel), has been designed at the Mahindra Research Valley in Chennai.
Unlike the recently launched TUV300, which sports a squarish silhouette, the KUV100 gets a round and muscular appearance, more in line with modern-day small crossovers like the Ford EcoSport. The overall profile is unmistakably more compact crossover than SUV.
The Mahindra KUV100 will be powered by all-new diesel and petrol engines. While the petrol motor will be a three-cylinder, 1.2-litre engine developing 82bhp at 5500rpm, the diesel powerplant will also be a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder unit good for 77bhp. The carmaker also plans to offer the KUV100 with 1.5-litre, four-cylinder diesel and petrol engines in the future.
This step can be seen as Mahindra's future answer to Ford's EcoBoost. The 1.2-litre petrol engine is designed for a maximum power output of 130bhp in the future. M&M may use turbo-charging and direct injection technologies later.
"The new engine family is good for the next decade," commented Rajan Wadhera – president and chief executive, truck and powertrain, and head – Mahindra Research Valley, M&M.
The KUV100 will come in four variants. The carmaker will offer a safety pack across all variants which comes with dual airbags. ABS will is standard across all trims of the compact SUV. The KUV100 will be launched on January 15, 2016 and bookings for the model will commence from December 19, 2015.