Mahindra’s newest vehicle is Verito Vibe, a hatchback!

Mumbai, April 15, 2013: Mahindra & Mahindra’s sub-4-metre Verito, named the Verito Vibe, will be launched next month. Importantly, the Verito Vibe is a hatchback, indigenously designed and developed by M&M on the Verito platform.

Unlike other sub-4-metre saloon derivatives like the Tata Indigo eCS, Maruti Swift Dzire and the recently launched Honda Amaze, which are aimed at saloon car buyers, the Vibe is targeted at hatchback owners who don’t mind trading the prestige of a three-box car for practicality and luggage space. In fact, the Vibe, despite being cut to below 4 metres, is likely to be the hatchback with the biggest boot.

The rest of the Vibe is similar to the Verito or the Renault Logan on which this car is originally based. It gets the same Renault K9K 1.5-litre diesel engine, which develops 68bhp. There is no petrol engine option planned for the Vibe which, at launch, will be available with just one engine option. M&M is expected to launch the Vibe at an estimated price of around Rs 5.75 lakh (ex-showroom) for the base model. The company currently sells an average of 1,200 Veritos a month but mainly to the taxi market. With the Vibe, M&M hopes to at least double the combined sales of the Verito saloon and Vibe but more importantly, attract private buyers with its new hatchback.

Commenting on the Verito Vibe, Pravin Shah, chief executive, Automotive Division, M&M, said: “The Verito Vibe marks our entry in the high-volume sub-4-metre segment. While developing this product, we have paid particular attention to making this car look different and we are sure that it will appeal to customers with its young and sporty looks, without compromising the benefits which the existing Verito has to offer. "

AUTOCAR INDIA