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Old 9th April 2015, 13:51   #1
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Mahindra SsangYong Korando to be launched this year

Utility vehicle major Mahindra, has seen its market share in India slipping from 55% to 40% over the last two years. One of the reasons for this drop is that the company does not have any compact SUVs that appeal to the public. Its poorly-styled Quanto failed to compete with products such as the Ford EcoSport and the Renault Duster. Now, the company is looking to try and regain some of the ground it has lost with the introduction of new models.

Mahindra SsangYong Korando to be launched this year-ssangyong.jpg

According to a report by Financial Express, one of the models expected this year, is the SsangYong Korando. Mahindra is working on maximising localisation of the SUV so as to be able to price it competitively. The car will be launched as the Korando C and is expected to compete against the Duster and upcoming products from Hyundai and Maruti Suzuki.

Mahindra SsangYong Korando to be launched this year-ssangyong2.jpg

The Korando C is equipped with 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation and 3D maps and an Infinity sound system. Other features include projector headlights, front and rear skid plates, side steps, an eco cruise control a smart key system, and a washer fluid heater. Safety features include ABS and six airbags among others.

In international markets, the Korando C is powered by a 1998 cc, 4-cylinder diesel engine that puts out 173 bhp and 360 Nm of torque. The vehicle gets a 6-speed automatic transmission with two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. A 148 bhp version with a 6-speed manual transmission is available as well. The Korando C can also be bought with a 1998 cc, 4-cylinder petrol engine with 6-speed manual and automatic transmissions.
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Old 9th April 2015, 14:06   #2
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Re: Mahindra SsangYong Korando to be launched this year

1. Re-badge this as a Mahindra. It already looks like one. Folks here are afraid that most M&M ASS are not competent enough to handle SsangYongs.

2. Plonk in the Quanto heart (if possible) to price it competitively. The competition offers similar engine specs.

3. Make 4x4 available middle variant onwards
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Old 9th April 2015, 14:26   #3
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Re: Mahindra SsangYong Korando to be launched this year

Quote:
Originally Posted by mi2n View Post
1. Re-badge this as a Mahindra. It already looks like one. Folks here are afraid that most M&M ASS are not competent enough to handle SsangYongs.

2. Plonk in the Quanto heart (if possible) to price it competitively. The competition offers similar engine specs.

3. Make 4x4 available middle variant onwards
Yes, you are spot on. M&M should do what Tata has done with Prima trucks. Prima is just a re-badged Daewoo truck. SsangYong is not a known brand in India and their first offering (Rexton) is hardly seen on roads. Korando under Mahindra badge will be a killer. Those who are suspicious of unknown badges will be more drawn to Mahindra badge.
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Old 9th April 2015, 14:48   #4
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Re: Mahindra SsangYong Korando to be launched this year

I disagree with the below points-
Quote:
Originally Posted by mi2n View Post
1. Re-badge this as a Mahindra. It already looks like one. Folks here are afraid that most M&M ASS are not competent enough to handle SsangYongs.
Mahindra, please don't do that and kill the character of the car. We've had enough of Daewoo rebadged as Chevrolet, Dacia rebadged as Renault, Nissan Rebadged as Renault and vice versa, VW as Skoda and what not..

Ssangyong developed it from scratch, let them keep the badge. If the quality of localisation stays the same as Rexton, it's only going to give them a bad reputation.

Quote:
2. Plonk in the Quanto heart (if possible) to price it competitively. The competition offers similar engine specs.
Why do a last moment jugaad and treat customers as guinea pigs? Korando was designed with that 2.0 engine, let it keep the specs from International market.

Instead spend that R&D money to get us well tested Automatic Transmission variants of Scorpio and XUV.

From an owner's perspective(my friend who owns a 'lemon' Rexton), this is what is wrong with Rexton, and might trouble Korando buyers as well-
  • The mechanics have no clue about the car, for every issue they have to refer to factory team and that takes time(and frustrates the owner).
  • Parts are never in stock, even in the top service station in the country's capital. Don't expect any support outside metro cities, once a small town Mahindra dealer even refused to attend a breakdown with my friend's Rexton.
  • Localisation of the parts is substandard, open the engine hood and have a look, lots of parts are already rusting, the chassis has had bad rust issues, the roof rails rusted, every few days something fails. The Clutch and Flywheel were gone by 30k, the list of parts changed is endless..

