Mahindra U321 MPV prototype tackles urban congestion [Update]
Update - Reader Jesudas has spotted the Mahindra U321 testing alongside a Renault Lodgy. The putative reason for competitor models driven with unlaunched vehicles is benchmarking. The U321 will hit showrooms before the festival season to mount a challenge to the next-gen Maruti Ertiga.
March 27, 2018 -
The first of four new Mahindra products in FY 2018-19 is an all-new MPV. So far known by its codename, the Mahindra U321, the model was captured on test in Chennai by IAB reader Gautham Viswanath.
The Mahindra U321 features projector headlamps with black bezels, LED DRLs housed along with the fog lamps, and a toothed grille. The test mule can also be seen sporting split-spoke alloy wheels first spotted in February 2018.
Spy shots published previously reveal other details such as vertically stacked tail lamps, dashboard layout with a centrally mounted 7-inch touchscreen, lavender illumination for the instrument console, and black/beige dashboard treatment.
Mahindra’s new 1.6 L mFalcon diesel engine is expected to make its debut on the U321. A petrol variant is likely to feature as well. The new MPV will Mahindra's third product based on a monocoque chassis after the XUV500 and KUV100, and sandwich the all-new 2018 Maruti Ertiga and the Toyota Innova Crysta.
Also Read - Mahindra U321 rendering
As per a report published earlier this month, Dr. Pawan Goenka has confirmed that the launch of the Mahindra U321 and the Mahindra S201 (SsangYong Tivoli based SUV) would place before the festive season. As mentioned earlier, the MPV will arrive first, likely in the first half of this year.