Mahindra Scorpio to join Indian Army fleet

Mahindra to deliver 1,470 units of previous-gen Scorpio 4WD SUV to the Indian army.

Published On Jan 16, 2023 12:39:00 PM

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Mahindra Scorpio 4X4 Indian Amry front quarter

Mahindra Scorpio 4X4 Indian Amry rear quarter

Mahindra Scorpio 4X4 Indian Amry interior

Mahindra has received an order to deliver 1,470 units of the Scorpio to the Indian Army. While an official tweet from Mahindra mentions that it has received orders for the Scorpio Classic, which is the updated version of the SUV, the actual vehicles seen here seem to be previous-gen Scorpios. It is evident from the looks, older design for the alloy wheels, and absence of Mahindra’s new ‘Twin Peaks’ logo. Unlike the Classic, which is available only as a RWD, the army spec model gets 4WD tech and a tow hitch.

Army-spec Scorpio gets 4X4
Likely to be powered by a 140hp diesel engine

What’s also different in the army-spec Scorpio is that it gets a black plastic panel on either side of the windshield just above the vertically stacked tail-lights. It is likely done to minimise the damage to the exterior.

On the inside, the army-spec Mahindra Scorpio features grey and black interiors, and gets a touchscreen infotainment and climate control. There could be some additional features for the army-spec model, but certain details are not yet known.

Even the powertrain details are under wraps, but, as this is the older model, it is likely to be powered by the 140hp, 2.2-litre engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission. The new Scorpio Classic, on the other hand, gets the updated 130hp, 2.2-litre diesel engine.

In the past, the Indian Army has procured the Tata Xenon pick up, the Tata Safari Storme, and the Maruti Suzuki Gypsy – the latter being the favourite of the armed forces for almost two decades. In May 2018, Tata Motors had showcased the army-spec three-door Tata Safari Storme with a soft top. However, the vehicle could not enter service in the armed forces.

In March 2022, we had reported that the Indian Army was looking to replace 35,000 units of the Gypsy SUV in a phased manner, and the Scorpio was also considered. The armed forces are also looking to integrate EVs into its fleet, with the Air Force recently adding 12 Nexon EVs.

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