Mahindra Scorpio - The good looking beast

The most talked about product of Mahindra is Mahindra Scorpio. It has proved to be a market leader in its segment since 2002. Every version has new and captivating features.

It is loaded with mHawk engine which gives it a mind blowing pickup (0-60 in 5.7 sec).It includes micro hybrid technology and powered ORVMs. It contains collapsible steering in case of an accident and fire retardant fire upholstery to provide better security. In terms of styling the front part looks bully yet so elegant and appealing. The full fabric, middle row sliding seats and armrest in middle and rear seats adds to comfort. It has got power steering too. Among its new features it includes rain sensors, light sensors, voice assist system, security system and remote locking.




The 16 inch alloy wheels, the tough, aggressive butch front, the tough hunky looking body cladding make it looks like a man with a body armour, ready to take on the wild. The roof has ski-racks that flow with the curves of the roof and the 2.2 VLX also features two tone exterior.

The steering wheel is tilt adjustable and feels nice and solid to grip. The Scorpio also features Anti-Pinch power window on the driver’s side which stops the glass from going up if any obstruction is detected. The music system is standard, Kenwood and plays CD/MP3 and also compatible with SD cards and USB drives with steering mounted controls for volume +/-, mode and FM Tuner.



The power window controls are not located on the door but on the central console b/w the front seats from where movement of all the windows can be controlled. The control on the door pads would have been nicer since they look very spartan with nothing but the door opening closing lever. The central console also has four bottle holders and some utility spaces to take care of your knick knacks.

The rear seats also have a separate row of AC vents placed b/w the middle of the front seats but they are sorely in-adequate for uniform cooling. Interiors have some nice touches like the illuminated key hole, theatre style interiors light that fade in and fade out slowly and movable reading lights which can be moved through 180 degrees.

Mahindra have also incorporated some high tech features like Parking assist which is standard and works well too(intellipark in Mahindra’s speak) with ultrasonic sensors mounted in the rear bumper which judge the distance and show the readings on the rear view mirror with sound warnings, welcome in any SUV, tyre pressure monitor in the instrument console which along with the air pressure in each tyre also gives temperature alert, leakage alert and low pressure alert, rain sensing wipers (which operated once on their own during the course of the test drive) and light sensing headlights, engine immobilizer and even the cruise control (We couldn’t test it given our road conditions)!!!


Features:

• Cubic capacity: 2179cc
• Maximum Gross Power: 120bhp at 4000rpm
• Maximum Gross Torque: 290Nm at 1800-2000rpm
• Gears: 5 speed gears
• Fuel Tank capacity: 60 liters
• Turning circle radius: 5.6 m for 2WD

Costs :

• Scorpio LX: Rs 7.21 lakhs
• Scorpio SLE BSIII: Rs8.19 lakhs
• Scorpio VLX BS IV Rs9.29 lakhs
• Scorpio VLX Automatic BSIV Rs 9.98 lakhs

Mahindra Renault Yeni - Competition to Tata Nano

There are some unconfirmed reports that Mahindra will launch a small car under Rs. 2 lakh soon for combating the Tata Nano phenomenon. The car will be produced in association with Renault-Nissan and will be called Mahindra Renault Yeni.

Two wheeler maker Bajaj Auto, is also working on a small car as an alternative to Tata Nano named Bajaj Lite and is expected to launch it before 2011.

TATA NANO -World's Cheapest Car

The hype surrounding the price and prospects of the Nano has created such an aura of excitement about this minicar that it could put a Ferrari’s crowd pulling capability in the shade.

The roominess of the Nano is what hits you as soon as you get in and though the interior is very Spartan, the centrally-positioned instrument panel and relatively modern dashboard layout makes for a good first impression.

Crank the engine and another surprise awaits. Unlike the widely rumoured, possibly expected, genset or autorickshaw sounding engine, what the Nano sounded like is actually a proper gasoline engine. Sure, there is a mild burble as you start accelerating, but there is very little difference one can discern even in the non-air-conditioned standard/base variant.

The four-speed gearbox is cable operated, yet shift quality is very good. Frankly, the Nano’s gearbox slotting is precise and even better than the sticky, mushy shift feel in the Indica.

The Nano’s focus on fuel efficiency from a seemingly puny engine does not show very much on its acceleration abilities.

On long, straight stretches of tarmac, the Nano accelerates impressively and reached a top speed of 105 kmph.

Compared to its very impressive, modern design on the exterior, the Nano’s score would be a notch lower when one considers the interiors’ overall finish quality.