Petrol prices maybe skyrocketing very high yet this has not deterred any OEM to pursue working on petrol engines. The latest news on this is from the Mahindra stable where a company official close to the development has stated that compact petrol engines are in the works. The company is planning to shift its focus from the diesel powertrains that has dominated all the products of the utility vehicle major. The development is happening in tandem with Ssangyong with a high percentage of sharing of platforms. Mahindra acquired the Korean car maker Ssangyong earlier this year. Mahindra is developing around three new platforms with Ssangyong, of which the first – for a compact vehicle, is in more advanced stages. This is all part of the planning to cut down costs by having a joint platform development. This will also lead to new models for both the brands.
“We can use petrol engines from Ssangyong (larger capacities). We’re developing smaller petrol engines as well of around 1 and 1.2-liter capacities. But this development is a three-year cycle, so it will take some time. In all, we’re jointly working on 2-3 platforms, but this one is in advanced stages,” a Mahindra official said.
Also coming up is the compact Xylo of sub 4-meter length, a new redesigned Verito with a sub 4-meter variant and the Mahindra Reva NXR electric car. Though the company owns almost 60% of the market share of the larger utility vehicle space, these new models with help gain a good foothold in the compact car segment which makes over 70 % of the total passenger car market.
