Mahindra Scorpio N Facelift to Come With ADAS

It’s no new news that the Mahindra Scorpio N, sold as Scorpio in Australia, received a 0-star crash safety rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) in 2023. This outcome was surprising given the Scorpio N's impressive 5-star rating from the Global NCAP tests in 2022. The stark contrast between these ratings highlighted the importance of advanced safety features in meeting varying international standards. As for Mahindra's flagship SUV, here are its plans:

Crucial Facelift Incoming

In light of the ANCAP's findings, Mahindra has announced plans to incorporate Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in the upcoming facelift of the Scorpio N. This upgrade is essential to align with Australian safety regulations, which require vehicles to include critical features like:

These regulations became mandatory for vehicles certified from April 2023 in the Down Under. However, Mahindra registered the Scorpio N just in time in March, allowing it to avoid immediate penalties.

ANCAP vs GNCAP

While the Scorpio N scored highly with a 5-star rating under Global NCAP's stringent tests conducted in 2022, the ANCAP results reflected a different standard. The Scorpio N lacked safety features such as Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) and Lane Support Systems (LSS), which significantly contributed to its low score. The ANCAP report indicated that the Scorpio N scored just 44% in Adult Occupant Protection and 23% in Vulnerable Road User Protection, ultimately resulting in a 0% score for Safety Assist due to the absence of active collision avoidance technologies.

In contrast, the Scorpio N's strong performance in the Global NCAP tests indicated robust structural integrity and effective safety features, showcasing its capability to protect occupants under different crash conditions.

Mahindra's Commitment to Safety

Joydeep Moitra, Mahindra Operations Manager, earlier emphasised the company's dedication to safety, stating, “We have a cycle plan on this, so will happen in time.” He reassured customers that the Scorpio will receive the necessary updates before the March 2025 deadline for new safety features.

The mid-cycle update is expected to include various ADAS technologies, similar to those already seen in Mahindra XUV700, such as:

- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Lane Keeping Assist
- Automatic Emergency Braking

As Mahindra prepares for these updates, we can hope for improved safety ratings in the future.

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