[Tushar]

Mod Note: Our XUV500 Petrol AT Report has been taken live at this link. Please continue the discussion over on the new thread. Thanks!

Thank you to Team-BHP fan Muthukumaran.G for sending in these images. Heartfelt gratitude for sharing it with other enthusiasts!

Mahindra recently launched the all-new XUV500. While many buyers have been waiting for word on an automatic variant, it looks like Mahindra is gearing up to launch a petrol variant of the SUV. Team-BHP fan Muthukumaran.G snapped the W8 variant of the XUV500 petrol during a public road test in Chennai at the Chennai airport road. Mahindra has been working towards the improvement of its petrol presence with the reasons being two-fold.

For starters, the gap between petrol and diesel prices has been getting narrower, making many buyers veer away from diesel vehicles, which are more expensive. The second reason would be need to develop a petrol variant to improve its standing in export markets. Reports of a petrol variant for exports came in over three years ago, but given the shift in the market situation, Mahindra will most likely offer the XUV500 petrol in the domestic market as well, especially considering the fact that the vehicle is already a right hand drive model.

While, some reports suggest that the petrol engine will use the bottom block of the existing 2.2L mHawk diesel with the rest of the components being all new, Mahindra has been closely working with SsangYong for the development of new petrol engines, including the motor that will be used on the S101 compact SUV. Another notable addition would be a new 6-speed automatic gearbox - Aisin AWF21 (by Aisin Seiki) mated to the petrol motor.

Like the diesel, the petrol XUV500 will be well loaded offering and will come equipped with features such as four disc brakes, ABS with EBD, 6 airbags, ESP, a smart key and a touchscreen infotainment system with GPS, USB (audio / video), Bluetooth audio, along with a laundry list of additional niceties.

[Shashidl]

This is really good news!!! I think this move is to to counter the new crossovers from Maruti and Hyundai. Would this be the first petrol engined vehicle from the Mahindra stable?

Would be great to buy one if Mahindra drops the rates by a lac or 2 without compromising on the features.

[humyum]

LOL, this is going to suffer the Innova Petrol's fate. In a 'Average kya hai' market, when this starts giving 7 and 8 kmpl on an expensive liter of petrol, people are going to stay away from this like it was H1N1.

[Ragavsr]

This is an answer to a question no one asked. Small crossovers and SUVs like the Duster and the Ecosport are themselves heavily dominated by diesel with petrols hardly cornering 5-10% of the share.

The only export market that loves petrol SUVs is North America and Mahindra doesn't have a presence there. The Germans have popularised diesel SUVs everywhere else.

This would do single digit numbers if and when it comes to the market.

[Maky]

Originally Posted by humyum

LOL, this is going to suffer the Innova Petrol's fate. In a 'Average kya hai' market, when this starts giving 7 and 8 kmpl on an expensive liter of petrol, people are going to stay away from this like it was H1N1.

Hmmm....
Wouldn't 8kmpl be good for a vehicle of this size? How much does the current diesel XUV500 give in mileage?

[amit]

This petrol motor may be more for the SsangYong SUV's in Korea then for Indian Mahindra's. Probably, M&M will launch petrol powered XUV just to have a foothold in the small petrol SUV market. I really don't see any increase in volumes after petrol XUV is launched.

While Indian's are warming up to petrol's once again, the MPV & SUV segment is where petrol's are still untouchable & this trend will continue for couple of decades I am sure!

[humyum]

Originally Posted by Maky

Hmmm....
Wouldn't 8kmpl be good for a vehicle of this size? How much does the current diesel XUV500 give in mileage?

Current XUV's ARAI mileage is 16 kmpl. 8 kmpl would not be good because there is simply no market for 8 kmpl petrol SUV's in India and neither will there be for a long time.

[FourWheelDrift]

Originally Posted by humyum

Current XUV's ARAI mileage is 16 kmpl. 8 kmpl would not be good because there is simply no market for 8 kmpl petrol SUV's in India and neither will there be for a long time.

I think Maky was referring to the everyday city mileage seen by the user, and not the ARAI fuel efficiency.

The expectation is that everyday city mileage for petrol and diesel will not be very significantly different in kmpl figures.

Cheers,

FourWheelDrift

[prakhar1998]

We can't be too certain of this scoop. Just a petrol only sticker on the fuel cap certifies nothing. I honestly believe SUVs this size are not meant to have petrol engines, especially in India. They definitely don't sell.

[directinjection]

Originally Posted by humyum

8 kmpl would not be good because there is simply no market for 8 kmpl petrol SUV's in India and neither will there be for a long time.

But there is a market for 12 KMPL CNG SUVs! With NGT tightening screws on diesel, CNG is the way to go! Of course it'll then require the mHawk derivative - 1.6 will be too under-powered. The last row of seats can be removed to accommodate a large CNG cylinder.

[daywiz]

Originally Posted by Ragavsr

This is an answer to a question no one asked. Small crossovers and SUVs like the Duster and the Ecosport are themselves heavily dominated by diesel with petrols hardly cornering 5-10% of the share.

The only export market that loves petrol SUVs is North America and Mahindra doesn't have a presence there. The Germans have popularised diesel SUVs everywhere else.

This would do single digit numbers if and when it comes to the market.

There are lots of markets where petrol rules the roost. Beyond North America, there is the Gulf countries (whereby the way SUVs are the kings and where Mahindra couldn't do much with diesel), many parts of Africa and Australia still love petrol.

Leave the fact that the Indian car manufacturers won't give into automatic, but less focus on petrol is not a good approach. If Mahindra wants to become a more global player, they need to focus on stepping up with petrols and automatics.

[GeeTee TSI]

With a responsive high torque diesel offering accepted well, a petrol motor does not augur well for a heavy set SUV. XUV should be the last candidate for a petrol, after the Verito cousins and maybe the 'wannabe crossover' Quanto

[Warwithwheels]

Spotted this Mahindra Scorpio being tested in chennai today. What is M&M upto with the Scorpio again?!

[Tanveer_2558]

Its good for the people who have low monthly running, Knowing mahindra they will price the petrol model at a good price point. Sure it wont sell like hot cakes but it might be a shot well taken by Mahindra. I am interested to see what power output will the car have.

[Pratik Chavan]

I fail to understand how Mahindra sees a market for a petrol version of XUV. They are going to have a tough time positioning the car as a SUV, with the absence of diesel engine and a rear wheel drive.