Last edited by .anshuman : 9th April 2015 at 15:29.
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Old 9th April 2015, 14:58   #5
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Re: Mahindra SsangYong Korando to be launched this year

Quote:
Originally Posted by pgsagar View Post
Yes, you are spot on. M&M should do what Tata has done with Prima trucks. Prima is just a re-badged Daewoo truck.
Tata Novus was a re-badged Daewoo but the same can't be said about Tata Prima which was conceived in Pune and before Tata acquired Daewoo CV. True, it is sold in East Asia as Daewoo but then you could also say it's a re-badged Tata Prima!
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Old 9th April 2015, 15:12   #6
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Re: Mahindra SsangYong Korando to be launched this year

One has been reading about the impending Indian launch of the Korando for a while now on various sites. Let's hope it finally hits our roads in the next few months. According to the Mahindra website, it is a ULV which means Urban Leisure Vehicle.
I feel, if priced right it can really turn the heat on Ecosport and Duster because it will have all the looks and trimmings required for the segment.
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Old 9th April 2015, 15:16   #7
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Re: Mahindra SsangYong Korando to be launched this year

Quote:
Originally Posted by .anshuman View Post
...

Instead spend that R&D money to get us well tested Automatic Transmission variants of Scorpio and XUV
...
Fully agreed.
Sub 20 Lakh segment begs for a SUV with proper AT.

Last edited by ventoman : 9th April 2015 at 15:39.
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Old 9th April 2015, 15:46   #8
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Re: Mahindra SsangYong Korando to be launched this year

Quote:
Originally Posted by mi2n View Post
1. Re-badge this as a Mahindra. It already looks like one.
+1.

I think this could be a much better XUV 3OO than the hatchback sized S101 ever can be! May be the rumours of an upcoming XUV3OO launch is about the Korando rather than S101?

Mahindra SsangYong Korando to be launched this year-ssangyong.jpg

(Pardon the poor quality PS work).
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Old 9th April 2015, 17:17   #9
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Re: Mahindra SsangYong Korando to be launched this year

Quote:
Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR View Post
+1.

I think this could be a much better XUV 3OO than the hatchback sized S101 ever can be! May be the rumours of an upcoming XUV3OO launch is about the Korando rather than S101?

Attachment 1358766

(Pardon the poor quality PS work).
Ugh! That Mahindra grill looks like a fat kid wearing a T-shirt, a size too small.

Mahindra needs to get better designers. Ssangyong vehicles, if not stunning, aren't hideous at least. No need to Mahindrafy it.
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Old 10th April 2015, 02:39   #10
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Re: Mahindra SsangYong Korando to be launched this year

M&M Should launch the Korando exactly in the same International Spec. Gone are the days that Indians will just buy something for lack of options. People are way more discerning nowadays!

Last edited by noopster : 10th April 2015 at 15:39. Reason: Typo
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Old 10th April 2015, 02:55   #11
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Very good looking design. Much cleaner than the XUV and a bit more constrained than the Rexton. I hope they don't tinker with it a lot when they "optimize" it for Indian tastes.

This car could very well go on towards building Mahindra's reputation as a mass market car manufacturer, instead of just an SUV maker.

The real problems are their service centers.... Have faced a lot of issues with getting the Xylo serviced. The cars are unmatched in their ruggedness, but such substandard service take away from the whole experience.
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Old 10th April 2015, 03:15   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shankar.balan View Post
M&M Should launch the Koran exactly in the same International Spec. Gone are the days that Indians will just buy something for lack of options. People are way more discerning nowadays!
I agree totally. And speaking of options, Hyundai and toyota are going to be THE options ultimately. They have properly understood the Indian customers pulse and what makes him tick. Sorry Mahindra, I think it's best you stick to making agricultural equipment and maybe, yes, the Thar kind of stuff. Please quit making a time pass of the junta. I mean, We can understand that super cool foreign carmakers like VW with superb products end up finding it really tough to cope with the Indian market and environment and cost factors, rules etc and can't give good service but Mahindra is on home ground. When are you going to buckle up? The customer has risen and smelt the coffee!
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Old 10th April 2015, 09:12   #13
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Re: Mahindra SsangYong Korando to be launched this year

Guys, any news on when the Tivoli will make it to our shores? Tivoli, I think, is a more direct competitor to the Eco-sport. Korando will easily be pushing 15L.
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Old 10th April 2015, 09:26   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scuderiamania View Post
Korando will easily be pushing 15L.
Korando is priced similar to the S-Cross in the UK. With proper localisation, Mahindra should be able to price it against the Duster with top end touching 15k.

Problem is- S Cross is rated much higher than Korando in the UK and the upcoming Hyundai ix25 might take the game further away from the Ssanyong before it hits our market.
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Old 10th April 2015, 09:27   #15
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Re: Mahindra SsangYong Korando to be launched this year

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Originally Posted by scuderiamania View Post
Guys, any news on when the Tivoli will make it to our shores? Tivoli, I think, is a more direct competitor to the Eco-sport. Korando will easily be pushing 15L.

Tivoli has just announced its UK pricing at £ 12950 (12 lakhs). M&M as of now has not announced any plans of this coming to India.But Mahindra's future UV line up could underpin the designs of Tivoli.
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