By: HT Auto Desk | Updated on: 01 Jan 2024, 17:36 PM
Mahindra’s SUVs witnessed 24 per cent sales growth in December 2023.
Mahindra’s SUVs witnessed 24 per cent sales growth in December 2023. (HT Auto/Sabyasachi Dasgupta)
Mahindra on Monday announced that it sold 35,171 SUVs in December 2023, registering a 28 per cent growth compared to the same month a year ago when it sold 28,333 units in December 2022. This emphasises the rapidly rising demand for SUVs across India. Mahindra also claimed that in 2023, it sold a total of 333,764 SUVs between April and December 2023, up by 29 per cent from 257,849 units recorded in the same period of 2022.
The homegrown car manufacturer further said that it sold 35,174 units of passenger vehicles in India in December 2023. This marked a 24 per cent year-on-year growth for the automaker as it sold 28,445 passenger vehicles in the country in December 2022. Mahindra also claimed that it sold 333,777 units of passenger vehicles in India between April and December last year, marking a 28 per cent growth compared to the same period of 2022, when it registered 259,858 units.
Speaking about the sales performance, Veejay Nakra, President of the Automotive Division at Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., said that its SUV business witnessed healthy growth over the last year. “In December, we sold a total of 35,171 SUVs, a healthy growth of 24 per cent over last year. We continued to face some supply challenges on select parts. We are working closely with our suppliers to mitigate these challenges going forward,” Nakra further added.
Mahindra currently sells a wide range of SUVs in India including popular models like Scorpio N, Scorpio Classic, Thar, XUV300, XUV700, Bolero Neo etc. Besides selling petrol and diesel-powered SUVs in India, Mahindra also sells electric cars in the country. The Mahindra XUV400 comes as a pure electric version of the XUV300 compact SUV. The Mahindra XUV400 competes with rivals like Tata Nexon and MG ZS EV.
The Mahindra Thar 5-door is one of the most eagerly awaited offerings from the automaker’s stable. The Thar 5-door has been spotted testing on multiple occasions and the latlatest spy shots that emerged online remind you that the model is closer to launch. The latest images show a camouflaged test mule of the lifestyle SUV, albeit wearing production-ready alloy wheels.
By: HT Auto Desk | Updated on: 24 Dec 2023, 10:48 AM
The Mahindra Thar 5 door is slated to arrive in 2024 and will be a lifestyle vehicle positioned above the ₹15 lakh mark (Instagram/cars_universe_yt)
The difference in the alloy wheels is notable with Mahindra moving away from the multi-spoke units on the current Thar 3-door to what appears to be a diamond-cut design. The test unit also appears to come with LED headlamps with circular LED DRLs, which further hint at the model being nearly ready for production.
The new Thar 5-door will be a more practical offering over the 3-door model while retaining the off-road capability. Previous spy shots have revealed features like the dashboard and seats, especially with a usable second row. It will also get features like an electric sunroof, a larger infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a centre armrest between the front seats, height adjustable seatbelts and AC vents for the rear passengers. It will also get a much larger boot space, making it far more practical regarding day-to-day driving.
The upcoming Mahindra Thar 5-door will also sport a longer wheelbase to support all the changes. Power is expected to come from the familiar 2.2-litre diesel and 2.0-litre turbo petrol engines, which could be tuned differently. Expect to see both manual and automatic transmission choices at the time of launch, while the model is also expected to arrive with 4×4. Mahindra could bring the Thar 5-door with just rear-wheel drive for a lower starting price. The SUV will take on the Maruti Suzuki Jimny and upcoming Force Gurkha 5-door when it arrives next year.
India is one of the fastest-growing electric vehicle markets in the world. Over the last few years, both legacy players and EV startups have been drastically transforming the landscape of the Indian EV industry. Electric two-wheelers dominate the Indian EV market, but car manufacturers too are introducing interesting products. While homegrown car manufacturers have been launching new electric cars in the country, foreign brands are also bringing their respective products into the segment.
