2014 Mahindra Scorpio: What we know about it so far (undisguised pictures inside)

We have driven the new Scorpio. But unfortunately, we wouldn't be able to tell you much about the drive experience as of now. However, there are certain details which we know about the car before the drive. A reliable source also chipped in with more information. So, here is what we know about the new Mahindra Scorpio so far.

Looks

The Scorpio, as you can make out from the images, is instantly recognisable as the cult SUV which Mahindra presented to the Indian market in 2002. However, there are major revisions to the 2014 SUV. Mahindra has added projector headlamps to the equation. There are also LED daytime running lamps integrated into the headlamps. The grille feels more pronounced now but the air scoop on the bonnet looks a bit subdued. The bumpers have also been redesigned. The alloy wheels are also new and so is the Land Rover-ish badge on the side. The rear has also been redesigned and it seems that Mahindra have gone the SsangYong way with one too many badges. The tail lamps also have been refreshed and now are LED elements.

Interior

Things have changed inside the cabin as well. The steering wheel with mounted controls is all new (for the Scorpio but is borrowed from the XUV) and so are the instrument clusters. Our source tells us that the interior fit and finish has also vastly improved. Mahindra has also worked on customer feedback with the positioning of the power windows being moved to the door pad instead of behind the parking brake. There is a new touchscreen audio system. Moving to the second row, Mahindra has redesigned the rear aircon system and it now comes with a storage space below it. Speaking of aircon, the top end variants will come with automatic climate control.

Engines

It is expected that the new Scorpio will carry over its engines from the outgoing model. This means a 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel (m2DiCR) and a 120PS 2.2-litre BS4 motor. Unlike the outgoing model, our source tells us, the new SUV will not have an automatic variant at the time of launch. The five-speed manual transmission is the same as in the recently launched Xylo.

Chassis

The chassis has been claimed to have undergone significant tweaks. The source says that it is similar to the Tata Aria's chassis which leads us to believe it could be a hydroformed ladder frame chassis. We expect Mahindra to have significantly tweaked the ride and handling characteristics of the new Scorpio.

Ride and handling

We have indeed driven the new Scorpio but as of now, cannot comment anything about its ride and handling characteristics. You will have to wait on this one till September 25.

Features

The new Scorpio is feature laden for sure, something which even its competitors wouldn't have an answer to. The spec-sheet which was leaked earlier today talks about rain and light sensing wipers, reverse parking sensors, cruise control, touchscreen infotainment system, tyre pressure monitoring system, projector headlamps, automatic climate control and many more.

Variants

As per the leaked brochure information, Mahindra will be selling the new Scorpio in six variants namely S2, S4, S6, S6 plus, S8 and S10. The first variant is expected to be sold with the BS3 variant while all others will be available in the BS4 trim.

Price

The new Mahindra Scorpio is expected to be priced more than the outgoing model, however, still very competitively than the others in the segment, including the Duster, Terrano and Safari. We will let you know in on all the details of the new Scorpio on September 25.

Image source: teambhp