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It was expected that Mahindra will bring the new Mahindra S201 (internal codename) SUV in 2018 but due to some reasons it delayed and will now launch in 2019 as the first model of the brand to be launched in the New Year. The new SUV will compete with the rivals Tata Nexon, Ford EcoSport and Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza. It will be launched in January 2019.
NuvoSport, TUV300 and Quanto are some of the sub-four-metre SUVs of Mahindra which were built on the ladder frame chassis. The S201 will be the first monocoque-bodied sub-four-metre SUV of Mahindra. The car will compete against the rivals - EcoSport, Vitara Brezza and Nexon which are also monocoque-bodied models.
Mahindra & Mahindra is taking the benefits of the skill of its Korean brand SsangYong in the new compact SUV. It even seems that the Mahindra S201 is the rebranded model of the Ssang Tivoli, while some changes have been made to fit it according to the Indian market. The styling cues of the S201 are taken from the XUV500 due to which it looks more rough than the Korean model. Mahindra has also upgraded the suspension set-up for the Indian roads giving it more ground clearance.
The S201 might have a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder diesel motor coupled with 6-speed manual gearbox which was firstly introduced in the Mahindra Marazzo. It produces 123hp power and 300Nm of peak torque. If the S201 comes in the same state of tune then it will easily overpower the diesel trims of the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza (90hp/200Nm), the Ford EcoSport (100hp/205Nm), and Tata Nexon (110hp/260Nm).
Later, Mahindra will also launch a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine variant of the S201 but has not yet disclosed the dates. The KUV100 NXT has a 1.2-litre petrol motor which makes 83hp and 115Nm of torque. When compared to the rivals, Maruti only offers a diesel-engine variant and the Tata car comes with a 1.2-litre motor which produces 110hp and 170Nm of torque. The Ford offering has two petrol options i.e. 1.5-litre motor which produces 123hp and 150Nm of torque and a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol motor which produces 125hp and 170Nm of torque.
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The new model of Mahindra SUV will be more premium that the former compact SUV which had a more functional image. It is certain that the new SUV will have a number of top features and comfort specifications. In safety kits, it will be the very first in its segment to come with the seven airbags and four disc brakes. Safety equipments include - ESP, ABS and rear parking sensors. The car cabin will be the same as of Tivoli and features like cruise control, a large touchscreen infotainment system, and dual-zone climate control will also be included. And in the higher-spec variants, a sunroof will also be included.
The exterior of the S201 will include features like - LED daytime running lights, LED tail-lamps, full-LED headlamps, and large 17-inch alloy wheels will be available on top-spec trims.
The S201 is a being introduced as a premium offering by Mahindra, and it will stand at the same position as of Ford EcoSport which is a compact SUV that competes against some big names in the industry. It means that the S201 will compete against the rivals like the Tata Nexon (Rs 6.23-10.67 lakh), the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza (Rs 7.58-10.55 lakh), the Maruti Suzuki S-cross (Rs 8.85-11.45 lakh), the Ford EcoSport (Rs 7.82-11.89 lakh), and the Hyundai Creta (Rs 9.50-15.10 lakh).
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