Mahindra KUV100 debuts – the kool kid on the block

Mahindra has introduced a compact SUV called the KUV100. The vehicle, which is due to launched into the Indian market on January 15, will sit in below the automaker’s TUV300 and XUV500 offerings.

The ‘K’ in the KUV100 moniker stands for the ‘kool’ & trendy generation of youth, while UV represents the short form of the more commonly associated terms for the alphabets. And, since we’re at it, let’s get the entire pronunciation of the name right – it’s KUV ‘1 double Oh’, if you must know.

Designed in-house and engineered at the Mahindra Research Valley at Chennai, the KUV100 is targeted at the youth and first time car buyers, according to Mahindra. It will be powered by an all-new engine range called the mFalcon, with petrol and diesel options available.

Both 1.2 litre units have been designed from the ground up by Mahindra, and the petrol version is known as the G80. Output for the dual VVT petrol mill is 82 hp at 5,500 rpm and 115 Nm at 3,500 to 3,600 rpm. The turbodiesel, meanwhile, is called the D75, and has 77 hp at 3,750 rpm and 190 Nm at 1,750 to 2,250 rpm for output numbers.

Four model ranges (K2 base, K4 mid, K6 high and K8 top end) will be available for the KUV100 when it goes on sale in India, as are seven exterior colour choices – while the full specifications haven’t been listed, ABS is marked as being standard across the entire model range.

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