Mahindra tests new Lifestyler pickup in South Africa ahead of launch

Mahindra is testing its new Scorpio Lifestyler pickup truck in South Africa, with recent spy shots emerging from Johannesburg near Carnival City Mall. The vehicle carries a starting price of 19.89 lakh rupees in India, where it was recently unveiled, and deliveries are scheduled to begin in April 2027.

Global Plans

While the model will keep the Scorpio name in India, it will be sold simply as the Mahindra Lifestyler in international markets. Both versions are built in India for domestic and export markets, with planned rollouts in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, the Middle East, and other African nations. The mid-size truck serves as the spiritual successor to the Scorpio Getaway, targeting lifestyle buyers, farm owners, and engineers.

Design and Features

Spy shots from Johannesburg show a camouflaged test mule displaying production design elements, including a dominating front grille with a large Mahindra logo, a flat bonnet, LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, and vertically stacked LED fog lights. The vehicle retains the Scorpio N profile up to the rear doors, followed by a physically detached load bed that features wheel well intrusions. Equipment on test units includes 18-inch alloy wheels, 255-section tires, chunky wheel arch cladding, frequency-dependent dampers, a dedicated steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, ventilated seats, a sunroof, surround-view cameras, and an advanced driver assistance systems suite. While the unveiled model featured an all-new portrait-style screen, current test mules sport the 10.25-inch screen from the Scorpio N SUV, though the portrait display may appear on future test units or as a standard feature.

Performance

Under the hood, the vehicle uses the same engine options found in the Scorpio N SUV, consisting of a 2.0-liter turbo petrol engine and a 2.2-liter turbo diesel engine. Buyers can choose between manual and automatic gearboxes, alongside an optional 4x4 transfer case and terrain modes.

Context

Mid-size pickup trucks are increasingly popular across global export markets like South Africa and Australia for both commercial work and recreational use. Mahindra aims to expand its footprint beyond traditional SUVs by leveraging its existing vehicle architectures for utility segments. Testing vehicles in camouflage on public roads is a standard final step for automakers before mass production and market release.