Mahindra's Compact SUV caught testing

Mahindra's compact SUV, codenamed S101, has 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 hasn't 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 doesn't 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. 

Source: MotorVikatan Facebook page