Mahindra has received an order to deliver 1,470 units of the Scorpio to the Indian Army. While an official tweet from Mahindra mentions that it has received orders for the Scorpio Classic, which is the updated version of the SUV, the actual vehicles seen here seem to be previous-gen Scorpios. It is evident from the looks, older design for the alloy wheels, and absence of Mahindra’s new ‘Twin Peaks’ logo. Unlike the Classic, which is available only as a RWD, the army spec model gets 4WD tech and a tow hitch.
- Army-spec Scorpio gets 4X4
- Likely to be powered by a 140hp diesel engine
What’s also different in the army-spec Scorpio is that it gets a black plastic panel on either side of the windshield just above the vertically stacked tail-lights. It is likely done to minimise the damage to the exterior.
On the inside, the army-spec Mahindra Scorpio features grey and black interiors, and gets a touchscreen infotainment and climate control. There could be some additional features for the army-spec model, but certain details are not yet known.
Even the powertrain details are under wraps, but, as this is the older model, it is likely to be powered by the 140hp, 2.2-litre engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission. The new Scorpio Classic, on the other hand, gets the updated 130hp, 2.2-litre diesel engine.
In the past, the Indian Army has procured the Tata Xenon pick up, the Tata Safari Storme, and the Maruti Suzuki Gypsy – the latter being the favourite of the armed forces for almost two decades. In May 2018, Tata Motors had showcased the army-spec three-door Tata Safari Storme with a soft top. However, the vehicle could not enter service in the armed forces.
In March 2022, we had reported that the Indian Army had started looking to replace 35,000 units of the Gypsy SUV in a phased manner. The Scorpio could be one of its replacement models. The armed forces are also looking to integrate EVs into their fleet and the Air Force recently added 12 Nexon EVs to its fleet.
Also see:
Auto Expo 2023: Pravaig Veer EV for armed forces displayed
Mahindra Defence to make armoured vehicles for the Indian Army
Independence Day Special! Kalyani M4 - The ultimate multipurpose vehicle
from Autocar Indiahttps://cdni.autocarindia.com/ExtraImages/20230116123755_Army_spec.jpeg
