More Mahindra Scorpio variants could come to Australia

The Mahindra Scorpio arrived in Australia earlier this year with just two variants, but the Indian automaker is already looking to expand the line-up.

“I think powertrains and seating options are being evaluated both for XUV700 and Scorpio,” Mahindra’s automotive boss Veejay Nakra told CarExpert.

“Scorpio, we are working on upgrading to a seven-seat as part of the mid-product cycle update,” said Ankit Taneja, national manager of Mahindra Automotive Australia.

Six-seat layoutSeven-seat layout

It’s unclear whether this configuration would join or replace the existing six-seat layout, which features second-row captain’s chairs.

The company has previously confirmed the vehicle would receive autonomous emergency braking as part of a refresh, sometime before a March 1, 2025 deadline mandating its fitment on all new vehicles in Australia.

Only then will Mahindra look at having the Scorpio assessed by ANCAP.

While the Scorpio is currently offered locally in just two trim levels – Z8 and Z8L – both with six-seat configurations, a turbo-diesel engine and four-wheel drive, Australian Government approval documents list another three certified for sale.

These comprise the 4×2 Z4, Z8 and Z8L, which feature the 129kW/400Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four, six-speed automatic transmission and six-seat layout, but with rear-wheel drive.

The Z4 features smaller 17-inch alloy wheels, and while detailed specifications aren’t listed on the documents, in India this trim foregoes some of the Z8’s niceties like a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, coffee/black interior colourway, automatic LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers and sunroof.

There’s an even wider range of variants available in India.

On the subcontinent, the Scorpio can be specified with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 149kW of power and 380Nm.

As with the turbo-diesel, it’s offered there with a six-speed manual transmission as standard.

For now, the Scorpio contrasts neatly with the similarly sized but conceptually different XUV700 that’s just gone on sale in Australia.

The body-on-frame Scorpio is diesel and four-wheel drive-only, while the unibody XUV700 is petrol and front-wheel drive-only. However, Mahindra is also looking to expand the local XUV700 line-up, with a diesel all-wheel drive option on the table.

MORE: 2023 Mahindra Scorpio price and specs
MORE: Everything Mahindra Scorpio