Mumbai, September 20, 2012: Mahindra & Mahindra launched its much-awaited Quanto, the newest sub-four-metre mini-SUV in India. The seven-seater Quanto is on sale in four trims – C2, C4, C6 and C8 – with a starting price of Rs 5.82 lakh, going up to Rs 7.36 lakh for the top-spec C8 variant (all prices ex-showroom Thane).
At this pricing, M&M has the popular Maruti Ertiga and Renault Duster, both of which are notching good sales in its crosshairs. While the Ertiga is in the Rs 8.35-11.84 lakh price range, the Duster bears a sticker tag of Rs 7.8-9.13 lakh.
The Quanto is powered by a modified version of the mHawk diesel engine called mCR100. This 1493cc motor, which develops 98.6bhp and 24.4kgm of torque, is mated to a five-speed gearbox. The company says the Quanto has ARAI-certified mileage of 17.2kpl. Another more powerful four-cylinder engine variant, which is already offered on Mahindra export products, is on the cards for the domestic market and likely to be offered with 4x4 hardware.
The innovatively packaged mini-SUV, which employs the same ladder-frame construction as the Xylo, has a 5+2 seating arrangement and also considerable features. The top-of-the-line C8 variant gets alloy wheels, power windows, a sleek Digital Drive Assist System (DDAS), driver seat height adjust, body coloured bumpers, electric wing mirrors and an integrated audio system with CD, MP3 and radio. It also gets a rear defogger, ABS, front airbags (driver and passenger), fog lamps and a reverse parking sensor. The C6 trim has similar features but does without alloy wheels, reverse parking sensor and airbags. Mahindra’s Micro Hybrid technology will be available on all variants except for the bottom-spec C2 trim.
M&M, which has invested less than Rs 100 crore in the Quanto project, has launched the vehicle across 200 dealerships in India. The company says it will have a flexible production capacity of 7,000 units per month between the Xylo and the Quanto. The Nashik plant, where the Quanto is manufactured, has an overall production capacity of 160,000 units per annum. It also makes the Scorpio and Verito.
The Quanto shares its components with other Ingenio platform-based vehicles like the Xylo and Genio pick-up truck. The estimated investments on the Ingenio platform are Rs 550 crore for the Xylo, Rs 200 crore for the Genio single- and double-cab and Rs 100 crore for the Quanto.
Some of the component suppliers to the Quanto include Varroc, Bosch, Motherson Automotive Technologies & Engineering, Autoliv, Rane Group, JBM Group, Tenneco Automotive, Schaeffler Group, Lumax Industries, Henkel, Bridgestone, Chassis Brakes International, AIS Manufacturing, Innova Rubbers, and Sintercom.
M&M says it is likely the Quanto will be exported initially to markets like Europe, South Africa and Chile, and other markets as the product matures.
DEVESH SHOBHA