The reigning champ from the Mahindra & Mahindra brigade is back after a heart transplant and is now available in its new avatar as Scorpio mHawk 2.2. The big changes in the popular urban sports utility vehicle (SUV) are all under the hood and in the interiors. The Scorpio fans can breathe a sigh of relief as the automobile company has not tinkered with the SUV’s butch and brawny looks, and the imposing presence is now complemented by a lighter and more powerful engine. Another innovation is a read-out on tyre pressure located next to the speedometer, so you can skip the guessing game when it comes to knowing the tyre pressure. The SUV also gets a classy metallic badge ‘Powered by mHawk’ on the side panels, which unlike many others, does not scream for attention.

Exterior
The styling remains the same and this is not necessarily a bad thing. Scorpio still has an imposing size and the aggressive looking grille, which can be a nightmare for any puny hatchback. The looks could have been more contemporary if Mahindra had worked on the boxy rear. The top variant VLX gets 16-inch alloy wheels and makes it perfect for the urban Marlboro man. Many may think the air scoop on the bonnet is too macho, but it actually provides air to the intercooler for a smoother drive.
What puts one off is that the VLX comes with graphics on the bonnet and the side panels making the car look like a muted chessboard. Sorry Mahindra, but simple still works for most of us.

... contd.