The highly anticipated compact sports utility vehicle (SUV) 'Quanto' from the house of India's largest utility vehicle maker Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) is set to hit the market in the second week of September.
The indigenously designed and developed Quanto is the mini version of Mahindra Xylo MPv as well as the smallest SUV of the company. The Quanto is expected to hit the roads just before the Indian festive season Dusshera-Diwali. The all-new vehicle was tested for quite sometimes and was code named 'mini Xylo' till date.
In a statement, the company said "(Quanto) derived from the word 'Quantum', the name has an association with the product promise of more space, more power, more seats and superior performance. The Quanto has the tough and rugged DNA of Mahindra SUVs, thus offering a distinctive advantage over hatchbacks and sedans."
With the launch of the company's second passenger vehicle Mahindra expects to narrow down the gap between sedans and hatchback vehicles. Quanto SUV will be powered by 1.5 litre diesel engine and will be based on the 'Ingenio' platform. The dubbed version of Xylo will be stretched in at a 4- metres length and will probably have a three-cylinder engine.
Though the company is yet to announce the price tag of its upcoming product, it is likely to be priced in the ₹500,000 bracket as the company aims to qualify the vehicle for lower excise duties of small cars.
"With the Quanto, Mahindra is aiming to fill a need gap in the Indian automotive market for a versatile and compact SUV. We are confident that with its unique value proposition, the Quanto will carve out a segment for itself in the market. We expect the Quanto to offer an exciting upgrade at a premium to customers who are otherwise looking for premium diesel hatchbacks or entry level diesel sedans," said Pawan Goenka, president of Mahindra's automotive & farm equipment sectors.
M&M's first ever small hatchback Quanto will feature the interiors of Xylo and will likely be a direct competition to Premier Rio and other rivals like Volkswagen Polo, Nissan Micra and Ford Figo.
