Mahindra christens its new compact SUV as KUV100

Mahindra’s new KUV100 compact SUV is an 'all-new' offering in every sense of the term and is aimed at young aspirational SUV buyers

Mahindra has taken the wraps off its new compact offering, the KUV100. Based on a new monocoque chassis and front-wheel drivetrain, the KUV100 will be a new player in the compact SUV segment. The ‘100’ in the badge stands for the model series which is placed below the TUV300.

Mahindra has high hopes from the KUV100 by hoping that it becomes an even bigger success than the Scorpio! Mahindra’s automotive division states that the KUV100 is the most ambitious project it has undertaken thus far. The company also says that the KUV100 is targeted at young buyers who associate strongly between modern SUVs and Mahindra.

Due to affordability, until now the young generation could not own their aspirational SUV. The new KUV100 from Mahindra is now here to cater to this gap in the market.

Powering the brand new KUV100 is an equally new range of three cylinder petrol mFalcon G80 and diesel mFalcon D75 engines. The new 1.2 litre petrol and diesel engines are aimed at offering good fuel efficiency. The petrol engine develops 82bhp @ 5,500 rpm and 114Nm of peak torque between 3,500 – 3,600 rpm. The diesel churns out 77bhp @ 3,750 rpm and 190Nm @ 1,750 rpm.

Both engines will be mated to five-speed manual gearboxes while there will also be an automatic variant at the time of launch, featuring the same five-speed automated manual transmission currently doing duty in the TUV300 compact SUV launched in September of 2015. The company states that it has applied for numerous patents in regard to the new engines and NVH measures for the KUV100.

Mahindra will be offering the new KUV100 in a choice of four variants and seven colours to choose from. Safety features such as ABS and Airbags will be offered across the model range in option variants.

Mahindra has invested Rs. 500 crore for the development of the KUV100 and the vehicle has been designed at the Mahindra Research Valley in Chennai.

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