M&M to rev up Scorpio sales via new engine

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), the country's leading automobile maker, will shortly come out with a new 2.2 CRDe engine-powered Scorpio. The new engine, also known as Eagle, is learnt to progressively replace its existing 2.6 CRDe engine.

The company is testing the new engine on Scorpio, which is expected to be out in the market in the next few months.

Confirming the development, Pawan Goenka, president, automotive, M&M, said, "Yes, we are developing a new engine. However, there is no intention of scrapping the existing 2.6 CRDe engine. As per the demand, we will be mixing both the engines for the product."

M&M is sourcing critical technology for the new engine from Bosch.

The high-tech Eagle is four-valve per head, turbo-diesel engine that is also expected to power the company's upcoming multi-purpose vehicle Ingenio to be launched in 2008.

It is a more fuel-efficient, technologically-advanced, lighter and environment-friendly engine than the existing 2.6 engine, sources said.

According to industry sources, M&M will chiefly use the new 2.2 engine for Scorpio and the 2.6 engine will be adopted in the company's other models, like the MUV Bolero or its mini-bus Tourister.

The company is expanding its engine capacity in Igatpuri to 800 engines a day from the existing 450 at an investment of Rs 250 crore.

Scorpio Turbo Diesel CRDe comes in four variants, Turbo 2.6, Turbo 2.6 DX, Turbo 2.6 GLX and Turbo 2.6 SLX. Scorpio also comes with regular diesel and petrol variants.

Scorpio is the largest selling SUV in its category in the country. Last year, the company sold more than 35,000 Scorpios. It clocked the highest sales for any month this August, with the volumes touching 3,794.

It registered a growth of 20 per cent over the corresponding month of the last financial year. The cumulative sales of Scorpio rose by 18 per cent over the last financial year.