What once carried the iconic ‘Scorpio’ nameplate has now been given a new one – Scorpio Classic. The recently-launched Scorpio-N has stolen the limelight and carries the marque’s legacy forward. The Scorpio Classic, on the other hand, has nothing to prove. Instead, it marches on to serve those who have known and loved that dominating presence in an unmistakable silhouette. But for that little extra bit, Mahindra has tweaked the SUV’s recipe indoors, outdoors and underneath.
The Mahindra Scorpio Classic is available in two variants – S and S11. The former costs INR 11.99 lakh, and the latter demands INR 15.49 lakh. It doesn’t matter which derivative you pick; you’ll get the same powertrain. Under the bonnet is the 2.2-litre mHawk Gen 2 diesel engine that also does duty in the Mahindra Thar. At 130bhp/300Nm, the output is identical as well. In addition, 230Nm of torque is available at 1,000rpm. And the transmission that enables that is a 6-speed manual. Unfortunately, there is no automatic gearbox on offer with the Scorpio Classic. But, the new engine is 55kg lighter and 14 per cent more fuel efficient than the old one.
Mahindra also claims a better ride, improved handling, and easier steering feel for the Scorpio Classic. Besides that, the exteriors have been tweaked with a new grille, twin-peaks logos, revised LED DRLs and new 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels. For the interior, Mahindra has chosen a different two-tone theme – beige and black. Additionally, the central section of the dashboard has a faux wood finish that houses a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone mirroring capability. Other features include a multifunction steering wheel, a rear-view camera, automatic climate control, projector headlamps and a rear defogger.
The Scorpio Classic is available in five monotone finishes – Red Rage, Napoli Black, Dsat Silver, Pearl White and Galaxy Grey (new). And, there’s a choice of seating arrangements as well. You can have the Scorpio Classic with seven or nine seats. But, even in the seven-seat spec, there’s a choice. You can get captain seats in the second row with a forward-facing bench seat at the end. Or, get a bench seat in the middle row and jump seats at the back. On the other hand, the nine-seat version has a 2+3+4 layout, with a bench seat in the second row and jump seats at the rear.
The revised recipe that gives the old Scorpio the ‘Scorpio Classic’ tag is crisp. And it may not find many takers in metros, but it will keep pressing the right buttons in other markets across India. At least, that’s what I deduce.
But if it’s a shiny, new and more advanced car, wouldn’t even the rural sections of the people want it? The Z6 Diesel base trim of the Scorpion-N (INR 15lac) even has a sunroof!
For those who love the original Scorpio, the absence of a sunroof won’t be a deal-breaker. It’s the old-school silhouette that matters the most.
I agree with your analysis! car of the heartland