Is Mahindra testing the XUV500 facelift? - Spied

Automatic transmission in the offing.

A spyshot of what appears to be the Mahindra XUV500 has been uploaded by Exhaustvid Facebook page. From what can be observed, the partially camouflaged tailgate hides a chrome applique above the license plate enclosure, an element that has a black finish in the current model.

Earlier this year, while talking to a senior Mahindra official, we sensed that the facelift would launch sometime next year.

Though only the rear of the partly camouflaged test mule is available in a photograph, the publication reports that the car on test was equipped with different alloy wheels and a possibly revised front fascia.

The dashboard of the prototype was hidden completely, hinting that the facelifted XUV500 could feature more than a minor nip and tuck to the interior.

With the 2.2-litre four-cylinder mHawk diesel engine making 140 bhp at 3,750 rpm and 330 Nm of torque at 1,600-2,800 rpm, the SUV has adequate performance on tap and hence only a minor efficiency tweak is expected.

The motor is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission sending power to the front wheels and the facelift could also get an automatic transmission. The top-end variant should continue to be available with 4WD.

The XUV500 is one of the best selling SUVs in India. In July this year, its cumulative sales crossed 1 lakh units.

Read our review of the Mahindra XUV500

Competitors: Tata Safari Storme, Renault Duster variants, Nissan Terrano variants, Skoda Yeti
Expected Price: INR 11 - 16 lakhs, ex-showroom
Launch Date: 2015

[Spy image from Facebook]