Mahindra and Mahindra is getting ready to enter into South Africa with its seven-seater Quanto.

Given the tremendous response to the initial bookings of 12,000, within a span of months since its launch in India, the company has decided to hit the SA roads.

Though compact is the new catch phrase with auto buyers looking to upgrade to a larger vehicle, Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) turned out to be the first mainstream manufacturer in India to launch a sub-4 metre utility vehicle, with no competitor in the rear view mirror.

“Mahindra Quanto is the smallest SUV in the Mahindra line-up. It appeals to customers partial to diesel hatchbacks and entry level sedans.

“In India, Quanto C2 trim was launched at a starting price of Rs 5.82 lakh (ex-showroom Thane) and goes up to Rs 7.36 lakh for the C8 version,'' said an official.

Incidentally, M&M already retails Scorpio, Genio pick-up series, Bolero pick-up, Xylo and XUV 500, among passenger other UVs in South Africa.

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The company has reportedly spent around Rs 100 crore on the Ingenio platform to make the Quanto.

Powered by a new 1,493cc twin-turbo engine making 100Ps of power and 240Nm of torque, the Quanto gets a 5-speed manual transmission.

The company claims it is the world’s smallest twin turbo engine.

Barring the C2, all other trims are to get the company’s Micro Hybrid technology.

The first shipment of the car, that looks similar to a Xylo, is expected to rollout on SA roads by the first half of the year.

>amritanair.ghaswalla@thehindu.co.in