Saar: Apart from carrying a snazzy name, which is still under wraps, the sub-4 metre SUV will get the diesel mill from Marazzo.

SsangYong Tivoli

At the launch event of the Mahindra Marazzo, the homegrown automaker confirmed that its sub-4 metre SUV, which is currently codenamed as the S201, will launch during the festive season this year. What’s more, the company will slap on a snazzy nameplate to the upcoming model, on the similar lines of the Marazzo. It is worth noting that the S201 is actually a trimmed version of the Ssangyong Tivoli, which is on sale in several international markets.

Another piece of important information that Mahindra unveiled was about the S201’s diesel powertrain. The sub-4 metre SUV will borrow the same 1.5-litre turbocharged mill from the Marazzo. If Mahindra opts to use the engine in the same state of tune, the S201 will become the most powerful diesel-fed SUV in its segment. That tune will bring in 123PS of power and 300Nm of torque. The engine will come mated to a 6-speed manual transmission.

SsangYong Tivoli

The 1.5-litre diesel mill is currently BS-IV complaint and will be upgraded to meet the stricter BS-VI emission norms before April 2020. Around the same time, Mahindra will introduce the options of a petrol engine and an automatic transmission for the S201. That’s the game plan for the Marazzo too. But, in the Mahindra S201, the petrol engine is likely to be a more powerful version of the 1.2-litre petrol engine that currently does duty in the KUV100. Why? That’s because Mahindra will have to keep the petrol engine’s capacity at a maximum of 1.2 litres to enjoy the benefits linked to the sub-4 metre car classification.

SsangYong Tivoli

Once launched, the Mahindra S201 will take the game to the likes of the Tata Nexon, Ford EcoSport, Honda WR-V and the current king of the segment – Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza. Like the WR-V and the EcoSport, the Mahindra S201 will also offer a sunroof. Next year, Hyundai will join the bandwagon with its own sub-4 metre SUV, which presently is being fine-tuned and carries the codename Qxi. All-in-all, the sub-4 metre SUV segment is set to become one of the most hotly contested segments in the Indian automotive market.