Mahindra KUV100 fully revealed in a new video

The KUV100, the latest sub-four metre SUV from Mahindra, is due for a launch on January 15. We have seen the camouflaged car testing on Indian roads innumerous times before, but this new video shows the car undisguised, giving us a look at its features.

The KUV100 is called the baby XUV500 and lives up to this name as it gets a similar design language. Even if it is a sub-four metre vehicle, the KUV100 gets an aggressive stance, a tall body and sharp character lines that boost the meaty and sporty look of the car. The headlamp inserts get integrated DRLs and side indicators, while the large bumper gets vertical LED fog lamps, an air dam with honeycomb mesh pattern and a big silver skid plate. The grille has borrowed styling elements from the one on the Scorpio.

The top-end variant gets 13-inch six-spoke alloy wheels and the flared wheel arches add to the butch look. The rear section boasts of wrap-around tail lamps, a spoiler and the rear bumper gets reflectors with chrome surrounds. The cabin of the car is up-to-date with a three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, an integrated music system, rotary controls for the HVAC and a dash-mounted gear lever. Mahindra has given the car a bench-type seating up front to accommodate a third person.

On the powertrain front, the KUV100 will be powered by Mahindra’s new mFalcon family of petrol and diesel engines. The petrol version gets a 1.2-litre three-cylinder motor, termed as the G80 mill, which is also the first ground-up petrol engine developed in-house by Mahindra. It produces 82bhp of power and 114Nm of torque. The oil-burner gets the D75 diesel unit, which is a 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine that churns out 77bhp of power and 190Nm of torque. These engine options will come mated to a five-speed manual transmission.

The KUV100 is the second product from Mahindra's portfolio to have a monocoque chassis, the first one being the XUV500. The car will be offered in four trims - K2, K4, K6 and K8. The K2, K4 and K6 variants will also be offered in a "+" option that will feature the additional safety and comfort features. The top-of-the-line K8 version is fully equipped with all the premium features and safety offerings in the list. The KUV100 will compete with cars in the hatchback and crossover segment, meaning cars like the Maruti Suzuki Swift, Hyundai Grand i10 and probably even the i20 Active.