Spotting a Scorpio facelift on test is just a usual day on the web, with so many spy shots surfacing on the net, Mahindra seems to be in no mood to reveal the 2014 Scorpio anytime soon. The company is aggressively testing the 2014 Scorpio facelift ahead of its launch this year, and we spotted the test mule recently at the Mumbai-Pune expressway. Codenamed S-594, the camouflaged SUV was carrying dummies on the rear seats to replicate the weight of passengers. The use of dummies represents as to how the vehicle will handle with the additional weight at the rear, especially at high speeds.
The Scorpio has not really been known for being a good handler, but Mahindra might want to improve on this aspect. A suspension upgrade will help the SUV offer better ride quality at the rear, which is the last place you should choose to be in the SUV. This being probably the last comprehensive facelift on the current generation Scorpio, the SUV will get a host of changes including a detailed update to the exteriors and the interiors.
The front fascia takes inspiration from the XUV500, while the interiors will lose the utilitarian feel and will sport new gadgetry and better levels of fit and finish. The dashboard and the steering wheel are heavily inspired from the XUV500 as well. The Scorpio will retain the current seating layout, and expect new upholstery to be offered with fabric and leather options. You will also get the start-stop system, steering mounted controls, Bluetooth with USB and aux-in connectivity offered as standard on the SUV.
The SUV segment saw a steep rise this fiscal with competitors like the Renault Duster and Ford EcoSport registering record sales. In spite of tough competition, the Scorpio has emerged with the highest volume sales in the last fiscal. The company sold over 50,900 units of the SUV compared to the Duster’s 46,700 units and EcoSport’s 45,000 units during the 2014 financial year. Mahindra’s wide network of sales and service and the strong acceptability of the brand in rural areas has helped the company retain the numero uno position against new entrants in the segment.
The 2014 Mahindra Scorpio will get projector headlamps, daytime running lights as well as LED tail lights. Expect the company to hike the prices of the SUV by a significant margin when launched. The 2014 Scorpio will pack in the same 2.2-litre, 4-cylinder, mHawk diesel engine producing 120 BHP of power and 290 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic gearbox. The update will help keep the Scorpio fresh for another two years, till the next generation model breaks cover in 2016.
