A recent media event at the Mahindra Research Valley in Chennai, India brought to light fresh details on the next-generation Pik Up which will make its debut sometime between 2024 and the end of 2026.
Executives at the event divulged that the concept bakkie we saw in Cape Town back in August will be “very close” to the real thing that will be produced and that the exterior and interior design, architecture, and suspension layout are already set in stone.
However, while it shares a ladder-frame chassis with the Scorpio-N SUV, there will be marked changes to the new Pik Up’s mechanical underpinnings and kit.
Everything we know about the next-generation Pik Up
Mahindra head of global product development, R Velusamy, said that the next-gen Pik Up “has similarities [to the Scorpio-N], but many things are different,” Australian publication Drive reports.
He confirmed that the bakkie will see a bespoke wheelbase and suspension layout, slight tweaks to the platform in accordance with its more utilitarian purpose, and that it will once again be available in “all body styles” including a chassis cab, single cab, and double cab.
In terms of styling, the Pik Up will likely have hints of the Scorpio-N baked into the shell such as the headlights and bonnet, but it is anticipated that it will have a wholly unique look.
Mahindra Global Pik Up Concept
In addition, the new Mahindra will incorporate a lot more tech than those of today with a focus on “connectivity and big screens,” said Velusamy.
The automaker has plenty of display configurations to choose from between its new SUVs including the dual 10.25-inch setup from the XUV700, or the 8-inch central screen and semi-digital gauge cluster of the Scorpio-N, though it remains to be seen if it will adapt one of these systems to the Pik Up or go for an all-new layout.
The bakkie is likely to feature the new AdrenoX operating system that supports functions such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and voice commands.
Level two advanced driver assistance systems have also been confirmed, which by definition must include brake, accelerator, and steering interventions in some form, lane centering, and adaptive cruise control.
XUV700 AdrenoX operating system
In front, Velusamy said the engines of the next-generation Pik Up will “generally be the same” as what we have now, but hinted at a slight power bump.
It’s therefore expected that the 2.2-litre, “mHawk” turbo-diesel blocks of the current model will be carried over to the new one and uprated to produce in the region of 130kW and 400Nm – up from 103kW and 320Nm in the bakkies of today – to be more in line with the rest of the market.
However, Velusamy hinted that electrification isn’t off the table and that we may see a hybrid or even a fully-electric Pik Up reaching showrooms in the future.
“I will leave it for the launch,” he said. “Maybe you’ll see under and say ‘Ooh there’s a battery…’.”
For now, while the overarching specifications have been established, a significant amount of work remains ahead before the bakkie is fully unveiled, said Velusamy.
The automaker must still complete necessary crash testing, iron out smaller development issues, and perform market-specific homologation procedures.
It still isn’t confirmed whether the next-gen bakkie will be called the “Pik Up” or get a new name, either.
The Australian launch date of the new Mahindra is envisioned for June 2026, said Velusamy, and judging from previous model releases, its South African debut should take place not long thereafter.
Join the discussion