Mahindra has launched the XUV500 with an automatic gearbox at a price of Rs 15.53 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the W8 front-wheel-drive variant. Autocar India exclusively reported last year that Mahindra was planning to add an automatic-gearbox equipped variant to its XUV500 lineup in 2015.

Available on three trim levels — W8 FWD, W10 FWD and W10 AWD — the automatic transmission used in the SUV is different from the one used in the Scorpio Automatic. While the XUV500 Automatic uses an all-new six-speed torque converter sourced from Aisin Seiki, Japan, the auto gearbox unit in the Scorpio is from Drivetrain Systems International (DSI), Australia.

Like the manual model, the XUV500 Automatic is powered by the same 2.2-litre four-cylinder mHawk diesel engine producing 138bhp. It is available with front-wheel drive as standard and all-wheel drive is offered as an option. 

The XUV500 will rival the recently launched Hyundai Creta which also comes with a six-speed automatic gearbox with 2WD.

M&M has invested Rs 58 crore in developing the new transmission, which was introduced in the Ssangyong Tivoli SUV earlier this year, and the gearbox will be used in future Mahindra products as well.

Mahindra XUV500 Automatic W8 FWD - Rs 15.53 lakh

Mahindra XUV500 Automatic W10 FWD - Rs 16.36 lakh

Mahindra XUV500 Automatic W10 AWD - Rs 17.36 lakh

NISHANT PAREKH