Pune: Auto maker, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, (M&M), today launched the Scorpio Automatic in India. The SUV has a fully automatic 6-speed gear box and is powered by a powerful 2.2 litre mHawk engine. According to Mahindra, Scorpio is the first Indian SUV in its class to offer a 6-speed fully automatic transmission.

Other features include in-built intelligent driving modes for an effortless drive and a wide array of smart features, giving the Scorpio an even greater competitive edge in its segment. The Scorpio Automatic will be available in two variants - the VLS and VLX variants,  and is priced from Rs10.2 lakhs onwards, ex-showroom price Pune.

A fully electronically controlled automatic gearbox results in shorter shift times and hence, improved drivability of the SUV. This is a major technological improvement over previous automatics which were hydraulic controlled, said Mahindra. 

The transmission in the Scorpio Automatic is permanently sealed and does not require an oil change throughout its life, which will help reduce maintenance costs. The car also incorporates an adaptive strategy to maintain optimum shift quality through the entire life of the transmission. An inbuilt overheat self-protection strategy and a high self-diagnostic capability are additional benefits.

In addition to eliminating the need for constant gear changes, the Scorpio Automatic allows easy manoeuvrability in heavy traffic, anti roll-back when in 'Drive' mode and also ensures that the engine does not stall.

The SUV has intelligent driving modes such as the user engaged mode and the auto engaged mode that allow the driver to tackle various driving conditions with ease. User engaged modes include the normal mode 'N,' which is used for ordinary driving conditions with optimised fuel management. The winter mode 'W' is for driving on ice and slippery or unstable road conditions. This mode regulates torque at the wheels, maintaining high stability in adverse conditions. The user mode also has the manual / engine brake mode 'M' that selects  the lowest possible gear for a defined vehicle speed, utilising engine braking for better control on steep downhill descents.

In the  auto engaged modes, the car can be switched to up and downhill modes, in which the control unit detects the gradient automatically and instantly and then implements the respective shift schedule, thus improving drivability.In the fast-off mode a quick release of the pedal,  enables the transmission to hold the current gear for a preset time period, thus avoiding unnecessary rapid gear shifts

The new Scorpio Automatic also features the mHawk engine which is a hallmark of M&M's innovative cutting edge technology. A technologically superior, more refined and more fuel efficient engine, it puts serious power at the driver's command.

Overheat protection,  reverse lockout and BTSI (brake transmission shift interlock) are some of the safety features equipped in the SUV. Additional safety equipments include a crash protection crumple zone, child locks and ABS (Anti-lock braking system).

Both the VLX and the VLS variants incorporate a vehicle security and voice assist system, as well as an audio system with a CD/MP3 player, pen drive and SD Card compatibility to keep you entertained while on the move. The VLX also features intelligent front wipers which start as soon as they sense a certain amount of rain, with the wiping frequency changing according to the intensity of rain; and headlamps which sense changes in ambient light and automatically turn on or off depending on the light levels.