Mahindra has finally done what pickup fans have been waiting for!
The Scorpio N pickup has been officially teased, with the production-spec truck set to make its global debut on August 14. More importantly, this is the first time Mahindra has officially confirmed the model, which traces its roots back to the 2023 Global Pik Up concept.
The 40-second teaser gives us only a glimpse of what is coming, but there is enough visible to suggest that the Scorpio N pickup will be considerably more than a Scorpio N with a load bay grafted onto the back. The exterior and interior both appear to have received a more modern treatment, while Mahindra is expected to reveal more details in the days leading up to its debut.
A sharper face
The front end gets a distinctly different treatment. The teaser reveals L-shaped LED daytime running lights that sit around the slim LED headlamps, giving the pickup a more contemporary face. The grille itself gets a hexagonal design, while the Twin Peaks logo continues to sit prominently at the centre.
There is also a front-facing camera positioned directly beneath the logo. This suggests that Mahindra could equip the Scorpio N pickup with a 360-degree camera system, although there is also the possibility of the more advanced 540-degree camera seen on the standard Scorpio N. The latter adds an under-bonnet view to the conventional surround-view system, which could prove particularly useful when manoeuvring a large pickup.
The cabin gets a major rethink
The interior appears to be one of the biggest departures from the regular Scorpio N. While the current SUV has a fairly familiar dashboard layout, the pickup gets a much more modern cabin dominated by a large, vertically oriented touchscreen.
Below it sits a completely redesigned climate control panel, while the driver gets a digital instrument display that appears to be a 10.25-inch unit, similar to the system already seen on Mahindra’s existing models.
The steering wheel is perhaps the most obvious change. It gets a brand-new design with sharper, more contemporary detailing that suits the overall character of the pickup considerably better than the unit in the existing Scorpio N.
The teaser does not reveal the entire cabin, but the Scorpio N pickup is expected to get a black-themed, leatherette-finished interior. As a dual-cab pickup, it should also offer enough room for a family, making it potentially more useful as an everyday vehicle than the traditional workhorse pickup.
Plenty of equipment expected
Based on the equipment available on the regular Scorpio N, the pickup is expected to be fairly well loaded. Features could include keyless entry with push-button start, dual-zone climate control, ventilated front seats and a six-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat.
Cruise control, selectable drive modes, a wireless charger, connected-car technology, a single-pane sunroof and a Sony sound system are also expected to feature.
Safety equipment is likely to include six airbags, ABS with EBD, traction control, Level 2 ADAS, front and rear parking sensors, TPMS and rain-sensing wipers. The 540-degree camera could also make its way onto the pickup.
The regular Scorpio N has already scored a five-star Global NCAP safety rating, so the pickup should have a strong safety foundation. However, a Bharat NCAP result for the pickup is yet to be established, meaning its eventual rating should not be assumed until the truck is actually tested.
Petrol and diesel power
The Scorpio N pickup is expected to share its engines with the SUV. That means the range should comprise a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and a 2.2-litre diesel.
The petrol engine develops 201 bhp and up to 380 Nm, while the diesel produces up to 173 bhp and 400 Nm. Both engines are expected to be available with six-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmissions, although the drivetrain options will differ. The petrol is expected to be offered with rear-wheel drive, while the diesel could be available with both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive.
That four-wheel-drive option could be particularly important. Unlike a lifestyle pickup that exists mainly for image, the Scorpio N pickup is expected to combine its dual-cab practicality with genuine off-road ability.
Price and rivals
The Scorpio N pickup is expected to be priced from around Rs 20 lakh onwards. At that price, it will square up against the Isuzu V-Cross and Toyota Hilux, which currently dominate the mass-market lifestyle pickup space.
Mahindra clearly has ambitions beyond simply adding another body style to the Scorpio family. The original Global Pik Up concept suggested that the company wanted a serious global pickup, and the production model now appears ready to turn that idea into reality.
The full picture will arrive on August 14, when Mahindra finally pulls the covers off the Scorpio N pickup. Until then, the teaser has done its job rather well. It has got us looking at the calendar.
