Rumour: Mahindra Scorpio, XUV500 to get 1.9L diesel engine

In December 2015, we had reported that Mahindra was considering the introduction of a smaller diesel engine in the Scorpio and XUV500. According to media reports, the two SUVs are likely to get a 1.9-litre diesel by February.

This 1.9-litre engine is a downsized version of the 2.2-litre mHawk. While the size of the engine is smaller, the power and torque outputs won't be very different. Mahindra worked on the downsizing part, while the engine mapping work was outsourced. From an engineering standpoint, it's really not that difficult to change the engine size in this manner.

The Scorpio will be the first vehicle to go on sale with the new engine. A prototype is reported to have been approved by the ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India). The XUV500 will also get the engine - the certification process of the vehicle is rumoured to be in progress.

In December 2015, the Supreme Court of India banned the registration of cars with diesel engines larger than 2,000cc in Delhi. This order has had a big impact on the sales of some of the best-selling vehicles from Mahindra and Toyota. The SC order has prompted companies to consider petrol and smaller diesel engines for their products.

Source: ET Auto