The news of the Tata Safari Storme getting an automatic was confirmed by Tata Motors and as soon as it spread like a wildfire, its arch rival Mahindra Scorpio started to plan an automatic transmission variant too. Its not that Scorpio has never gone down the path of automatics, but it was just that it was offered on the top end variant and the automatic kits were brought in from Australia. The Scorpio AT was discontinued after the Australian company, Drivetrain Systems International stopped supplying Mahindra with Automatic kits.
But Mahindra wants to be on top at all times and how could they let go of a feature that their competition was going to bring to them. Today we have for you the spy-shots of an entry level Scorpio, codenamed S-530 being tested with an automatic gearbox which have reached the interweb. The version seen in the spy-shots appears to be the no-frills base model which does not even come with coloured door handles and bumpers.
Scorpio is quite a capable car but off late, has been facing tough competition from the Tata Safari Storme and the home grown XUV 500. The Scorpio has a 2.2-litre mHawk turbocharged diesel heart which gives out 120 BHP at 4000 RPM and a torque of 290 Nm between 1800-2800 RPM and will now come mated to probably a 6 speed automatic transmission in addition to the current 5 speed manual transmission.
The automatic transmission is expected to make its way to the car commercially by early or mid 2014 and we believe Mahindra will be developing the automatic gearbox in house instead of relying on outsiders. Also what will be interesting is that Mahindra will offer the automatic transmission on lower end models too when most of the competitors would be offering it on the top end variant. Tata Safari Storme AT vs Mahindra Scorpio AT VS Mahindra XUV 500 AT. It’s going to be a giant automatic battle.
Image credits and Source- Motorbeam
