The stakes for car makers are pretty high in this upcoming festive season as many of them are pinning their hopes on new launches to revive sales. Phrases like economic crisis, slowdown in demand, rising prices and dip in sales have been used consistently by experts while talking about the Indian car market in recent times. During times like these, the best bet for any auto maker would be the introduction of a new model. While many car makers are launching new models, some are planning to introduce variants of highly successful existing ones. Mahindra & Mahindra has kept a low profile in 2013 if one was to put launching of vehicles into perspective. One of the leading brands in the utility vehicle segment, it has seen a fall in sales due to rising competition and market scenario. To change this state, the Indian auto maker is planning to launch the W4 variant of the XUV500 Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV).
Although the auto maker has not made any official announcement regarding the launch date, sources claim that the SUV could make its way to showrooms by October itself. Industry experts believe that an October launch for the W4 variant of the XUV500 would be quite beneficial for the auto maker. Another reason why the launch of this variant makes sense is the rising demand in the utility vehicle segment. Models like the XUV500 and Scorpio have been doing well in the Indian car market for a long time now. However, the introductions of the Renault Duster and Ford EcoSport have taken things to another level. Notably, one key aspect that has contributed to the success of these models is the aggressive pricing strategy adopted by manufacturers. Due to the combination of affordability and performance, people living in cities are purchasing SUVs. Now, with the introduction of the low cost variant of the XUV500, the competition is likely to increase.
Taking cue from other car makers, Mahindra & Mahindra has adopted an aggressive pricing strategy for the W4 variant of the XUV500. To ensure this, the company has reduced the number of features in this SUV. According to sources, some of the features that will not be included in this variant are automatic wipers, 6-inch touchscreen multimedia system, tyre pressure sensor, DVD player and ESP. As far as the exteriors are concerned, Mahindra & Mahindra is expected to exclude dual exhaust tips, roof rails and front fog lamps. In addition, the firm is expected to leave out cruise control, premium fabric upholstery, rear-view mirrors and puddle lamps. In terms of specifications, no changes are expected to be made as the car will be powered by the same 2.2-litre diesel engine. This powertrain is capable of generating an output of around 138 bhp along with peak torque of 330 Nm.
Industry experts feel that the competition for the W4 variant of the XUV500 is going to be really tough. However, the excellent performance of the existing versions and the aggressive pricing strategy might just turn things in favour of this SUV. Nissan, the Japan-based auto maker, is soon going to launch the Terrano, which is likely to compete with Mahindra XUV500 W4 despite being a compact SUV. With so many launches set to take place in the utility vehicle segment, things are certainly looking bright for all players.
