Scorpio-N expected to lead brand’s 2023 push, with electric promise also rising.

JUST weeks away from full reveal in its home market, India’s response to a Ford sports utility wagon popular with Kiwis could well show in New Zealand next year.

The local agent for Mahindra and Mahindra is not yet making specific official comment about the new Scorpio-N, a six and seven seat sports utility which has been labelled by its maker as ‘the big daddy of sports utilities.’

However, sentiment from that quarter suggests there is high interest in taking this vehicle as part of a product push intended to re-energise the marque’s standing here.

Mahindra has become a low-profile player due to coronavirus issues, and a huge surge in home market demand, all but curtailing export production.

However, this is a brand moving forward again, and with intent to become a player in the electric car arena, with help from Volkswagen.

The Scorpio-N is also a big volume model. It takes over from a SUV popular on its home turf, simply called Scorpio. It’s reported Mahindra used the outgoing Ford Everest as a benchmark during development.

The full reveal is on June 27, yet the maker has already shared images of the exterior and yesterday also revealed the cabin, which configures as a seven or six-seater, in both instances with the chairs set in three rows, the latter being more plush.

Third row split seats are in a 50:50 and 60:40 configuration respectively. All seats come with height adjustable seat belts.

The model is being offered with a 2.0-litre turbocharged mStallion petrol engine and a 2.2-litre mHawk turbocharged diesel. Both powerplants avail with a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed torque converter automatic transmission.

The petrol is expected to generate 112kW at 5000rpm, but torque figures between transmissions options are likely to vary, between 300 and 320Nm. The diesel is set to present in two states of tune, the lesser generating 97kW at 3750rpm and 300Nm of torque between 1600-2800rpm and the top edition making 131kW and 370Nm in the same rev zones.

There are four driving modes: Zip, Zap, Zoom and Custom.

Also featuring is a Sony music system with AdrenoX and Alexa Connectivity.

The styling shares cues from the make’s XUV700, but the grille is a new design and it takes dual-projector headlamps and C-shaped LED DRLs on both ends of the bumper. The rear section achieves Volvo-like signature LED taillights.

Steering-mounted controls, a digital instrument cluster, dual-zone climate control and and ventilated front row seats are offered. The six seat edition achieves captain’s chairs in the second row.

The release of details comes as the Indian conglomerate announces a partnering agreement with Volkswagen that will allow access to the German make’s MEB electric components as the basis of as upcoming Mahindra “Born Electric Platform."

According to information from the makes, the Born Electric Platform may be equipped with crucial MEB components like electric motors, battery system components and even battery cells. However, Mahindra will also develop as much in-house as possible and secure local production.

That apparently suits VW, which in turn is looking for a customer for its technology, and a bridgehead in the promising Indian market, which accounts for three million vehicles per year with a potential for five million per year by 2030.

The MEB electric platform has been designed as an open vehicle platform for a wide range of vehicles. It's already used by multiple brands within the Volkswagen Group (Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda and SEAT/Cupra) and soon will be used also by Ford in two models for Europe.