Mahindra mini Xylo

As per a report by leading automobile magazine AutoCarIndia Mahindra is developing a smaller version of the Xylo as can be seen from these exclusive spy pictures sent in by Autocar India reader Chandra Prakash Godara. The mini Xylo which is undergoing hot weather testing in Rajasthan will be less than four-metres in length and will come with a diesel engine under 1.5-litres to qualify as a ‘small car’ to avail of a substantial 12 percent saving in excise duty. The mini Xylo uses a shortened version of the present Xylo’s body-on-frame chassis and the current 2.5 CRDe engine has been downsized as well. The engine capacity has been reduced from 2.5-litres to under 1.5-litres by eliminating one cylinder and reducing the bore and stroke. The mini Xylo will only have two rows of seats and hence a maximum seating capacity for five passengers.

The mule caught testing is a high end model with the DDAS (Digital Driver Assist System) feature. There are no steering mounted controls for audio and the rest of dashboard, from what we infer, is alike the Xylo. The previous collection of spy shots showed two small jump seats at the rear. Will that make it to the production spec model?
For the benefit of new readers, here’s a list of features we expect on the mini Xylo.

• Some variants could be equipped with a start button
• It could be a 5+2 seater. Jump seats fitted to the rear are strictly for children in the family.
• A 3 pot engine producing 70hp and 160Nm of torque will be strapped to the vehicle
• There will be no roof-mounted AC like on the normal Xylo
• The compact Xylo stands on 205/65/R15 tires
• Seat backs will have aircraft style trays on select variants
• Spare tire will be mounted on the rear door
• The tiny quarter glass behind the jump seat will make it look like a grown up Wagon R
• Can Mahindra price the mini Xylo from 4.99 lakh rupees?