Mahindra is celebrating its 2024 SA Car of the Year Awards in an unconventional way—by embarking on a two-week expedition across some of Africa’s toughest terrains, including a significant focus on Lesotho’s challenging landscapes.
The journey began today in Cape Town, as the company set off on a route through South Africa, Namibia, and notably, Lesotho. This expedition will cover every type of terrain, including some uncharted routes in the unforgiving Namib Desert and the rugged terrain of Lesotho.
“In recognizing the Mahindra Scorpio-N as the winner of the Adventure SUV of the Year, the SA Guild of Mobility Journalists tested both the on-road manners and off-road performance of the vehicle. We aim to replicate their tests and elevate them, demonstrating that our build quality and the engineering of the Scorpio-N make it the perfect companion for real adventures, straight off the showroom floor,” says Rajesh Gupta, CEO of Mahindra South Africa.
The new flagship SUV rides on a next-generation ladder frame platform, featuring a new Pentalink multi-link rear suspension, a new generation of the mHawk turbodiesel engine with 128.6 kW and 400 Nm of torque, and a new 6-speed automatic transmission. Indeed, the Scorpio-N is brand new from the rubber to the roof.
The Scorpio-N also introduced Mahindra’s new terrain-response system, aptly named 4XPLOR, which allows the driver to adjust vehicle settings and performance characteristics to match the terrain and driving conditions.
Notably, the Mahindra Scorpio-N has set a new benchmark for ladder-framed off-road vehicles by achieving a full five-star safety rating in the Global New Car Assessment Programme.
To put this technology to the test, a team of explorers from Specialised Adventures and Mahindra will drive a fleet of standard production models through the Skeleton Coast, Damaraland, and Kaokoland, before returning to the head office in Pretoria, Gauteng. This adventure will also see the team navigate the mountainous and rugged terrain of Lesotho, providing a comprehensive test of the vehicle’s capabilities.
The expedition will kick off on the moonlike landscape of the infamous Skeleton Coast, known as the Achilles heel for many adventure-thirsty explorers. Here, they will tackle the Langstrand dunes before searching for the Zelia shipwreck.
Following this, the team will head to Damaraland, where they will explore the 1,000-year-old living fossils, the Welwitschia Mirabilis. They will then ascend Namibia’s highest mountain from the Ugab River foothills, finally exploring the Spitzkoppe of this area of the trek.
In Kaokoland, the team will seek out the Himba tribe, attempt to uncover the secrets of the Lone Men of Kaokoland, and explore the Hoarusib and Hoanib riverbeds in the hope of encountering the Namib Desert elephants.
A significant highlight will be the challenging landscapes of Lesotho, known for its mountainous terrain, which will provide a rigorous test of the Scorpio-N’s off-road capabilities.
The first episode capturing this exciting adventure will be posted on Mahindra’s social media channels on June 21, 2024.
This marks the final installment of the current series of Mahindra Adventures, following a promise to visit seven great adventure locations between the launch of the Special Edition Karoo Pik Up range and the Scorpio-N.
The first excursion saw a Pik Up Karoo Dusk, Karoo Dawn, and Karoo Storm traverse from the Richtersveld in Namibia to Lesotho and the Winelands of the Western Cape, all while being immortalized on film.
In the second adventure, participants challenged each other to explore active living by engaging with the many outdoor experiences the Western Cape offers, this time behind the wheel of an XUV700.
Throughout these adventures, Mahindra demonstrated to viewers that one could truly explore every part of our beautiful country, including the challenging terrains of Lesotho, behind the wheel of a Mahindra, inviting them to do the same.
“Mahindra won the award as South Africa’s Adventure SUV of the Year and the Motor Enthusiast’s Choice. With our next and final adventure, we will prove to our fans and owners that they have made the right choice and that Mahindra will always be their preferred adventure partner,” says Rajesh.