By: HT Auto Desk | Updated on: 23 Dec 2023, 20:42 PM
From mass-market to luxury, the year 2023 witnessed launch of several electric cars across price-segments, with SUVs dominating the chart.
In 2023, several carmakers, in both mass-market and luxury segments have launched some spectacular electric cars across different pricing slabs. Interestingly, like the fossil-fuel-propelled passenger vehicle market, the Indian electric car market is witnessing the rise of SUVs. In 2023, the majority of the electric cars launched in the country were SUVs.
Here is a comprehensive list of the electric cars that were launched in India in 2023.
MG Comet EV
MG Comet EV is the most affordable electric car in India. This small boxy hatchback looks tiny compared to other models in the fray, but a perfect machine for in and around-city commuting. MG Comet EV was launched in 2023 at an introductory starting price of ₹7.98 lakh (ex-showroom). The electric hatchback threw a tough challenge to the Tata Tiago EV, the erstwhile most affordable electric car in India with its pricing. Design-wise, the EV is eye-catching on the exterior, while inside the cabin it looks simple yet very much urban at the same time. The Comet EV promises a 230 km range on a single charge.
Tata Nexon EV facelift
One of the most noteworthy car launches in India in 2023 was the arrival of the Nexon EV facelift. Tata Nexon EV is the country’s bestselling electric car and the homegrown automaker simply ramped up the appeal of the electric compact SUV with the launch of the Nexon facelift, which incorporates a wide range of design and feature updates. The Nexon EV facelift comes available at a starting price of ₹14.74 lakh (ex-showroom), and it promises a 465-kilometre range on a single charge, while it can accelerate to 0-100 kmph in 8.9 seconds. It comes with V2V and V2L technologies.
Powering the electric SUV is a 66.4 kWh battery pack paired with dual electric motors.
BMW iX1
BMW launched the electric avatar of the X1 SUV, christened as iX1 in India in 2023. The luxury EV was launched in the country at a price tag of ₹66.90 lakh (ex-showroom). BMW iX1 is the German brand’s fourth fully electric vehicle and is sold in India via the CBU route. Powering the electric SUV is a 66.4 kWh battery pack paired with dual electric motors. The electric propulsion system churns out 309 bhp peak power and 494 Nm of maximum torque. The EV promises up to 440-kilometre range on a single charge. It can reach 0-100 kmph in 5.6 seconds and can achieve a top speed of 180 kmph.
BMW i7
BMW i7 is an all-electric sedan that was launched in India in 2023 at a price tag of ₹2.50 crore (ex-showroom). The BMW i7 M70 xDrive is the brand’s first M-division electric car that was launched in India in 2023. Powering this luxury electric sedan is a 101.7 kWh battery pack that is paired with dual electric motors and generates up to a 560-kilometre range on a single charge. The electric propulsion system churns out 657 bhp peak power and 1,100 Nm maximum torque. This electric sedan can sprint to 100 kmph from a standstill position in just 3.7 seconds at a top speed of 250 kmph.
Mahindra XUV400
Mahindra XUV400 is the homegrown automaker’s first-ever electric SUV launched in India in 2023. The Mahindra XUV400 comes positioned in compact SUV segment and it competes with rivals like the Tata Nexon EV. Launched at ₹15.99 lakh (ex-showroom), the Mahindra XUV400 is available in two different battery options and promises up to 456-kilometre range on a single charge. Available in EC and EL, the Mahindra electric SUV’s price goes up to ₹18.99 lakh (ex-showroom).
Citroen eC3
Despite being a new entrant in the Indian passenger vehicle market, French auto giant Citroen was quick to launch an electric car in the form of eC3. The electric SUV comes priced from ₹11.50 lakh (ex-showroom) and it promises a range of 320 kilometres on a single charge, which is also the highest in its segment. Available in four different variants, the Citroen eC3 EV is powered by a 29.2 kWh battery pack that promises 320 kilometres range on a single charge. The electric SUV promises a top speed of 107 kmph.
