I drove back to Mumbai from Pune and the Scorpio-N cruises effortlessly on the highway.
There are some cars which become an icon for an automotive brand and some go on to become a brand themselves. The Mahindra Scorpio is one such automobile. I live in Kandivali in Mumbai, a 5 minute walk from the Mahindra plant and I remember the day the first gen Scorpio was launched. Two of them were parked on the lawns outside the plant, and I would look at them everyday while driving to work. The Scorpio completely changed Mahindra’s image and was a break away from the Armadas and Boleros that came earlier. And the rest as they say is history. It’s now 20 years since the first gen model hit Indian roads and what better way to celebrate than launching an all new one. Say hello to the new Mahindra Scorpio-N. This third generation promises to take things to the next level and claims to be nothing like the Scorpio we all know and love. So can the new Scorpio-N sting its competition and take the legacy of the original forward? Its been a while that I have been so excited to drive a new car, so here’s everything you need to know about Mahindra’s new ‘Daddy’ on the block.
Exterior
The Scorpio-N is clearly bigger in size than its predecessor. This SUV has always been about character and street presence and this one doesn’t lack either. Dimensions wise it measures 4662mm in length, 1917mm width and 1870mm height. This makes it longer and wider than before but comes with reduced height. At 2750mm, the wheelbase is longer by 70mm too. Ground clearance stands at 187mm.
The Scorpio-N retains the butch character that it is always known for but here it does get its share of curves. Up front the grille has a bold look with vertical chrome slats. The ‘Twin Peaks’ Mahindra logo sits firm in the center. The slim all LED headlamps look classy, and the front bumper gets aggressive styling with a skid plate underneath. Don’t forget to notice the LED daytime running lamps that resemble and scorpion’s sting. The wheel arches get black cladding while the doors get black plastic strip. The 18 inch alloys have a likeable design and the 255/60 tyres give a beefy stance. The ORVMs are large and view is good. A chrome strip runs across the door trim and ends at the D pillar curving into what looks like a scorpion sting again. There are prominent roof rails as well. The rear styling feels tone down id compared to the rest of the car. The vertical stacked tail lamps remind you of the older Scorpio, and over all the rear feels on the flatter side. There is a roof spoiler and a shark fin antenna mounted at the top with Scorpio-N badging on the right. The rear bumper is quite plain and the chrome strip doesn’t liven things up. While it is no longer in style, I kept wondering how the tail gate mounted spare wheel would look on the Scorpio-N. It would probably give the rear that much needed character in my opinion.
