M&M rolls out Bolero Sportz, will be priced at Rs 4.88 lakh
By Our Corporate Bureau | 28 Oct 2002
Mumbai: The utility vehicle major Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) has introduced the Bolero Sportz, a sporty variant of the Bolero.
Priced at Rs 4.88 lakh (ex-showroom), the Bolero Sportz’s standard features include air-conditioning and power steering. However, it will be without other features like power windows, central door locking and music system.
Powered
by a 72.5bhp, 2,498cc engine with a torque of 15.5 kgm
@ 2000 rpm, the Bolero is the first really urban vehicle
to be launched by M&M, traditionally known for making
rugged vehicles for rural and semi-urban usage.
The company has been tying to make inroads into the urban market to counter the Toyota Qualis, and this launch is part of its efforts in that direction. Earlier this year, M&M re-launched its double-cab pick-up, the Camper, and extended the Bolero’s looks to the vehicle.
The Camper, with a 2,523cc engine and able to handle a payload of more than a tonne, is aimed at the rural and semi-urban market, where it could also be used as a cargo carrier. Last year M&M launched the MAXX, a fuel-efficient multi-utility vehicle, designed to give maximum space to passenger models, and is suited for rugged rural applications.
The Bolero’s premium variant is its GLX model, which is powered with a 2500cc, 72.5 brake horsepower (bhp), Euro II-compliant engine and a five-speed gearbox. It costs Rs 5.49 lakh and Rs 5.54 lakh for the heater-fitted option (ex-showroom Delhi).
In the April-October period this year, the Bolero’s sales rose to around 4,500 units from about 4,000 units during the same period last fiscal, say company officials. And the company has priced the petrol variant of the Scorpio, the Rev 116, at Rs 7.13 lakh (ex-showroom, Navi Mumbai).
The company is hopeful that 90 per cent of the exports will come from the Rev 116, which is fitted with engines supplied by the French carmaker Renault.
M&M is India’s largest tractor-maker, with a 35-per cent share of the utility vehicles market. With the advent of the Toyota Qualis, it has seen its market share fall in the last two years.
By targeting new customer segments with fresh models, M&M hopes to increase its market share in an increasingly competitive industry.