Mahindra and Mahindra’s new car onslaught won’t stop at the XUV500 facelift. The popular SUV-maker will even launch 2 all-new models this year. One of these is the U321 MPV that has already been spied on many occasions. Here are 10 things you should know about the upcoming premium MPV.
Launch by festive season
The launch of the U321 will follow the S201 compact SUV. Mahindra and Mahindra has already revealed that both its upcoming vehicles will be launched by this year’s festive season. Thanks to the increased new car sales during the festive season, the U321 will likely get a headstart of sorts.
Standard ABS and airbags
The U321 MPV will be considerably safer than the likes of Xylo. All the trims will offer ABS and front dual airbags. Furthermore, the MPV will offer ISOFIX child seat mounts, seat belt reminder, and speed-sensing door locks. The U321 will become Mahindra’s first-ever monocoque MPV. Hence, it will be high on crash safety owing to more effective crumple zones.
Will try to fill the void left by last gen Toyota Innova
The last-gen Toyota Innova has left a void in our market. Currently, there’s a huge gap between the Ertiga and the Innova Crysta in terms of pricing. The U321 will try to fill this void, which means you can expect a starting price of roughly Rs 11 lakh. At this price point, the only competition it will face is from the Renault Lodgy, which is already a dud. However, the next-gen Ertiga just might end up becoming a direct rival to the upcoming Mahindra MPV.
All new 1.6-litre diesel engine
The U321 MPV will go on sale with both petrol and diesel engine options. The diesel engine will displace 1.6-litre and will be a modern turbocharged unit that has been co-developed by Ssangyong. The engine will produce 125 hp and 305 Nm, which will make this MPV among the most powerful options in its segment.
All new 1.5-liter turbo petrol engine
The new MPV will even get a turbocharged petrol engine. The petrol engine will displace 1.5-litre. The motor can be tuned to output as much as 163 bhp. However, details on the state-of-tune for the U321 MPV are yet to be revealed by the company.
Will offer LED DRLs, projectors, rear wash wipe, auto climate control
Various spy images have revealed that the U321 will offer premium features like LED DRLs, projector headlamps, and automatic climate control. The top-end variants will also have a stylish set of alloy wheels and rear wash/wipe. Thanks to such features, the U321 will have a high chance of attracting new car buyers looking for a comfortable and upmarket MPV for their large families.
Premium interior with touchscreen infotainment unit
As already revealed by various spy images, the U321 will offer a touchscreen unit. There are very good chances of this touch unit offering Android Auto and Apple CarPlay along with voice command features. The interior will have a beige-black color theme and will offer 7-,8-,9-seat layout options.
Will be pricier than Mahindra Scorpio
There are really very good chances of the U321 being more expensive than the Scorpio. This will be simply because of the fact that the upcoming premium MPV from Mahindra will offer much more modern engines and a more modern platform. It is also likely to offer more features. On the other hand, the current-gen Scorpio is fast approaching the end of its lifecycle and the 2.2-litre diesel motor that powers it isn’t really the most modern oil burner around.
This is the first vehicle to have been developed by MNATC
The Mahindra U321 MPV will become the first-ever product from Mahindra’s North American Technical Centre (MNATC) in Troy, Michigan. It’s said that the development of the upcoming premium MPV started at MNATC a few years back. The MNATC is focused on helping Mahindra come up with globally competitive product designs and technologies for its future vehicles.
It’s a global MPV that Mahindra will sell around the world
The U321 MPV will be a world-class product that will be exported to many markets abroad. It may be noted that the manufacturer currently exports the XUV500 and the Scorpio to a handful of countries abroad. The U321 MPV will become the next Mahindra to make it to international markets.
[“Source-cartoq”]
