The Mahindra S201 will launch in
January 2019. The new Maruti Vitara Brezza-rival from Mahindra is based on the
Ssangyong Tivoli but will carry several distinct design elements, including an
entirely new front- and rear-end. Furthermore, it will be a tad smaller than
the Ssangyong Tivoli so that it can circumvent the higher GST levied on
vehicles that measure more than 4,000 mm in length.
On the outside, the Mahindra S201 will feature LED
headlights with a U-shaped glow pattern, LED tail lamps, 17-inch dual-tone
machined alloy wheels, a six-slot front grille, a bolder hexagonal lower air
intake, a new tailgate with registration plate housing and horizontally
positioned taillamps. It's worth noting that the SsangYong Tivoli features
vertically-stacked tail lamps, while its licence plate is placed on the bumper.
The interior is expected to stay mostly true to that of the Korean cousin,
albeit, with changes in the upholstery and material quality.
Comfort and convenience features of the S201 will
reportedly include an electric sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control,
touchscreen infotainment system with sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto,
passive keyless entry and engine start-stop button. On the safety front, in
addition to segment-first rear-wheel disc brakes, Mahindra will offer seven
airbags, front and rear parking sensors, rear parking camera, ABS and ESP.
The Mahindra S201 will launch in petrol and diesel
variants. The former will be powered by a turbocharged motor that will displace
1.2-litre and should offer a decent blend of high performance and fuel
efficiency. The latter will feature the Marazzo's 1.5-litre oil-burner, which,
in its current state, outputs 121 bhp and 300 Nm. The motor comes mated to a
six-speed manual transmission.
The Mahindra S201 is expected to launch at a
starting price of INR 6.50 lakh (ex-showroom) for the petrol variant and INR
7.30 lakh (ex-showroom) for the diesel version.