Volvo C40 Recharge
Volvo C40 Recharge is the second electric car in India from the Swedish luxury car manufacturer after the XC40 Recharge. The electric car was launched at ₹61.25 lakh (ex-showroom). The EV competes with rivals such as Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5. The EV gets power from a 78 kWh battery pack paired with dual electric motors. The EV churns out 402 bhp peak power and 660 Nm of maximum torque. The EV is capable of running at a top speed of 180 kmph and can sprint to 100 kmph from a standstill position in 4.7 seconds.
Hyundai Ioniq 5
Hyundai Ioniq 5 is the second electric car from the South Korean auto giant in the Indian market. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 EV has been launched in the country at ₹44.95 lakh (ex-showroom). The EV comes competing against the Kia EV6 but is more affordable than the rebadged sibling. Powering the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a 72.6 kWh battery pack, that promises a 631 kilometre range on a single charge. It gets a rear-wheel drivetrain churning out 214 bhp peak power and 350 Nm of maximum torque. The EV claims come with a fast charging technology that charges the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes.
Audi Q8 e-tron and Sportback e-tron
Audi launched the Q8 e-tron and Sportback e-tron in India in middle of 2023. The SUV and the Sportback were launched together, priced at ₹1.14 crore and ₹1.18 core (ex-showroom). The Q8 e-tron essentially came as a facelifted iteration of the erstwhile e-tron. Both the SUV and the Sportback were launched in two trims – 50 and 55, with range of up to 600 kilometres on a single charge. Powering the 50 variant is a 71 kWh battery pack, while the 55 onbe gets a larger 114 kWh battery pack. The SUV has a maximum claimed range of 491 kilometres and 582 kilometres for the 50 and 55 variants, respectively, while the Sportback has a maximum range of 505 kilometres and 600 kilometres for the 50 and 55 variants, respectively.
Mercedes-Benz EQB
Mercedes-Benz India launched the EQB 350 4Matic electric SUV in India in 2023, at a starting price of ₹77.50 lakh (ex-showroom). The luxury electric SUV was launched in the country replacing the previous EQB 300 4Matic that was launched in December 2022. The EQB is powered by a 66.5 kWh battery pack. The electric propulsion system onboard the SUV promises 288 bhp peak power and 520 Nm of maximum torque. These specifications are significant enhancements from the EQB 300 4Matic.
Mercedes-Benz EQE
Mercedes-Benz EQE electric SUV was launched in India in 2023 after the EQS and EQB, joining the lineup as the brand’s third EV in the country. The Mercedes-Benz EQE electric SUV was launched here at ₹1.39 crore (ex-showroom). It competes with rivals like Audi Q8 e-tron and BMW iX1 electric SUVs. Mercedes-Benz EQE 500 4Matic SUV comes promising 550 kilometres range on a single charge. The SUV gets power from a 90.56 kWh battery pack that is paired with dual motors. The SUV can accelerate from 0-100 kmph in 4.9 seconds at a top speed of 210 kmph.
Mahindra Racing has taken the wraps off the new livery on the M10Electro race car for the 2023/24 Formula E World Championship. The only Indian team on the grid, Mahindra Racing brings a sharper livery finished in a matte red, silver and desert grey colour scheme. The new design has been developed by the team in partnership with the folks at Mahindra Advanced Design Europe (MADE) in the UK.
By: Sameer Fayaz Contractor | Updated on: 14 Dec 2023, 22:45 PM
The 2024 Mahindra Racing M10Electro gets a new matte red shade, a first-ever for the team, along with silver and grey colours
The new Mahindra M10Electro gets a matte finish, which is a first in the team’s history. It also commemorates Mahindra Racing’s heritage in Formula E with 10 of the brand’s new twin-peak logos on the engine cover, one for each year of competition. The Indian team has been a part of Formula E since inception in 2014 with the championship heading into its tenth year of racing.
