Indian automaker targets U.S. market with Scorpio SUV
India-based Mahindra & Mahindra is considering exporting its light utility vehicles to the U.S., perhaps as early as 2007. According to AutoWeek, the company is trying to establish a network of 200 dealers to sell its flagship Scorpio SUV.
Mahindra already exports the Scorpio to a number of countries, including Malaysia, South Africa, Russia, Italy, France, Spain and Portugal. In Europe, the car is known as the Mahindra Goa. This won't be the company's first exposure to the U.S. market - Mahindra USA opened its doors in 1994 to assemble and market the company's line of tractors.
The latest version of the Scorpio was launched earlier this year, and comes in seven- and eight-seat configurations, with either 2WD or 4WD powertrains. The standard powerplant for the Scorpio is a 2.6-liter common-rail turbodiesel, but the company is said to be adding a gasoline engine sourced from Renault, and a hybrid prototype is under development.
Reviews of the 2005 Scorpio suggest that its levels of performance and refinement were significantly below U.S.-market standards, but perhaps the 2006 version has addressed those concerns. In any event, you can expect the chunky SUV to carry a bargain-basement price.
[Sources: AutoWeek, Mahindra & Mahindra]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mike Potts 10:51PM (2/07/2008)
There is no competition for a 4X4 Diesel SUV that gets 35+ MPG City driving priced in the mid 20's, not to mention a 4/year bumper to bumper warranty.
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rwdmtparkingonly 7:22PM (8/04/2006)
I can understand why the French like this thing, this is what their SUVs are like: http://www.citroen.com/CWW/en-US/YOURCITROEN/PHOTOSANDVIDEOS/History/MEHARI . However, the Scion xB is under 15k here with the benefits of toyota manufacturing, service, and financing. Sure this thing might be a bit different (i.e. body on frame, rwd with a live axl), but it's really just another two box.
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Sean 7:29PM (8/04/2006)
It looks pretty cool actually
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Sean 7:39PM (8/04/2006)
I would definitely choose this over a hideous Scion. If I were looking for an old school Jeep Cherokee like SUV with capability for a lot less I would consider this.
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rwdmtparkingonly 8:18PM (8/04/2006)
I checked out the site and it looks like this thing is a real body on frame, live rear axl suv and not a cute ute. At least these things have real towing and durability (see all the cops and cabbies with live rear axl body on frame crown vics) advantages. It looks small in this picture (why I said people might as well get an xB), but it looks a lot bigger on their site and even has a bit of LR disco to it. Nissan dealers around chicago are moving Xterras at just over 20K, so that's what they're up against if they come here.
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Sean 8:32PM (8/04/2006)
This site: http://www.motoring.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=1587&fArticleId=2368773
Really shows that it is a true old school SUV. I like it and would definitely consider paying around 19k for one, rather then upper 20's for an Xterra or FJ. Wonder if the diesel make it to the US too?
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Stphane Dumas 8:37PM (8/04/2006)
Also Mahindra beginned when they build Jeep under licence from Willys-Overland in the late 1940s-early 1950s and they're the last one to build the CJ-3A under licence althought with some engines changes and additions like a diesel engine, more infos at http://www.film.queensu.ca/CJ3B/World/India.html
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Mark 9:07PM (8/04/2006)
Don't knock it just because it "made in India". The truck has won three different awards in Europe, including Best Car of the Year by BBC.
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rwdmtparkingonly 9:07PM (8/04/2006)
India takes a 2nd seat to China in most discussions of globalization, but I think have at least as much potential. That said, I think this thing needs at least a 10k discount to the japanese. They might be the next hyundai, but the odds are they they will be the next daewoo (acquired for manufacturing capability with customers screwed) or daihatsu (can't make it in the us market). The gmc canyon crewcab with the 2.8 liter four and a manual is a seriously underrated truck. It's isuzu designed and has really strong fuel economy and crash ratings.
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Ben 9:21PM (8/04/2006)
I can't find a word to describe the level of ugliness...
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Anthony94114 9:26PM (8/04/2006)
With features like..
-Fire resistant upholstery
-Follow me home headlights
-Protective side cladding (mentioned in the 'technology' section of the website)
-Tubeless tires
-I think this is the perfect way for us to see another asinine SUV join the persuit towards global warming, the downfall of American car industry and total consumer gluttony. Let's all get one. Write to them to send some asap. What a brilliant addition. Perhaps their customer service centers will be located in a nice state like red state like Ohio, Texas or Florida.. or India. Yup. Just what we need.
Sadly, it will probably do well.
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AK 10:02PM (8/04/2006)
They're not bad-looking in person, larger than a Grand Cherokee (although in India it's hard to tell as most cars are either large SUVs or small econocars). Should be the strongest contender directly from the Indian market in the US, although yeah, it's not very refined inside. M&M (Mahindra and Mahindra, not candy) may address this if they bring it to the U.S.
Should be interesting...Indian cars last for decades and hopefully that quality, if brought to the U.S., will carry over.
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Joel 10:18PM (8/04/2006)
The also make a 4 door steel top version of the old CJ Jeep. Send that please.
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UH2L 11:21PM (8/04/2006)
These types of mini utes are the workhorse vehicles in India. People (unsafely) squeeze 8 people in these things and go on trips and they're not fast but they get the job done. It also helps that the Indian highways don't have the space to go much above 50 mph. I'm sure it will be very simple to work on, but doubt it would be good as a daily highway driver. It would be like a new gen, no nonsense Indian version of a Jeep Wrangler, best off-road it would surely come with a manual transmission.
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UH2L 11:27PM (8/04/2006)
anthony94114,
I know you from the Saabnet! I'm Caarma on the Saabnet. Please don't insult Ohio as a red state :-) It's barely red and us folks from the NE Ohio area are very blue.
Now that we got that out of the way, I don't like SUVs either, but this thing would probably be somewhat efficient, especially if it came over with a diesel engine. From an environmental standpoint, I would rather have somebody buy this than a V8 pick-up that's never used for cargo and just as a commuting vehicle.
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Dana 11:28PM (8/04/2006)
I hope they are thinking of a different brand name for the US market.
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Howard Kerr 11:57PM (8/04/2006)
This "won Best Car of The Year by BBC"? The BBC knows cars about as well as Forbes magazine knows cars.
This...car? has not been tested by the British magazine CAR, leading me to believe it is not a car, but a truck and/or Mahindra would not let the editors of CAR test a Scorpio. (Nissan won't let CAR test most of it's vehicles, either...because of bad reviews).
Apparently, M and M are smoking the same drugs that Hyundai is using. Come up with a VERY ambitious sales plan...and it will magically happen. A dealer network in the U.S. within the next 12 months? I don't think so. They have very sketchy ideas on which powerplant they will use/emissions certify, no previous experience with U.S. crash tests, and styling that is...unusual?
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Sean 12:23AM (8/05/2006)
This is the coolest thing I've ever read on any Auto company site: "These tail lights extend all the way to kiss the roof of the car. Other cars can now kiss goodbye to any hope they may’ve had."
I want one even more now!
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Sean 2:07AM (8/05/2006)
Oh they definitely need to get rid of the side seats and the weird interior, other then that it looks good for the US market.
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jogia 6:43AM (8/05/2006)
This SUV looks like a good vehicle for the developingf world. But according to U.S. standars it fails miserably.
It looks like a design copy of a Toyota SUV not sold in the US.
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