M&M's Xylo rolls out

Utility vehicle manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra launched its new Xylo multi-purpose vehicle on January 13 at its Nashik manufacturing plant. Designed entirely by M&M, the people carrier has been developed from the inside out to maximise space and comfort for passengers. Pricing starts at Rs 6.24 lakh for the base E2 version, going upto Rs 7.69 lakh for the top-end E8 version.

Component suppliers to the Xylo include Bosch, Lear, Motherson, Nippon, Subros, JBM, Spicer, Visteon, Lumax, Alf, Asahi, Sharda, Rane and Varroc which, according to M&M, have played a key role in creating the model. The Xylo is powered by the export version of Mahindra’s Eagle common-rail diesel engine, whose displacement has been brought down to 2.5 litres, compared to the Indian version’s 2.6 litres. This brings the Eagle in line with international standards for this type of engine. During the development of the Xylo, Mahindra drew upon the expertise of several international consultants, including Lotus of the UK, for the suspension tuning.

M&M is targeting saloon car buyers with the Xylo, whom it expects to lure with the increased space, comfort and features of the new model.

It is currently available at 57 select Mahindra dealerships across India, with another 44 dealers getting the new vehicle from February 2009. According to Anand Mahindra, vice-chairman and managing director, Mahindra Group, “With the launch of the Xylo, the era of saloons is under serious threat. The saloon has long been considered the ultimate in high-end mobility in India, but the Xylo is all set to change this perception. The famed Mahindra DNA of ‘tough and rugged’ meets an unprecedented level of sophistication and luxurious comfort in the new Xylo.”

Adding to this, Dr Pawan Goenka, president, Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra, said: “The Xylo is perhaps the first vehicle in the country which has been completely engineered around the customer. The powerful 2.5-litre Eagle CRDe engine is fuel efficient and delivers 112bhp, allowing you to accelerate from 0-60kph in just 5.8 seconds. Moreover, the vehicle offers class-defining space all around such that even a six-foot tall person can stretch out in comfort on the third row seat. It offers an extraordinary level of luxurious comfort at a very cost-effective price for prospective saloon buyers.”

The Xylo will compete against the well-entrenched Toyota Innova and the Tata Sumo Grande in the market.