Mahindra Racing has a new driver lineup for the upcoming Formula E season with Edoardo Mortara and Nyck de Vries behind the wheel
Speaking about the new livery, Fred Bertrand, CEO – Mahindra Racing, said, “It’s a new chapter for everybody at Mahindra Racing, and I’m very excited to unveil our livery for Season 10, which reflects both this and celebrates our long-standing commitment to Formula E. We have a very proud history in the Championship as a team, and the objective is for the actions we are taking now, in the present, to help build a brighter future on track. I can’t wait to see the cars take to the track in Mexico in the new livery.”
The last ten years have been full of many highs and a few lows for the team. This includes five e-Prix wins, 24 podiums and 10 pole positions. The last season though was rather forgettable and the team is now looking at a resurrection of sorts with the upcoming outing. Speaking to HT Auto earlier this year, Fred Bertrand explained that the team was looking forward to the new season with development still underway on the Gen3 car but was looking at a stronger return in Season 11.
To achieve this, the team had to start on a clean slate that included bringing drivers Edoardo Mortara (2021 Formula E champion) and F1 driver Nyck de Vries on board. Both drivers with their crucial experience and insight will be instrumental in the team’s turnaround strategy. Mahindra Racing also signed Indian racing driver Kush Maini as its reserve driver for the upcoming season. A more competitive team and car are expected to leave a strong mark in the upcoming season that kicks off on January 13, 2024, in Mexico.
Mahindra Scorpio N and Scorpio Classic have been playing a crucial role for the homegrown automobile brand since their launch in India last year. The Mahindra Scorpio N comes with a more modernised vibe, while the Scorpio Classic carries the signature look of the SUV. Both the SUVs have been fetching about 17,000 bookings every month, which is the highest for any Mahindra SUVs, the brand has revealed.
By: HT Auto Desk | Updated on: 12 Nov 2023, 12:22 PM
Mahindra Scorpio N and Scorpio Classic have been fetching 17,000 bookings every month, beating other SUVs from the brand.
The homegrown auto manufacturer currently has 1.19 lakh open bookings for both the Scorpio N and Scorpio Classic SUVs. The second most popular SUV from the automaker is the Mahindra Thar, which claims to be receiving about 10,000 bookings every month. The true blue off-roader that comes available in both hard-top and soft-top variants currently has 76,000 open bookings across India.
Watch: 2022 Mahindra Scorpio-N: First Drive Review
Mahindra Bolero range and XUV700 range are at the same level when it comes to receiving bookings. Both the XUV700 flagship SUV and the Bolero models have been receiving about 9,000 bookings every month. The XUV700 currently has 70,000 open bookings across India. The Mahindra Bolero and Bolero Neo combined have been fetching about 9,000 bookings every month and currently have 11,000 open bookings.
Watch: Mahindra Scorpio Classic: First Drive Review
Mahindra XUV300 and its pure electric sibling XUV400, together have been receiving about 6,000 bookings every month, claimed the automaker. Combined, these two compact SUVs currently have 10,000 open bookings across the country. The SUV specialist auto manufacturer also said that it currently has about 2.86 open bookings across the country.
Demands for the SUVs have been rising in India rapidly, keeping pace with the rest of the global markets. Encouraged by this, every automaker has been launching new products in the segment and Mahindra too is no different. The carmaker has launched a couple of new models over the one year that have received pretty good responses from buyers.
Ever since Mahindra launched the Scorpio N in the Indian market, it has received a tremendous response in terms of demand. Because of this, the waiting period for the SUV was very long. Since then Mahindra has been trying to reduce the waiting period. The latest update is that the waiting period is now between 35 and 40 weeks in New Delhi.
By: HT Auto Desk | Updated on: 18 Oct 2023, 16:02 PM
Mahindra Scorpio N is 206 mm long, 97 mm wide and has 70 mm more wheelbase compared to the Scorpio Classic. It rides on R18 and R17 diamond cut alloy wheels, and sports signature double barrel LED Projector headlamps, tall stacked LED tail lamps, shark-fin antenna and electrically adjustable and foldable ORVMs, among other exterior features.
