Mahindra will launch an updated version of the XUV500 in the second half of 2015 and the vehicle will get tweaked cosmetics and an automatic gearbox.
The Mahindra XUV500 was launched in India way back in 2011 and the vehicle started off with a great response. Mahindra had to introduce a lottery system because the number of bookings that the company received was too huge. Almost four years down the line, the XUV500 is still going strong and Mahindra even started offering a new base W4 variant in 2014 to compete with rivals like the Renault Duster and Ford EcoSport. Any product starts feeling outdated after some point of time and the same will happen with the XUV500 and to tackle this, Mahindra has already started testing the XUV500 facelift which has been spotted by MotorBeam reader Cibhi near the Bangalore highway.
Looking at the pictures, the first thing that we notice are the new headlights which are designed to look far more sharper and appealing. The alloy wheels also seem to carry a newer design. Apart from all these changes, the front fascia is expected to carry a new grille and a slightly tweaked bumper. The side profile will remain exactly the same while the rear too will most likely be similar to the existing model. A chrome garnish will be added on the hatch gate in the facelift. The interior will get a mild tweak and the XUV500 will now get a sunroof in the W8 variant.
The Mahindra XUV500 is powered by a 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine that gives out 140 HP of power and 330 Nm of torque. The SUV gets a manual transmission currently but the facelift model will be offered with an automatic transmission too which will be offered only on the top variant. Mahindra had displayed a diesel hybrid version of the XUV500 at the 2014 Auto Expo so we cannot rule out the possibility of the Indian auto giant launching that model too. The XUV500 is priced between Rs. 11.19 – 15.05 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi) and the facelift version which is set to be launched in the second half of 2015 will get a marginal price increase.
