Mahindra XUV 500 Archives - Indiandrives.com

August 22, 2013

Mahindra Improves the XUV 500

Mahindra and Mahindra has upgraded its flagship SUV, Mahindra XUV 500 and has brought out an XUV 500 version 2.0. The company has tagged this vehicle with the title of “zero defect vehicle”. So what exactly has the company done here? There is an array of improvements which have ultimately enhanced the car’s performance as compared to the original model.

For example, the braking system has been re-engineered completely to specially solve the problem of noisy brakes. The company has upgraded the entire brake system with higher quality brake pads which have an improved feel and do not groan in spite of being used constantly. The Anti Lock Braking System (ABS) and the brake boosters have both been recalibrated. Now the question that arises here is that whether these subtle changes have worked in favour of the company or not?

A short test drive in this version 2.0 XUV 500 has revealed that the new brakes, though noiseless and pretty effective, are still spongy at the top half of the pedal travel. The brakes therefore lack the bite. Mahindra has also changed their earlier clutch supplier, Valeo, to improve the reliability of the clutch operations and oil seals. However there is one area where the company still new to do some more work. The clutch operation still needs to be more progressive as it takes a good amount of concentration in engaging the clutch smoothly. The gearshift too feels a bit notchy.

The car has high shaft angles which cannot be lowered without incorporating a major re-engineering. But the new XUV 500 feels better fitted and tauter than before. The company has worked upon removing rattles and squeaks by matching different panels and materials carefully on the interior trim as well as the dashboard. The spot welds in the car body have improved the torsional stiffness of the vehicle. This has added to the car cost as well the total dry weight of the vehicle. But this added stiffness is very essential on rough roads like we have in India. The suspension now seems more piliant due to improved bushes which have eliminated the harshness out of the ride. However the overall dynamics of the car are not competent enough to beat its rivals.

The company still needs to do a lot of work on this XUV 500 but it can be said that the changes which have been made in this version 2.0 have improved the car’s overall performance. To summarize, it can be said that the Mahindra XUV 500 is a pretty substantial vehicle and is a very popular SUV due to its space, style, performance, value and equipment which are still a part of this new version. The car’s weaknesses have been taken car of to some extent with these changes.

The company has very cleverly escaped the additional government duty imposed on SUV with a ground clearance of more than 170 mm. The company has used the Euro Arc system to show a 200 mm of ground clearance which definitely looks impressive on the spec sheet. But other than this system the authorities also approve another system which measures the ground clearance from the lowest point of the vehicle. With this system, the ground clearance has dropped to 170 mm and Mahindra was spared the additional 3% duty.

Source: Autocar India

May 14, 2013

Mahindra to Roll Out New Entry Level XUV 500

No doubt Mahindra is a great automaker and its products really entices us, but to be true the patches from which now the industry is passing is isn’t so smooth as one can say, but is the toughest amongst all. Even the giants like XUV and all are facing the troubled heat, which they hadn’t experienced before and hence hope to drive away that sluggishness they have sorted out a new way, and that is newly designed entry level variants which will fall easy on pocket and also raising the market shares in down the line proportion.

Thus as an outcome the, Indian auto maker had took decision to deploy a new soldier in the range and that too at the starting point to counter rivals easily.

The newbie is expected technically to do everything same but shedding down the rain sensing wipers, automatic headlamps, automatic temperature control AC and also that famous 6 inch multimedia system. At present, W6 variant is the basic name in XUV 500 model plate, which is priced at around Rs. 12 lakh (ex showroom Mumbai), tends to be replaced another sibling on the flagging post. However, no official confirmation from the organization but pour sources in industry had revealed such info.

Mean while enjoy the technical specifications of W8 variant, till the newbie is revealed on paddock safely:

Displacement cc: 2179cc

No Of Cylinders: 4

Power PS rpm: 141 Ps (103kW) @ 3750 rpm

Torque Nm rpm: 330 Nm

Turbo Charger: Yes

Super Charger: No

Fuel Type: Diesel

Fuel Capacity: 70

Transmission Type: Manual

Gear Box: 6 Speed

Minimum Turning Radius (m): 5.6 m

Front Brakes: Disc

Rear Brakes: Disc

Wheel Size: 17 Inches

Tyre Size: P235/65 R17

Front Suspension: McPherson type with anti-roll bar

Rear Suspension: Multilink type with anti-roll bar

Body Style: SUV

Seating Capacity: 7

No.of Doors: 5

November 28, 2012

M&M XUV 500 powers the ‘ASEAN-India Car Rally 2012’

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., the comtry’s top leading sport utility vehicle maker, is ready to overcome the ASEAN-India Car convention this year with its 28 XUV500 cars together with service vehicles.

