Buoyed by the overwhelming response for the new Scorpio, Mahindra & Mahindra is aiming to launch a series of new products in the country. The company will launch two new compact SUVs- S101 and U301 Bolero in 2015. But before that, the homegrown automaker is gearing up to introduce the diesel Automatic version of the Quanto, which is a 7-seater MUV.
At the 2014 Delhi Motor Show, Mahindra showcased the Quanto MPV equipped with AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) gearbox. If reports are to be believed, the Quanto AMT is likely to hit the Indian shores by the end of this year. This MPV never managed to generate volumes for the company. Mahindra believes that the new automatic version of the car will surely help in improving its sales. Christened as Mahindra Quanto ‘Auto Shift’, the vehicle will feature the same Magneti Marelli's AMT unit that is also offered with Tata Zest.
The AMT will give the convenience of an automatic gearbox along with the feel of a manual transmission. Driver can shift gears either automatically or manually. Adding to it, the AMT costs much less than the standard automatic gearbox and this will help the homegrown maker to offer clutch-less feel to Quanto buyers at affordable pricing.
Under the hood is the 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder diesel unit that produces 98.6bhp of top power and 240Nm of peak torque. The company will launch automatic versions of the Scorpio and XUV500 in near future.
