The vehicle will be available in two variants: the W8 FWD and W10 AWD, according to a statement.
Elaborating on their association with Mahindra, Ajayan al-Ahbabi, chief executive officer, Ibin Ajayan Group, said: “We are proud of our association with Mahindra. For the customer, the competitively priced XUV500 will be a great value-for-money purchase. Launching the XUV500 in the Qatar market is in tune with our objective of offering customers world-class vehicles and we are confident that it will soon become the preferred choice in the SUV segment in the Qatar market.”
Joydeep Moitra, head of international operations at Mahindra & Mahindra, noted, “The Middle East SUV market is one of the most dynamic and demanding in the world and we look forward to the challenges it presents. Globally, the XUV500 has been well received with its unique blend of style and utility, luxury and ruggedness and we are confident that customers here would be similarly delighted with its powerful drive experience.
“We are confident that with Ibin Ajayan’s extensive reach in Qatar and their renewed commitment to after-sales services, we will be able to tap the huge potential in this segment.”
The New Age XUV500 “is the only SUV in its class to offer a second-generation, 6-speed automatic transmission with AWD as an option”, the statement notes. “The New Age XUV500 Automatic takes the driving experience to the next level with easy cruising on city roads as well as challenging terrain.” The all-new automatic transmission has been sourced for the first time from a leading global supplier, Aisin, Japan.
The New Age XUV500 has been conceptualised and designed by Mahindra’s in-house engineering team, “incorporating the most contemporary styling, design and technology”. “The XUV500 has received a tremendous response from customers and reviewers alike and was the most awarded car with 22 awards in its first year after launch, and 29 awards till date from auto experts, aside from numerous other accolades,” the statement added.
The XUV500 has notched up wins in the Indian Rally Championship and in the ‘Extreme’ category of rally-raid events such as Desert Storm Dakshin Dare. The XUV500 is the first vehicle to win podiums in the Indian motorsport circuit, beating 54 competitors in the Desert Storm event. Right from the day of its launch, the XUV500 has “become a trendsetter for the Indian automotive industry as the fastest selling SUV in the premium category”.