Mahindra has revealed the concept version of its next-generation Pik-Up ute at an event in South Africa, ahead its expected local launch in production form around 2027-2028.
Dubbed the Mahindra Global Pik-Up concept, this new-generation ute concept has clear exterior design links to the current Scorpio SUV which launched in Australia this year. The two vehicles look virtually identical besides the fact the ute concept has a tub on the back.
The Global Pik-Up concept also has some wild concept car-like features including the textured grille and the tub-mounted spare wheels.
The Indian carmaker refers to the Global Pik-Up internally as project code ‘Z121’, and claims it’s based on a “tough and versatile new-gen ladder frame platform”.
The next-generation ute is said to come with Mahindra’s intelligent 4Xplore four-wheel drive system, though it’s unclear if there will be any modifications made to the engine.
The current-generation Pik-Up, which launched locally in 2018, is powered by a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel producing 103kW and 320Nm.
The current Scorpio on the other hand has a newer, uprated 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel, producing 129kW and 400Nm. It’s still not quite at the segment benchmarks of 150kW and 500Nm for ute-based SUVs.
Mahindra claims the Global Pik-Up will have Level 2 advanced driver assist systems (ADAS), trailer sway mitigation, “all-around” airbag coverage, drowsy driver detection, 5G connectivity, among other features.
Global Pik-Up concept 
Scorpio
The Global Pik-Up concept also has a sunroof, a semi-automatic parking function, an “immersive audio experience”, as well as a number of drive modes.
As previously reported, this new-generation Mahindra Pik-Up has segment stalwarts like the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux in its sights.
“Going forward, we have aspirations of bringing in a truly global pickup for Australia and a range of EVs,” said Mahindra’s global automotive boss Veejay Nakra in June this year.
“This is a product not being engineered for India, but a platform and a product being truly engineered as a global pickup.
“Australia is a critical market when it comes to the global pickup, so we would be working with customers, our channel partners over here, to take all the inputs into what we need to define the global pickup as. So, the market would play an important role in helping us define what we want to offer.”
“If you want to be successful… Australia is an important market for us, and for us to be successful we need to scale up in this market. If we have to scale up, we have to have the right option for the market,” Mr Nakra said when asked whether the global pickup would have a 3500kg braked towing capacity like key rivals.
When asked whether the company’s work on a range of five new electric vehicles could see it introduce an electric ute, Mr Nakra said that’s not in the plans right now.
“At the moment to begin with, as we launch, we are looking at an ICE-based global pickup,” he said.
“Obviously as we go forward, depending on how the market shifts and what the requirements are, we will evaluate all sorts of powertrains going forward.”
Mr Nakra left the door open for the global pickup to be sold alongside the existing Pik-Up instead of replacing it outright.
Current Pik-Up
Mahindra currently employs this strategy in India with the new Scorpio, which is sold there as the Scorpio-N while its predecessor is sticking around with Scorpio Classic badging.
“I think we would see that as we go along, there could be multiple opportunities, different segments, different price points, I think those are all in the reckoning at the moment.”
“I think we will take those calls as we go along, depending on what the definition of the global pickup is, what would be the offerings from a range of single-cab, double-cab, king-cab, powertrain options, the price points that we would cater to… I think that’s a call we will take as we go along.”
