Mahindra has just announced the launch of the Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) gearbox option in the XUV300 sub-4-metre SUV, which also celebrated the 25,000th unit rolling-off its production line yesterday. The XUV300 AMT option will be offered in diesel W8 and W8 (Optional Pack) variants at an additional cost of INR 55,000 over the manual version. The XUV300 AMT W8 variant costs INR 11.50 lakh ex-showroom and the W8 (O) costs INR INR 12.70 lakh ex-showroom.
Mahindra has dubbed the AMT version as autoSHIFT and the car will be available in three colours – Pearl White, Aquamarine and Red Rage. The XUV300 autoSHIFT will be available for display, test drives and deliveries at all Mahindra dealerships effective from today.
The engine that the AMT autoSHIFT model will be available on is the diesel-powered, 1.5-litre engine equipped with an electronically variable turbocharger, that produces 115 BHP of power and 300 Nm of torque. The Automated Manual Transmission is engineered by the Italian automotive components manufacturer, Marelli.
The AMT gearbox comes with features like Vehicle Creep in which the vehicle can move forward or reverse without throttle input for easy manoeuvrability in traffic, Electronic Stability Control and Hill Start Assist which prevents rollback when climbing up a slope, Kick-Down Shifts for quick acceleration during overtaking manoeuvres, Anti-Engine Stall, Drive and Reverse Lock-Out which ensures the gear does not engage suddenly between Drive and Reverse, Creep Disable Function which disengages the Vehicle Creep function in case the doors are open, Clutch Abuse Detection and Driver Information System which is quite self-explanatory. The autoSHIFT is available in two modes Auto and Manual.
Other than the AMT gearbox and an ‘autoSHIFT’ logo on the boot-lid there are no other visual changes, except for the obvious centre console where the new gear selector sits in a ‘+’ form. The gear lever itself is a self returning type and comes back to the central position automatically.
In the new diesel AMT avatar the XUV300 will be able to compete with the Tata Nexon AMT and the Maruti Vitara Brezza AMT.