Mahindra Announces New Scorpio-N, Calls It The Big Daddy Of SUVs

Mahindra released the first photos and videos of the Scorpio-N, its brand-new ladder-frame midsize SUV, which will be launched in the Indian market on June 27. The automaker refers to the model as “the big daddy of SUVs”, in a quest to highlight the significant improvements it brings over the aging, previous generation Scorpio.

Design-wise, the Scorpio-N represents an important step up over its predecessor, looking quite modern and streamlined for the standards of the Indian market. The young talent at the Mahindra Design Studio in Mumbai (India), kept the traditional off-roader proportions but gave it a more aerodynamic shape, toned up its muscles, and added new features. These include LED headlights, Mahindra’s new grille and emblem, a more prominent step on the window line as seen in the XUV700, plus a set of Volvo-style taillights.

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The Mahindra Scorpio-N (above) looks a lot more modern than the old Scorpio (below) which will continue to be sold despite being around for 20 years.

Mahindra didn’t show photos of the interior, but described it as premium and promised “advanced modern features and latest technology” which probably refers to a larger infotainment touchscreen and a digital instrument cluster in higher trims.

On a technical basis, the Scorpio-N – internally codenamed Z101 project – remains true to the rugged nature of its predecessor, built on a new body-on-frame architecture engineered in-house, by the Mahindra Research Valley near Chennai (India), and the Mahindra North American Technical Center in Auburn Hills (US). The new platform is expected to bring significant improvements in safety and technology, while Mahindra claims it will raise the bar on performance and off-road credentials.

In terms of powertrains, the Scorpio-N will be offered in both gasoline and diesel flavor, with a choice of manual or automatic transmissions. There will also be an option of 4×4, meaning that the entry-level trims will likely come with rear-wheel drive. Local media suggest that it could get 2.0-liter petrol and 2.2-liter turbodiesel engines already found under the bonnet of the XUV700 and Thar.

 

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We will learn more about the Mahindra Scorpio-N as we move closer to its official debut. The SUV will be produced in Mahindra’s Chakan plant in India. Rivals in the Indian market include the Tata Harrier (based on the Land Rover Discovery), and the MG Hector Plus. We don’t know if Mahindra will export the new Scorpio-N in other markets where ICE-powered SUVs are still a thing.

The first generation of the Mahindra Scorpio (Mahindra Goa in Europe) was introduced in 2002. The SUV received a series of facelifts in 2006, 2009, and 2014. In the midtime, Mahindra revealed a pickup bodystyle variant called Scorpio Getaway. Despite its age, the old guy will continue to be sold alongside the new Scorpio-N, bearing the Scorpio Classic nameplate.