Mahindra launches 9-seater Xylo variant

In an attempt to target the tour and travel segment in the semi-urban areas, Mahindra & Mahindra has launched a 9-seater (8+driver) D2 Maxx variant of the Xylo that it says offers maximum seating, comfort and mileage (14.95 kmpl). This is the first time that the Xylo will have a 9-seat option. The company has priced it at Rs 7.12 lakhs for the BS 3 compliant vehicle, ex-showroom, Mumbai.

According to Vivek Nayer, chief marketing officer, automotive division, M&M, “We are delighted to offer our customers the 9 seats option with side-facing rear seats – a feature preferred by the tour and travel segment. Given that the Xylo has best-in-class space, the side facing seats will provide a great deal of flexibility for carrying people or luggage.”

Under the hood is a 2.5 litre mDI CRDe engine that complies with BS 3 and 4 emission norms. It offers mileage of 14.5 kpl, as per ARAI test results.

Given its aggressive pricing, M&M clearly wants to target the Ashok-Leyland Stile launched last week that targets applications such as hotel shuttle services, courier services and inter-city and intra-city travel. The Stile is a 7-8 seater and will start at Rs 7.49 lakhs, ex-showroom, Mumbai. The vehicle has a fuel-efficiency of 19.5 kmpl as per ARAI tests.

The Xylo range sold close to 8,000 units in the first six months of the year as against 13,428 units in the year-earlier period, a fall of 40 percent. Sales of the Quanto, the Xylo’s under-four-metre variant have also fallen from a high of close to 3,000 in January 2013 to 382 units in September 2013.