As per reports, this is the second version of the ‘ASEAN-India Car convention this year’ that has been arranged by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The ASEAN-India Car rally will start on Wednesday that will move through 8 ASEAN nations in a period of 3 week, more than 8,000 kilometers.

The convention will commence from Singapore and will finish in India on December 20, 2012.

Eight ASEAN nations comprise Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar and India.

As per Vivek Nayer, Chief Marketing Officer, Automotive Division, Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd., “We are contented to declare that the Mahindra XUV500 has been selected as the special vehicle to power this year’s rally. The XUV500 was conceptualized and built up as a international sport utility vehicle and consequently it is now going places crosswise worldwide borders. We are positive that the strong and hardy Mahindra DNA will make sure that all 28 cars will survive with flying color patterns in the 8,000 kilometer long convention, which will traverse grueling conditions crosswise the ASEAN nations.”

“The ASEAN convention is in synchronization with the company Adventure’s scheme of ‘Accepting No Limits.’ Mahindra sport utility vehicles are noted for showing themselves in the most problematic rallying conditions with distinguished examples being the podium finish for Dakshin Dare, Mughal Rally, Desert Storm and Raid de Himalaya in India and the gruelling Rally dos Sertoes in Brazil,” Mr. Nayer further added up.

April 20, 2012

Top Positions of Dakshin Dare Rally 2012 secured by Mahindra Adventure Team

For some time now the automobile adventure events in India are coming up in a big way with an increased volume of automobile competitions taking place in the country not only in the racing tracks, but also in the open sanctuary spread across miles and miles. These off road rallies have come up in a big way recently. Taken up by many automobile enthusiasts as an alternative sports these days, it has become a very successful phenomenon.

In the recent Dakshin Dare 2012 Rally, Team Mahindra Adventure took the lead with top titles in this 4th edition of the strenuous rally that lasted five long days and concluded in Bangalore. The Mahindra XUV 500 was the machine that topped the charts of this heavy duty rally with its unmatched grit. The National champion in driving rally cars Gaurav Gill with his co-driver Musa Sheriff and Lohitt with his co-driver Chipong Chiwan displayed extreme determination to secure the two top places in the Ultimate (Extreme) category. This victory has given the Mahindra XUV 500 a spot where no other diesel SUV has ever reached by winning in the extreme category of such rallies in India.

Sanjay Takale with co-driver Musthafa and Karthick Maurthi with co-driver Sankar Anand made this Rally extraordinary for the Team Mahindra Adventure in the Mahindra Scorpio. This SUV of Mahindra made it to the first and second positions respectively in the Rally category of Endurance. To add spice to these two victories, K.S.Venkatesh with his co-driver Chandrasekaran manoeuvred his strong Mahindra Thar through to the finish line before the rest could catch up them in the corporate category of the Rally.

Senior Vice-President, Marketing, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Limited, Mr.Vivek Nayer was very pleased of this magnificent performance and success of the Mahindra Adventure rally team. He stated very proudly that, “This all category victory by the vehicles of Mahindra is the testimony to the rugged and tough ‘Mahindra DNA’ that runs in every fibre of its machines. In all the automobile events of southern terrain the vehicles of Mahindra has shown a confidence and determined manoeuvring ability under the extreme track conditions. The rallies tested the machines beneath the bonnets and the body’s strength to take the pressure of its surrounding. The vehicles have indeed created history time and again with their successful performance in the most significant manner possible. The firm is proud to have come victorious in one of the most gruelling rallies. The winning teams do deserve a very special mention for their huge passion to take on to these challenges, their grit to win and follow their heart’s calling for adventure.”

The results of the Dakshin Dare Rally 2012 for Mahindra & Mahindra’s tem is as mentioned below.

Extreme Category

1. Gaurav Gill/Musa Sheriff (Mahindra)
2. Lohit Urs/Chipong Chiwan (Mahindra)
5. Suhem Kabeer/Jeeva Rathinam (Mahindra)

Endurance Category

1. Sanjay Takale/Musthafa (Mahindra)
2. Karthick Maruthi/Sankar Anand (Mahindra)

Corporate Category

1. Venkatesh/Chandrasekaran (Mahindra)

This victory has put the Mahindra XUV 500, Scorpio and Thar again amongst the hot favouritesin the SUV and Off-Road segment. Diesel SUVs till now never won any rallies, but XUV 500 changed that scenario completely by winning a title in this rally. Mahindra & Mahindra will definitely utilise the victory statistics of this rally into its sales advertisement strategy.