Auto giant Mahindra & Mahindra has started work on smaller petrol engines for future compact models. It is jointly developing a number of platforms with the South Korean automaker Ssangyong. As the company does not want to have a high concentration of diesel powered products alone, the company is considering using petrol engines with higher capacities from Ssangyong.
A company official close to the development told the Business Line, “We can use petrol engines from Ssangyong (larger capacities). We’re developing smaller petrol engines as well – of around 1-litre and 1.2-litre capacities. But this development is a three-year cycle, so it will take some time.”
Mahindra is currently working on three new platforms with Ssangyong and the first one which is for a compact vehicle is in the advanced stage of development. According to a company official, the work on new platform will be concluded soon and right now the platform is in the styling and customer research stage and still has to clear the business case.