The Scorpio N is offered as a 6-seater or a 7-seater. It is available in four trims – Z2, Z4, Z6 and Z8. Last month, the prices of the Scorpio N were hiked. This is the third time Mahindra and Mahindra has increased the price of the Scorpio-N SUV. Earlier, the carmaker had hiked its prices in January and April. The prices start at ₹13.26 lakh and go up to ₹24.54 lakh. Both prices are ex-showroom.
Mahindra is using a body-on-frame chassis for the Scorpio N. It comes with a rear-wheel drive setup with a proper 4×4 powertrain. Powering the SUV is a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine and a 2.2-litre diesel engine which are also doing duty on the XUV700 and the Thar.
The diesel engine is available in two tunes. The lower variants produce 130 bhp and 300 Nm whereas the higher variants put out 172 bhp and up to 400 Nm. It is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard whereas the higher variants also get an option of a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission. The petrol engine puts out 200 bhp of max power and a peak torque output of up to 380 Nm of peak torque. It is also offered with a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission.
Watch: 2022 Mahindra Scorpio-N: First Drive Review
Mahindra is still selling the previous generation of the Scorpio which now has been rebranded to Scorpio Classic. Its prices were hiked by ₹25,000. Mahindra Scorpio Classic is now priced between ₹13.25 lakh and ₹17.06 lakh. Both prices are ex-showroom.
Tata Motors has tasted pretty good success with the Nexon EV. The pure electric version of the compact SUV was launched as the first-ever electric car from the homegrown brand. Since its launch, the Nexon EV has helped the automaker to grab around 80 per cent of the Indian electric car market. The facelifted iteration of the car aims to further strengthen the company’s grip in the segment.
Watch: 2023 Tata Nexon EV facelift first drive review: Best-seller gets even better?
Here is a price comparison between the 2023 Tata Nexon Ev facelift and its closest competitor Mahindra XUV400.
2023 Tata Nexon EV facelift vs Mahindra XUV400: Price
The 2023 Tata Nexon EV facelift is priced between ₹14.74 lakh and ₹19.94 lakh (ex-showroom). Available in six trim options, the SUV comes available in two different powertrain variants: Long Range and Mid Range. The Nexon Ev facelift trims are Creative Plus, Fearless, Fearless Plus, Fearless Plus S, Empowered and Empowered Plus.
On the other hand, the Mahindra XUV400 comes available in trim options: EC Standard, EC Fast and EL (Long Range). This electric compact SUV is available at a pricing range of ₹15.99 lakh and ₹19.19 lakh (ex-showroom).
The all-new 2023 Tata Nexon EV facelift clearly comes undercutting its closest rival Mahindra XUV400 EV, as the base variant of the Nexon EV facelift, which is the Creative Plus is priced lower than the Mahindra XUV400 EV’s base variant EC Standard that comes priced at ₹15.99 lakh (ex-showroom).
Maruti Suzuki plans to invest a whopping ₹45,000 crore to double its annual production capacity in the next eight years, reported PTI. Maruti Suzuki India’s chairman RC Bhargava reportedly said on Tuesday that the automaker plans to produce 40 lakh cars annually by 2031 with the influx of investment it is making to double production capacity. This comes at a juncture when the Indian auto industry like the rest of the global automobile industry is witnessing the introduction of new technologies and Maruti Suzuki is aiming to take a lead in that.
By: HT Auto Desk | Updated on: 29 Aug 2023, 15:25 PM
Besides focusing on doubling production capacity to 40 lakh cars annually by 2031, Maruti Suzuki is also emphasising on development of new technology for its vehicle fleet.
Despite being the largest car brand in India, Maruti Suzuki is yet to penetrate the EV segment, while Tata Motors, Hyundai, MG Motors and Mahindra along with several luxury car brands have already launched their respective products in the country’s electric car segment. Speaking about this, Bhargava accepted that the company is late in the segment but believes that it will not impact the brand by damaging its ability to get an adequate market share in the space.
