Analysing spy shots of the future model, automotive illustrator Shoeb Kalania
has created an illustration of the Mahindra U321’s rear.
The Mahindra U321 is designed at the Mahindra North
American Technical Center (MNATC) in Michigan. While the global trend is giving
MPVs pseudo-crossover/SUV character, designers at Mahindra have gone the
opposite way, giving the U321 a proper MPV look. Mahindra has 50-60 full-time
staff working on the U321 project in the USA, while the Mahindra Research
Valley in Chennai has now taken over the testing and development.
A recent report said that the U321 will get a
Mahindra-SsangYong co-developed 1.6-litre diesel engine. The company’s interest
in export markets indicates a petrol option is likely, possibly the 1.5-litre
mill currently under joint development by Mahindra and SsangYong.
Mahindra U321 will
go on sale in India by February 2018. The company is investing INR 1500 crore
in its two plants to prepare them for the model’s rollout. Expect the Mahindra
U321 to have an alphanumeric branding and a starting price of around INR 10
lakhs when it hits the market.