Most people go to holiday destinations like Goa and Manali for relaxing or an adventure. But test prototypes and motoring journalists are flown to these places regularly, to rise early and work till their arms fall off.
Case in point is the Mahindra Scorpio facelift.
There is no shortage of Mahindra Scorpio facelift spyshots on the internet as the vehicle is being put through road tests across India. Could there be something more to this facelift than just a few cosmetic changes?
Until 2016 Mahindra will not introduce any all-new product. From now till then, the only new vehicles from Mahindra would be refreshes of current models. Having given the Xylo and Bolero new engines and looks in the last two years, the one model in the family that hasn't received any updates in recent years is the Scorpio. But for a special edition at the 2010 Delhi Auto Expo, the Scorpio has gone unrefreshed for 4.5 years now.
Going by some reports on the internet, the Scorpio facelift may not launch before mid-2014, however the Auto Expo would be a big occasion to miss out for a car that's so popular. Mahindra is testing numerous prototypes with differing levels of camouflage in Chennai (where its R&D outfit is situated) and Nashik (around the plant area). Guided by the camouflage, we're quite certain that the front and rear of the vehicle would receive the bulk of the changes with new lights, bumpers and grille.
The Scorpio is sold with two engines - a 75 bhp 2.5L m2DiCR engine and a 120 bhp 2.2L mHawk engine. Both motors come paired to a five-speed manual transmission, while a 6-speed AT is also available on the latter.
These images were shared by MotorBeam reader M. Shreyash from Manali. Besides the Scorpio facelift, other models like the Scorpio pickup and the Xylo are also spotted.