Watch: Maruti unveiled eVX EV Concept at Auto Expo 2023
He also said that Maruti Suzuki aims to launch six electric cars by the decade’s end, which would give it a strong position in the market. “Yes, we are behind some companies in launching EV but that does not mean that we are late in the market or that when we are coming in 2024-25, we will have in any way damaged our ability to get an adequate market share,” he added.
As Maruti Suzuki is thriving towards greener and cleaner powertrain technology, it will increasingly focus on a wide range of new technologies including electric vehicles, hybrids, CNG, ethanol and compressed biogas in the coming days, said Bhargava. Speaking about these technologies, he also said that it is difficult to predict what will happen in the next eight to ten years.
Bhargava also said that Maruti Suzuki has reached the 20 lakh units annual production and sales milestone. Now, it is aiming to double that figure by reaching the 40 lakh units annual production and sales milestone, he said. The plan will be part of the automaker’s ‘Maruti 3.0’ strategy, under which the company is targeting to add another 20 lakh units of production capacity with about 28 different car models in the market by FY 2030-31.
The Maruti Suzuki chairman said that the era ahead is going to be a very uncertain and challenging one. “The era before us is going to be a very uncertain era, a very challenging era. Putting up these two million cars itself will cost us something close to ₹45,000 crore. It depends how inflation goes but at the moment we estimate the cost about ₹45,000 crore for two million cars,” Bhargava said.
Mahindra has already grabbed a lot of eyeballs in the global automotive sector with its recently unveiled Thar.e EV concept which previews a full-grown five-door ure electric iteration of the internal combustion engine-powered Thar SUV. Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra has now confirmed that it will not just remain as a showcase prototype but will enter production in the near future.
While unveiling the Mahindra Thar.e EV concept, the automaker hinted that it would enter production in 2025. Anand Mahindra has not shared any such timeframe for the production of the Thar.e electric SUV, but his social media post indicates that the concept will enter into production.
By: HT Auto Desk | Written By: Mainak Das | Updated on: 20 Aug 2023, 17:32 PM
Mahindra Thar.e EV concept previewed a full-grown five-door pure electric iteration of the internal combustion engine-powered Thar SUV.
In his social media post, Anand Mahindra wrote, that from the moment there was the prototype the company was committed to making it a reality. “Nope. Not just a concept. From the moment we all saw the prototype we were committed to making this a reality,” Mahindra wrote in his X (Previously Twitter) post, along with a video demonstrating the offroading capability of the pure electric prototype.
Watch: Mahindra Thar.e Concept EV: The future of off-road SUVs?
The newly unveiled Mahindra Thar.e concept is based on the automaker’s INGLO P1 EV platform instead of the ladder frame chassis that underpins the internal combustion engine-powered Thar SUV. This new platform is dedicated to electric vehicles and is claimed to enhance the rigidity of the vehicle as well as offering significantly higher safety for the occupants. Also, this platform claims to offer a long range for the EV, thanks to its capability to accommodate a large battery pack.
With the introduction of the W4, the sporty, high-performance 1.2 L mStallion TGDi petrol engine option is now available in a more affordable variant. Previously, this powertrain was exclusive to variants from W6 onwards. The powertrain offers a 0-60 km/h acceleration in just five seconds, thanks to 230 Nm of peak torque and 96 kW of power. Further, the company has enhanced the W4 variant line with a sunroof on both petrol and diesel models.
With the introduction of new entry-level W2 variant, the XUV300 range now starts at ₹7.99 lakh as against ₹8.65 lakh previously. The price goes up to ₹14.59 lakh for the W8(O) Turbo Diesel with AutoShift gear.
Mahindra XUV300 is available with both manual transmission and advanced auto SHIFT technology in both diesel and petrol engine options. The SUV claims to offer high fuel efficiency in its segment. It gets various first-in-segment features such as all 4-disc brakes and dual-zone automatic AC. The five-seater SUV gets a wide in-cabin space and rugged design.
