Mahindra and Mahindra, India’s leading manufacturer of utility vehicles has today launched the XUV 500 in the Indian market. The Mahindra XUV 500 prices starts from Rs 10. 80 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi) and goes up to Rs 12.88 lakhs for the top end variant.

Though the global SUV was launched today, the festivities began yesterday in the evening with the XUV500 being unveiled before a select group of journalists at Mahindra’s manufacturing unit at Chakan near Pune. The SUV has been launched in three variants to begin with.

Before we get into the technical specifications of the XUV 500, we would just want to remind you that this beat of a vehicle from Mahindra will be pitted against the likes of Toyota Fortuner, Chevrolet Captiva, Mitubishi Outlander, Honda CR-V, Ford Endeavour and the likes. This fact pretty much gives you an idea of the segment in which Mahindra has set its foot. Before anybody can brush Mahindra aside, do recall the launch of Scorpio and its impact in the Indian auto market about almost a decade ago. It was almost the same effect Bolero had when it was first launched. No wonder Bolero is still the reigning leader in the SUV market in India since many years now.

Mahindra, with the XUV500 is now eying the niche market where only big players rule the roost. And for this Mahindra certainly has laid a strong foundation. The XUV 500 also holds the distinction of being the country’s first indigenously developed monocoque SUV and also the first to offer a transverse engine layout. Mahindra spent over Rs. 650 crore to develop the XUV500 and is the first product from its Chennai research and development centre. The Mahindra XUV500 being a global vehicle, was conceived and designed with global standards of quality, technology, testing norms, regulations and emissions right from the very beginning. Oops, before we forget, a total of 200 engineers toiled for 4 years at the MRV facility in Chennai to give us this wonder machine.

No wonder Pawan Goenka, M&M President (Automotive and Farm Equipment) regards the product high on the Mahindra product list and also states that “the new vehicle would redefine M&M as the Scorpio did nine years back”.

Mr. Anand Mahindra, M&M Vice-Chairman, head held high during the XUV500 with pride, said the XUV500 was another cult brand in the making. He said the XUV’s characteristics are the embodiment of a Cheetah’s – Elegance, Style, Agility and Relentlessness.

The Mahindra XUV is powered by 2.2 liter M-Hawk engine CRDI diesel which pumps out 140 bhp of raw power and 330 Nm of torque. The numbers are very much for our liking so is the fuel economy which stands at 15.1 kmpl (ARAI-Certified). Salivating already? Who wouldn’t? The transmission is also unique for an all Indian Vehicle. The car gets a six manual gearbox completely developed in-house by Mahindra itself as is the front wheel drive transfer case. The Base models will be front wheel drive while another version will have an all wheel drive layout with a torque on demand mechanism also delivering drive to the rear wheels.

The grille of the XUV 500 is different while the front end treatment with projector headlamps, LED day-time running lights, large front bumper with streaked air dam and recessed fog lamps make for a menacing look.

The car has disc brakes abound on all four wheels and in addition there is ABS, EBD plus ESP to ensure safety. There are driver and front passenger air bags, start/stop is standard equipment and there is also hill descent control for the top line offering. So, no compromise on safety here. As far as the variants are concerned, Mahindra XUV500 has been launched in three variants such as W6 four wheel drive priced at Rs 10.80 lakhs, W8 two wheel drive priced at Rs 11.95 lakhs and W8 four wheel drive priced at Rs 12.88 lakhs.(All-Ex-show room Delhi)

Watch out for this space as we trickle in with more info on the Mahindra XUV500.