Mahindra has been on a roll ever since it tasted success with its new generation models such as Thar and XUV700. Due to semiconductor shortage and insane demand, the waiting period for these vehicles have shot up to around 18 months. Despite the huge backlog, Mahindra continues to roll out new products, the latest being the new-gen Scorpio N.
The SUV created a storm as it registered 30,000 bookings within a few minutes after it went live on July 30, 2022. However, some old-school enthusiasts of the Scorpio brand may not align with its design, which appears to be more mature and sophisticated and loses out on some of its ruggedness. Thankfully, the carmaker has decided to retain the older Scorpio in the market.
The homegrown SUV manufacturer has launched a facelifted and rebranded version of the previous generation Scorpio. Rechristened as Scorpio Classic, the old ladder-on-frame SUV is priced between Rs 11.99 lakh and Rs 15.49 lakh (ex-showroom) and is available in only two variants–S and S11.
While retaining the majority of design, Scorpio Classic gets some subtle yet noticeable updates, which lend the burly SUV a fresh look. Up front, it flaunts a new grille featuring new vertical chrome slats and Mahindra’s Twin Peaks logo at its centre. The projector headlamp set has also been tweaked, featuring integrated eyebrow-shaped elements.
Other updates include a reprofiled front bumper that houses smaller fog lamp enclosures, horizontal LED DRLs, and a faux silver-coloured skid plate. The rugged SUV appeal on the side profile is amplified by new dual-tone body claddings with ‘Scorpio’ badging. Another big update is the new 17-inch dual-tone alloy wheels that feel more premium than its predecessor.
The rear end had been largely left untouched, barring the addition of vertical reflectors that are placed above the double D-shaped taillamps. The rear wiper and footstep are a welcome addition. Other visual highlights include body-coloured wheel arches, functional roof rails, and a conventional antenna. Mahindra is offering five shades on Scorpio Classic–Red Rage, Napoli Back, Dsat Silver, Pearl White, and a newly introduced Galaxy Grey.
The layout inside the cabin feels familiar with a dual-tone beige and black theme and a signature ‘Scorpio’ badge near the left aircon vent. The faux wood inserts around the touchscreen display, air-con control knobs, and gear shift lever lend a premium appeal to the dashboard and centre console. Moreover, the new Scorpio Classic will be available in two seating configurations–seven and nine.
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The cabin also gets the option of a forward-facing bench seat in the third row and captain seats in the middle row. The seats are wrapped in light, cream-coloured fabric upholstery with a quilted pattern on the headrest and seat base.
In terms of features, the new Scorpio Classic benefits from a wide range of creature comforts including a 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with 16GB of internal storage that supports Android-based software and screen mirroring.
Other prominent features on offer include a semi-digital instrument panel, LED headlights, multi-functional steering wheel, automatic climate control, power windows on all doors, and electric adjustment for ORVMs. Safety features on board Scorpio Classic include rear parking sensors, cruise control, and anti-theft alarm.
Powering Scorpio Classic is a second-generation 2.2-litre mHawk engine that is sourced from Thar. This unit churns out 130 bhp and 320 Nm of peak torque while being mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. Unfortunately, there is no option of a 4x4 drivetrain on Scorpio Classic. More significantly, this motor is now 55 kilos lighter due to its all-aluminium construction and hence offers 14% greater fuel efficiency than before.