The big daddy is here

If there ever was a seminal SUV in the Indian market, it is the Mahindra Scorpio. We have finally got a good look at the new model, with a new name, design and purpose

THE CULTURAL DOMINATION OF THE Mahindra Scorpio is something few cars in the Indian market can hope to match. The SUV has ingrained itself in the vocabulary of the country, becoming a byword for off-road performance and a reliable means of transport. Of course, it is also one of the most imposing vehicles on the road, and for many of us, that is the main draw of the Scorpio. Mahindra knows this, and for the longawaited third-generation, has created a new identity for the big SUV.

Now called the Mahindra Scorpio-N, the SUV has gained in stature, size as well as segment. Now in the D-segment, the Scorpio will hold a place just below the XUV700 and above the Bolero Neo, hopefully increasing its appeal across the country regardless of geographical divisions. For Mahindra, even more than the XUV700, the Scorpio-N will be the flag-bearer and it is vital that the car is able to transcend the limitations that being associated with a segment or price range bring with it.

The design has obvious relations to the past of the SUV, with the boxy, utilitarian look that is allied to a purposefully modern sheen. The greenhouse harkens back to the tremendous visibility that the Scorpio has always been famous for, making you feel like the king of the road. The kink in the C-Pillar, a staple of modern Mahindras, also harkens back to when it first appeared on the Scorpio. Not that the car is a museum. The headlights and taillights, both modern LED units, are a unique blend of the requirements of today’s safety as well as having a clear lineage. The big imposing grille on the Scorpio-N has Mahindra’s recognisable claw mark signature on it, as well as the new Mahindra ‘Twin Peaks’ logo, a design feature that has already gained a cult following in the country. Everything about the Scorpio-N screams “big and dangerous”, and that’s how its owners will want it to be. With a focus on what Mahindra is calling ‘premium interiors’ and advanced safety features, the Scorpio-N could also get the ADAS features as well as the AdrenoX infotainment system from the XUV700.

As with all of their offerings today, Mahindra wants to offer as much choice on the powertrain side of things as it can. To this end, the Scorpio-N will come with a choice of petrol and diesel engines, manual and automatic transmissions as well as an optional fourwheel-drive system, something so intrinsic to the identity of the SUV that Mahindra could not possibly afford to leave it out despite it not being a feature that many owners will opt for, or is indeed needed for much of the car’s usage scenarios. It is quite likely that the Scoprio-N could get some iteration of the 2.2-litre mHawk turbo-diesel engine and 2-litre mStallion turbo-petrol engine from the XUV700. The body-on-frame chassis is another choice made by Mahindra to retain the rough and tough character of the SUV, and with it, an obvious candidate for what could be the most supremely capable off-roader in its segment.

Mahindra has spoken a lot about the Scorpio-N being “a full-size authentic SUV”, and that ambition is typified by the type of testing the SUV has been through in its development cycle, being used in a variety of off-road conditions as well as urban use cases. R Velusamy, the president of product development at Mahindra says, “The allnew Scorpio-N is an important vehicle for Mahindra, set to redefine the SUV segment in India. Our newest SUV is laden with advanced technology and will offer spirited performance and superior driving dynamics. It is built on a new body-on-frame platform. This tough yet sophisticated SUV has been engineered and designed by our young, enthusiastic, and energetic teams at Mahindra Research Valley (MRV) near Chennai, Mahindra North American Technical Center (MNATC) in USA and Mahindra Design Studio in Mumbai.”

Interestingly, Mahindra has decided not to relieve the previous-gen Scorpio of its duties. Now called the Scorpio Classic, the SUV will continue to be the chariot of choice for the hinterlands of the country, where its appeal is so famous that an entire portion of the country could be called ‘Scorpio Land’. The Scorpio Classic will also get a few cosmetic upgrades to keep it in line with the new product lineup for Mahindra, including the new logo.

It is easy to see that Mahindra’s ambitions for the Scorpio-N go beyond India, with its goal to build ‘world-class’ SUVs. We would not be surprised to see products such as the XUV700 and especially the Scorpio-N being exported to countries where it has been surprisingly successful, such as Australia and South Africa, among others. The Scorpio-N will be launched on June 27 and will be manufactured at Mahindra’s plant in Chakan near Pune.

Competing with the Tata Harrier, Volkswagen Taigun, Skoda Kushaq, Kia Seltos and Hyundai Creta, the Mahindra Scorpio-N will have some tough competition. But if Mahindra’s promises on a wholly modern SUV are to be believed, then there is no reason to doubt that the Scorpio-N will soon be a common sight on our roads. Until then, we cannot wait for the official launch to know more about the Scorpio-N, and get our hands on it for ourselves! ⌧

MAHINDRA WANTS TO OFFER AS MUCH CHOICE ON THE POWERTRAIN SIDE OF THINGS

AS IT CAN