Ingenu? What's that?

From what we know so far, the Mahindra Ingenu will be a utility vehicle, positioned between between the Mahindra Bolero and the Scorpio. Note - utility vehicle, not a 'sport utility vehicle'. Do not read too much into it - the company could just be withholding information, and we won't be surprised if tomorrow the Ingenu turns out to be an SUV after all - albeit a bit smaller than the Scorpio.

And we can be sure than in the back of beyond, the vehicle would make a name for itself as the Mahindra Engine! Not that mahindra would mind - and a name that sounds funny in the city would be precisely what might work in the hinderlands.

The Times of India has reported that it will be an entry level lifestyle UV. Lifestyle UV? That's a new one. Usually, lifestyle UVs are called SUVs.

Mahindra has time and again tried to capture the 'suave urban' customer with its sporty, outdoorsy utes such as the Mahindra Classic and the Mahindra Invader - and has consistently failed despite their best efforts. Perhaps not their best efforts - the Invader was in the end, just another Mahindra Jeep-derivative, with quality levels that kept it at the top end of the utility requirements but no further. The Bolero was atrocious to look at - and all the ads could not convince the urban customer to part his with money for it - though it was a reasonable succeess.

So what will the Mahindra Ingenu look like, and how will it be priced? TOI reports an estimated price of Rs 5-6 lakhs. If Mahindra can sell the Ingenu at that price, and if it does not look like another variant of the Mahindra Invader or Bolero - then we would be talking! The Scorpio, despite being just another truck, managed to sell well on account of sophistication levels that were several notches above the Bolero. If the Ingenu has striking looks that can appeal to the townie who has now seen many an good looking SUV, they have a chance.

Meanwhile, will someone tell them that the latest iteration of the Scorpio makes it look like an hooker with over the top make-up?