Mahindra launches new Scorpio at Rs 7.98 lakh
The long wait for the facelifted Scorpio is over with Mahindra launching the new Scorpio starting at Rs 7.98 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai). The new Scorpio will be sold in six variants costing Rs 7.98 lakh for the S2, Rs 8.6 lakh for the S4, Rs 9.77 lakh for the S6, Rs 10.84 lakh for the S8, and Rs 11.46 lakh for the top-spec S10, respectively.
As expected the powertrains remains untouched with the base variant (S2) powered by the same 2.5-litre m2DICR common-rail direct injection diesel that develops 75bhp at 3200rpm and 200Nm of torque at 1400–2200rpm. All the other variants are powered by the 2.2-litre mHawk unit, whose power and torque remain unchanged at 120bhp at 4000rpm and 290Nm at 1800–2800rpm. Both engines are mated to a five-speed manual transmission and a ‘shift-on-fly’ four-wheel drive system is available as an option on the S4 and S10 variants.
The S2 will get AC, power steering, micro hybrid, central locking and power windows. The base variant is fitted with 15-inch wheels while the rest get 17-inch wheels. The top-end S10 is graced with loads of features such as an infotainment system with navigation, projector headlights, micro hybrid technology, rain and light sensors, steering mounted audio controls, cruise control, driver seat height adjustment, and the mandatory chrome touches for grille.
With a presence of over a decade in the country, the home grown SUV has been given a styling update on the inside and outside. At the front, the new grille is big, bold and masculine than that of the outgoing model. The new grille is flanked by a set of projector headlights, with smartly integrated LED eyebrows as parking lights. The front bumper has also been tweaked to house the changes at the front. A black plastic cladding running across the centre of the tailgate is the most prominent change at the rear. The tail lights are now LED, though the design remains the same. The 17-inch wheels get a new design. The styling updates have given a completely fresh feel to the Scorpio.
The interior has been spruced up with a new instrument panel design that houses a new instrument cluster with blue backlighting. The Scorpio gets a completely revised ladder-on-frame chassis with twice the strength of the earlier chassis, resulting is better structural rigidity. This addresses the body-roll problem earlier Scorpios used to experience to a great extent. Bookings have opened with a down payment of just Rs 20,000 required to reserve one of your own.
Compared to its segment rivals, the Scorpio has been priced quite competitively as the top-of-the-line Toyota Innova Z costs Rs 14.92, while Tata’s Safari Strome VX is over a lakh dearer than the top-spec Scorpio S10. Even compared to the Renault Duster RxZ, (Rs 11.49 lakh ex-Mumbai), and to Honda’s City i-DTEC VX (Rs 11.12 lakh), Mahindra has priced its lower spec S8 variant well enough that it may pull sales away from the compact SUV (by offering a full-size one) and from the City sedan.
Read our comprehensive first drive here
