Mahindra Scorpio S9 launched

One of Mahindra’s enduring best-sellers – the Scorpio SUV – has just received a new variant called the S9. The  Mahindra Scorpio S9 slots below the S11 trim, and offers a wide range of features at a much more affordable price  tag. The Mahindra Scorpio S9 is priced at Rs. 13.99 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi. Bookings for the new SUV are now open across all Mahindra dealerships in India, and deliveries will begin soon.

Key features of the Mahindra Scorpio S9 include Fully Automatic Temperature Control (FATC), a 15 cm Touchscreen  Infotainment system with GPS navigation, Static-bending Projector Headlamps, LED Light Guides, wing mirrors with  integrated turn indicators, steering mounted audio & cruise control buttons and hydralic assist for the bonnet. Twin  airbags and ABS are standard safety features on this SUV.

Mechanically, the Scorpio S9 shares its engine and gearbox with the S3, S7 and S11 variants. What this means is, the  engine is the familiar 2.2 liter-4 cylinder, mHawk turbocharged unit with 140 Bhp of peak power and 320 Nm of peak  torque. A 6 speed manual gearbox drives the rear wheels. A four wheel drive system – which is offered as an option on the S11 trim – is not available on the S9 variant.

The S9 trim of the Scorpio also gets an idle stop system that Mahindra calls ‘micro hybrid’. This system, which can  be turned off if required, shuts off the engine when the vehicle is idling for more than about 15 seconds. Touching  the accelerator or clutch pedal brings back the engine to life. The idle stop system is meant to improve fuel  consumption and cut down on tail pipe emissions.

Speaking on the introduction of the S9 variant of the Scorpio, Veejay Ram Nakra, Chief of Sales and Marketing –  Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said,

Scorpio changed the landscape of the Indian Auto Industry & continues to be a dominant force in the SUV segment. The new Scorpio S9 offers a great feature package at an attractive price point making it a compelling buy for customers looking for a true-blue SUV, while retaining Scorpio’s core DNA of Power, Driving Thrill & Adventure.

The Mahindra Scorpio S9 retains a 7 seat layout, with two captain seats in the first row, a bench seat that can  accommodate three adults in the second row, and two side facing seats at the rear. The body-on-ladder chassis  equipped SUV is known for its torquey performance, ruggedness and tall driving position. Competition for the Scorpio chiefly comes from the Tata Safari Storme.