√2023 Mahindra Scorpio-N due in Australian showrooms early next year

The Scorpio-N launched in its home country of India in recent months, and manufacturer Mahindra now says the first vehicles will be in Australia soon.

The 2023 Mahindra Scorpio-N is expected to be in Australian showrooms by April 2023, according to the latest information released by the brand.

Documents published recently by the Department of Infrastructure show the Scorpio-N will soon join the company’s local line-up, with new information published on Mahindra’s local website confirming the model will go on sale in Australia in the first half of next year.

Mahindra dealers have told Drive the first shipment of Scorpio-Ns are due to arrive into the country in March 2023, ahead of the SUV’s expected April 2023 launch.

“The market launch of the Scorpio-N in Australia is intended for 2023, subject to improvements in [the] global supply chain,” the company said in an earlier statement, flagging Australia as a “priority market”.

The Mahindra Scorpio-N is due to arrive just as new safety regulations come into force for all new passenger cars introduced in Australia, which requires autonomous emergency braking (AEB) to be fitted as standard from 1 March 2023 (as previously reported by Drive).

Despite the Mahindra not being fitted with AEB in India, last week the Mahindra Scorpio-N received a five-star safety rating from Global NCAP – a vehicle testing program designed to support emerging markets, which is less stringent than Euro NCAP and Australia’s ANCAP safety testing programs.

Given the 1 March 2023 deadline, it’s presumed the Mahindra Scorpio-N will be fitted with AEB for the Australian market – unless it has somehow negotiated an exemption.

Mahindra is yet to confirm this safety feature, and it is possible for car companies to receive exemptions from the Federal Government in special circumstances.

While the Scorpio-N uses body-on-frame construction as with other SUVs such as the Ford Everest, Toyota Fortuner, and Isuzu MU-X, the Mahindra is smaller than those models, coming in at 4662mm long, 1917mm wide, and 1857mm high – making it roughly the same size as a Toyota RAV4.

Engines are yet to be confirmed for Australia, however the brand’s Australian website only references a turbo-diesel option.

Buyers in the car’s native India can choose between 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol or 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engines, with either a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox.

The petrol engine produces 149kW and 380Nm with an automatic, while 129kW/400Nm is available from the diesel – with lower power outputs when a manual transmission is optioned.

Australian buyers will be able to option either rear-wheel or four-wheel drive, and can expect range-topping variants to come with a low-range gearbox, four off-road modes, a locking rear differential, and a simulated brake-based front differential lock system.

Other available features include a sunroof, dual-zone climate control, wireless phone charging, a cooled glovebox, and an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with reverse camera and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is connected to a 12-speaker Sony sound system.

Top-end models are available with a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster and a sensor-key, push-button start.

Pricing and specifications for the 2023 Mahindra Scorpio-N are due to be announced closer to its local launch in April 2023.

The post 2023 Mahindra Scorpio-N due in Australian showrooms early next year appeared first on Drive.