Mahindra & Mahindra, the country's largest utility vehicle maker, has introduced a 9 seater variant of its Xylo model, named D2 MAXX in the Indian auto market. Sources close to the development process stated that the auto maker has introduced this new variant to capitalise on the increasing demand in taxi segment. It must be noted that off late, the company launched refreshed variant of XUV500 and special edition model of Scorpio. Industry experts are of a view that in order to bank on the decent demand in festive season, Mahindra & Mahindra has competitively offered its new variant at a price tag of Rs. 7.12 lakh (ex- showroom Mumbai).
Expressing his views on the launch of a new vehicle, the Chief Marketing Officer for Automotive Division at Mahindra & Mahindra Limited, Vivek Nayer was quoted as saying, “The Xylo D2 MAXX with the mDI CRDe engine is a variant of the Xylo, which delivers great mileage, low maintenance and maximum space, making it a very popular choice with the tour and travel segment. Today, 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.”
Equipped with a 2.5-litre mDI CRDe engine, the maximum power churned out by this powertrain stands at 93 bhp, which seems quite sufficient for a 9 seater vehicle. Being a performance oriented motor, it returns a fuel efficiency of 14.95 kmpl. It must be noted that in the new variant, the company has incorporated a new row of seats in boot, which are side facing. Auto experts believe that the side facing seats are said to be a preferred option by the taxi operators as this posture offers a higher flexibility of either carrying luggage or additional passengers.
Also, Mahindra & Mahindra has offered a different appearance to the D2 MAXX, which makes it more appealing in comparison to other same segment models. Few highlights of the same are new grille, black bumper and new designed wheel arches. It is being said that the new variant of Mahindra Xylo will square off against the likes of Chevrolet Tavera and Tata Sumo Grande.
