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Mahindra is working on a new compact SUV to compete with the Ford EcoSport. The vehicle is already under development with code name S101. It will be a sub-four meter car to avail tax benefits and with aggressive styling cues borrowed from the XUV500. This compact SUV will sit alongside the Quanto as the entry-level utility vehicle from Mahindra.
The S101 has already been caught testing by Motor Vikatan at Chengalpattu, near Chennai in Tamil Nadu. The car is heavily camoflaged, and some elements like the bumpers and headlamps are missing altogether, suggesting that the design hasnt been finalised yet.
The overall shape is visible, however, and we can see that Mahindra is opting for a "clamshell" style bonnet, like with most modern designs. That hood scoop is an interesing addition, a carryover from the Scorpio hood to add muscle to the design. Surprisingly, the shape is clearly a two-box, which means that it will not have a significant interior space advantage over the competition.
The sporty roofline that slopes downward at the rear doesnt mean compromised headroom for the second row. There seems to be no problem with headroom in the front row, judging by the occupants in the image. Surprisingly this will also be a 6-7 seater, accoring to Mahindra. There is a strong shoulder line and we expect the doors to get a few horizontal creases to make the car look a little longer than it actually is. The wheels and tyres appear small in relation to the car, suggesting that the car will either be focused on good ride quality, or that the final tyre size is going to be different. As is, the car appears more hatchback than SUV, which should hold it in good stead when it comes to fuel efficiency.
The S101 will probably be powered by the same 100bhp / 240Nm diesel engine that powers the Quanto. However, there is a possibility that the S101 will be a front-wheel drive model with monocoque architecture – in this case it will use the 1.5-litre K9K Renault diesel from the Verito.
The starting price of the vehicle will be considerably lower than that of the Ford EcoSport for competitive edge. We expect the new model to start at close to Rs 6 lakh, with top-end version priced around Rs 8.5 lakh. The launch date with be in mid-2014. There is still lot to uncover about the new S101 – so stay tuned to CarWaleas we bring you more information through inside news and spy photos.

The Tata Bolt is the Pune-based automaker’s new hatchback for the Indian market. Based on their X1 platform which underpins the Indica Vista hatchback, the Bolt features an all too familiar silhouette but is a whole new animal in terms of features and overall design philosophy. It was unveiled at the 2014 Indian Auto Expo and is expected to be launched later this month.
It is the second new vehicle from Tata Motors after the Zest compact sedan and is expected to be joined by another compact sedan as well as a crossover both of which will make their debut in 2015.
Exterior
This next-generation global car from Tata Motors showcases the new DNA of the company and boasts of newness in terms of design (DesigNext), drivablilty (DriveNext) and connectivity (ConnectNext). The company says that the name Bolt itself signifies speed and represents, according to the company, a winner’s attitude.
At the front it gets an aggressive fascia, new grille and sleek headlights that stretch from the middle of the bonnet to the grille. This fascia is very similar to that of the Zest CS and thanks to the large amounts of chrome looks quite premium.
On the sides, the window lines swoop down in a curve towards the rear hatch which now seems to be devoid of the Christmas tree lamps. However, what the rear does get are rounded edges and certain styling cues from slightly more premium cars. The Zest looks a little odd due to the compact sedan philosophy but the Bolt looks like a much more complete product.
Interior
It features a white and black combination interior setup with seemingly premium plastics as well as gauges mounted behind the steering and a touch screen created by Harmann for the Tata Bolt and Zest CS. However, on the lower spec variants we expect that Tata will offer beige interior. The overall design and feature list is expected to be dead similar to that of the Zest compact sedan. It seems that the variant nomenclature too will remain the same which means there will be eight variants excluding an automatic option which is not scheduled to be launched right now.
Engine and Gearbox
In terms of engines, Tata will offer this hatchback with the 1.2-litre Revotron engine which is petrol powered and produces 84bhp/140Nm. The diesel engine on the other hand is the 1.3-litre Quadrajet diesel. The only transmission options expected to be offered at the time of the launch is a five-speed manual. The diesel AMT is expected to arrive at a later date and will be a first in segment.
Price and competition
We expect that Tata will price the Bolt in the range of Rs 4.20 lakh to Rs 6.60 lakh and it will have four petrol and three diesel variants. When launched it will compete with the Hyundai Grand i10, Maruti Suzuki Swift, Chevrolet Sail and the Ford Figo.