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| The first automatic Scorpio outside India on the Breedts Nek pass. Photo: Leo Kok, PanTerra Media |
MAHINDRA on Tuesday introduced an automatic transmission to its robust Scorpio Pik Up, the bakkie that serious bundu bashers and load carriers like to abuse.
These bakkie users will recall that Mahindra arrived in South Africa with the robust Bolero bakkie, selling it at such a low introductory price that several people in my area bought one as a runabout, aiming to drive it “until it falls apart”.
Over a decade later they are still waiting and those Boleros are still schlepping heavy loads of salt lick up mountains or supplies to spaza shops. One cattle farmer told me he just adds snow chains during the rainy season to drive up slippery slopes.
The S11 Pik Up continues building the Mahindra name in South Africa, which the multinational conglomerate rates as its most important vehicle market outside India.
Assembled at Mahindra’s plant near King Shaka International Airport, the Pik Up S11 features climate control, cruise control, a seven-inch capacitive touch screen with Satnav, reverse camera, new side mirrors with integrated indicators, two air bags, 12V power points for the front and rear occupants, traction control, electric windows with an automatic up and down mode on the front windows, auto locking doors and, of course, the six automatic transmission.
Developed by Aisin Warner, which also makes gearboxes for Toyota, Suzuki and Jeep, the gearbox impressed all in a convoy up Breedt’s Nek Pass in the Magaliesburg with its all but imperceptible shifting. Representing Africa’s longest continuously published daily and SA’s muddiest province, I took a 4x2 instead of a 4x4 up the badly eroded pass. The 4x2 comes standard with a mechanical differential which locks as soon as either rear wheel spins, to ensure both wheels turn together.
It is old tech but works without a hitch.
CEO of Mahindra South Africa, Rajesh Gupta, was justifiably proud of the big bakkie’s nimble prowess up the last gravel pass within sight of Johannesburg’s lights.
He said South Africa was the test bed for the Aisin Warner gearbox and the first country in the world to officially launch the all-new S11 Pik Up automatic.
“There has been an overwhelming demand for an automatic transmission in our bakkie range, and we believe we have the perfect answer with the S11 and S11 Karoo AT,” he said.
The four-cylinder engine has common rail injection and turbo charging to deliver 103 kW at 3 750 r/min and 320 Nm at a flat band between 1 500 r/min and 2 800 r/min.
The Hawk turbo diesel has a high 16.5:1 compression ratio for smooth power delivery and Mahindra averaged a low 7,9 l/ 100 km while testing the new auto box across SA.
Going down the pass was even easier than up, despite the recent good rains having washed deep ruts between sizeable rocks. The hill descent control can be set to go faster or slower using the cruise-control button on the multifunctional steering wheel, and high road clearance turned the down ride into an aim-and-go exercise.
Initially, the new automatic gearbox will only be available in the double-cab Pik Up body style, but the single cabs can already be booked, all with Mahindra’s standard four-year or 120 000 km technical warranty and free Roadside Assistance Plan.
It also has a comprehensive service plan for five years or 100 000 km. The first lubrication service is at 10 000 km and every service thereafter will be done at intervals of 20 000 km.
Prices for Mahindra’s dozen double-cabs start at R312 499 for the Pik Up S6 4x2, and go to R429 999 for the Mahindra Pik Up S11 4x4 Karoo auto.
But having earned the right to stand far from my elbows going up and down a washed-out Breedts Nek in a 4x2, I reckon this is all the double-cab serious bundu bashers need, selling for R384 999. It really is a lot of bakkie for a lot less money.
