The Mahindra Scorpio is a mid-size SUV manufactured by the Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra since 2002. It was Mahindra's first global model to be built for the global market. The Scorpio was conceptualized and designed by the in-house integrated design and manufacturing team of M&M. The car has been the recipient of three prestigious Indian awards, including the "Car of the Year" award from Business Standard Motoring as well as the "Best SUV of the Year" and the "Best Car of the Year" awards, both from BBC WorldWheels.
Development
Prior to the mid-1990s, Mahindra & Mahindra was an automobile assembly company. The company manufactured Willys Jeeps and its minor modified versions, with modifications carried out in India. In 1996, the company planned to enter the SUV segment with a new product which could compete globally. Since M&M did not have the technical knowhow to handle such an ambitious product, they devised an entirely new concept among Indian auto companies. Roping in new executives who had worked in the auto industry in western countries, such as Pawan Goenka and Alan Durante. The new Mahindra Scorpio SUV had all of its major systems designed directly by suppliers, with the only inputs from Mahindra being design, performance specifications and program cost. The design and engineering of the systems were carried out by suppliers, as well as testing, validation and materials selection. Sourcing and engineering locations were also chosen by suppliers. The parts were later assembled in a Mahindra plant under the Mahindra badge, being a well-known brand in India. Using this method, the company was able to build from scratch a new vehicle with virtually 100 percent supplier involvement from concept to reality, at a cost of Rs 600 crore, including improvements to the plant. The project took five years to move from concept to final product. The cost was estimated in 2002 to be Rs 550 crore.
mHawk Engine
The mHawk diesel engine holds a capacity of 2.2-litres with four cylinders that delivers of power and of torque. The mHawk employs a top-mounted intercooler to improve turbocharger efficiency. The engine is based on the Bosch Common Rail system with solenoid injectors and fuel spray design that improves fuel efficiency. The mHawk is equipped with a two chain drive stage system and hydraulic lash adjusters. A variable geometry turbocharger controls the boost. The compressed air is cooled by intercooler which is mounted upstream of the turbocharger. The compression ratio ranges from 16.5:1 to 18.5:1.
First Generation (2002-present)
The Mahindra Scorpio was first launched in India on 20 June 2002. Soon after its success, the Mahindra Scorpio was later received a minor update to include plush seats, rear centre arm rest, dual tone exterior colour and various minor changes. The vehicle was sold in Europe as the Mahindra Goa with first sales in Italy in 2003. In 2006, Mahindra announced that Scorpios sold in Russia will be made as kits with a joint venture partner.
First facelift (2006-2014)
In April 2006, Mahindra launched the first facelift of the Scorpio, marketed as the All-New Scorpio. At the Auto Expo 2006 in Delhi, Mahindra also showcased their future plans on the Scorpio model by showcasing a hybrid Scorpio with a CRDe engine and a Scorpio based on a pickup truck. The hybrid, the first such vehicle developed in India, was developed by Arun Juara, a former employee of Ford. His senior, Pawan Goenka, a former engineer at GM, heads Mahindra's automotive division and oversees the Scorpio project. A pickup truck version of the Scorpio was launched in India on June 2007, known as the Scorpio Getaway. On 21 September 2008, the Scorpio was updated with a 6-speed automatic transmission. On 14 April 2008, Mahindra revealed a concept of a diesel-electric hybrid version of their Scorpio SUV at the 2008 SAE World Congress. The Mahindra Scorpio Getaway was launched in Australia in mid-2009, marketed there as the Mahindra Pik-Up. It received additional safety features for an Indian model, such as ABS brakes and airbags in an attempt to raise its rating to a minimum of 3 stars from the current 2 starANCAP rating. The 2012 model scored 6.6 points out of a possible 16, giving it a 3-star ANCAP rating.
Second facelift (2014-present)
The Mahindra Scorpio received its second facelift in 25 September 2014, featuring a redesigned front and rear fascias and a new dashboard. A revised automatic variant of the Scorpio was launched in 2015.
