| Manufacturer | Mahindra and Mahindra Limited |
|---|---|
| Also called | Mahindra Goa (in Europe) |
| Production | 2002–present |
| Assembly | Nasik, India[1] 6th of October City, Egypt[2] |
| Class | Sport utility vehicle |
| Body style | 4-door SUV |
| Engine | 2.1L Petrol I4 116 hp 2.6L Turbodiesel I4 115 hp 2.2L M-Hawk Turbodiesel I4 120 hp |
| Transmission | 5 speed man./6 speed Auto / optional 4-wheel drive |
| Wheelbase | 105.5 in (2,680 mm) |
| Length | 176.9 in (4,493 mm) |
| Width | 71.5 in (1,816 mm) |
| Height | 77.8 in (1,976 mm) |
| Curb weight | 5,534 lb (2,510 kg) (2WD) 5,754 lb (2,610 kg) (4WD) |
| Related | Mahindra Scorpio Getaway |
The Mahindra Scorpio is an SUV manufactured by Mahindra & Mahindra Limited, the flagship company of the Mahindra Group. It was the first SUV from the company built for the global market. The Scorpio has been successfully accepted in international markets across the globe, and will shortly be launched in the US.[3]
The Scorpio was conceptualized and designed by the in-house integrated design and manufacturing (IDAM) team of M&M. The car has been the recipient of three prestigious awards: the "Car of the Year" award from Business Standard Motoring; the "Best SUV of the Year" by BBC World Wheels; and the "Best Car of the Year" award, again, from BBC World Wheels.[4]
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Prior to the mid-nineties, Mahindra & Mahindra was an automobile assembly company. The company manufactured Willys Jeeps and its minor modified versions (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 didn't have the technical know-how to make a new age product, they devised a whole new concept among Indian auto companies. Roping in new executives such as Dr. Pawan Goenka and Alan Durante who had worked in the auto industry in western countries, the company broke the rule that says automakers must design, engineer and test their own vehicles (spending millions of dollars in the process).
The new Mahindra Scorpio SUV had all of its major systems designed directly by suppliers with the only input from Mahindra being design, performance specifications and program cost. Design and engineering of systems was done by suppliers, as was 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 (as Mahindra is a well known brand in India in the MUV segment). Using this method the company was able to build a from scratch a new vehicle with virtually 100 percent supplier involvement from concept to reality for Rs 600 crore ($120 million),[5] including improvements to the plant. The project took 5 years to move from concept to final product. The cost was estimated in 2002 to be Rs 550 crore.[6]
The Mahindra Scorpio was launched in India in 2002. Soon after the success of the Scorpio, Mahindra launched an upgraded Scorpio with plush seats and rear centre arm rest, dual tone exterior colour and various minor changes.
In April 2006, the company launched an upgraded Scorpio – dubbing it the 'All-New' Scorpio.
At the Auto Expo 2006, Delhi, Mahindra also showcased their future plans on the Scorpio model by showcasing a Hybrid Scorpio with CRDe engine and a Scorpio based on a pick-up truck. The Hybrid, the first such vehicle developed in India was developed by Arun Jaura, a former Ford employee. His senior, Dr. Pawan Goenka, a former GM engineer currently heads Mahindra's automotive division and looks after the overall Scorpio project.
In June 2007, Mahindra launched a pick-up version in India known as the Scorpio Getaway. Recently, M & M has launched a face lifted version of the model.
In November 2007, Mahindra launched a teaser campaign for their new Scorpio Model, the m_Hawk on their official website.[7]
The upgraded Mahindra Scorpio Getaway, launched in Australia in mid-2009 received additional safety features to the 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 star ANCAP rating.
On April 14, 2008, Mahindra revealed a concept of a diesel-electric hybrid version of their Scorpio SUV at the 2008 SAE World Congress.[8]
21st Sep 2008 Mahindra launched their latest Scorpio with 6 speed automatic transmission gears.
The Mahindra Scorpio is sold across the world in countries such as:
In Western Europe, so as not to confuse the vehicle with a previous Ford vehicle of the same name, it is called the Mahindra Goa.
Mahindra has for a while had plans on exporting to the United States, possibly with a diesel-electric hybrid.[9] In 2006 it entered into an agreement with Global Vehicles USA to import and distribute Mahindra vehicles.[10] It now plans to release a modified Pick-up version of the Scorpio (currently unnamed due to trademark issues with the Ford Scorpio) in the US by the end of 2009.[11] This vehicle is projected to cost in the low $20,000s.