Earlier in March,Mahindra updated XUV300 with new engines to meet stricter emission norms from April 1. The carmaker updated the XUV300 lineup with engines compliant with RDE norms which make them compatible with ethanol-based fuel. As a result, Mahindra has also increased the prices of the sub-compact SUV.
Mahindra and Mahindra have teased an electric version of the Thar. It will be called Thar.e and will make its debut in concept form on 15th August in Cape Town, South Africa where the Mahindra is hosting an event called ‘Futurescape’ where the manufacturer will be showcasing a global tractor platform and a pick-up truck concept as well.
By: Paarth Khatri | Updated on: 05 Aug 2023, 12:44 PM
A screenshot from the teaser that Mahindra shared.
Not much is known about the Thar.e as of now. However, it can be expected that Mahindra will either re-purpose the existing platform of the Thar so that it can be used to fit batteries and electric motors or they will base the Thar.e on an all-new dedicated electric skateboard platform. Mahindra already has an electric platform called INGLO on which its upcoming electric SUVs will be based on.
Considering that Thar is an off-roader and comes with four-wheel drive, it makes sense for Mahindra to equip its electric version with a dual-motor setup where one motor sits on the front axle and another one sits on the rear axle. Having said that, what would be the icing on the cake would be a proper quad-motor setup. This means that each wheel will have its own electric motor to modulate the torque and traction individually while off-roading.
The teaser also shows us a glimpse of the rear tail lamp whose design is in line with the current Thar. So, it is a square unit with a smaller square inside. Considering this, it can be expected that the current design language of the Thar will mostly stay intact but will get a few changes here and there so that it can be recognized as the Thar.e and not the ICE version of the Thar.
Apart from this, it is important to note that Mahindra is only showing the concept version of the Thar.e so the production-spec version is still a few years away. Speaking of concepts, Mahindra will also showcase a pick-up truck concept which is expected to be based on the platform that Scorpio N and the upcoming Thar 5-door will use. Again, we do not know when the production-spec version of the pick-up truck will launch.
Mahindra has teased its new pickup truck, slated to debut on August 15 in Cape Town, South Africa. The homegrown auto manufacturer has dubbed this as the concept form of a global pickup truck. The pickup truck is expected to be based on the Mahindra Scorpio N platform. The upcoming Mahindra Thar five-door too will be based on the same architecture. It will carry the legacy of the Mahindra Scorpio pickup truck, which has been in business for several years. Besides this, the automaker is also expected to showcase some more of the brand’s future mobility plans.
By: HT Auto Desk | Updated on: 30 Jul 2023, 09:28 AM
The Mahindra Scorpio N pickup concept will carry the legacy of the Mahindra Scorpio pickup truck and it will first break cover in South Africa.
Internally codenamed Z121, the new pickup truck will come with a longer wheelbase than the standard Scorpio N SUV. This will enable the pickup truck to accommodate a larger cargo deck. For reference, the MahindraScorpio Classic has a 2,600 mm wheelbase, while the pickup version of this SUV comes with a wheelbase well over 3,000 mm allowing the latter to have a cargo deck.
Mahindra has not revealed further details of the upcoming pickup truck concept, however, the teaser indicates that it will be well capable of tackling hard road challenges. A few design elements of the pickup truck concept include a double-cab body style, rugged looking front grille and chunky off-road spec tyres wrapping around large wheels.
Expect the production version of the Mahindra Scorpio N pickup truck to come to the market by 2025. It could arrive in both single and double-cab body styles. Speaking about the powertrain, the pickup truck could share the same petrol and diesel engines as the SUV. Also, there would be manual and automatic transmission options for the pickup truck. Expect it to come in both 2WD and 4WD options. It is not clear if the upcoming Mahindra Scorpio N pickup truck will replace the current Scorpio pickup or would sell alongside it.
