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Proper off-roading in my Scorpio N at the Mahindra SUV Proving Track

4th July 2023, 15:30 by Utkarsh Chaudhary

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It was the first-ever “4x4 Fundamentals” event & now I can confidently say that I'm much more aware of my SUV's off-road capabilities than I was before.

BHPian nerd1200 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

4Xploring at MSPT, Kanchipuram TN

TL: DR; Participated in the first ever “4x4 Fundamentals” course at MSPT that put my Scorpio-N through its paces.

A teaser

Here’s a video compilation of the event.

Prologue

On a fine morning a few weeks back, an Instagram notification popped up on my phone. It was from the @mahindraadventure page that read “4x4 Fundamentals MSPT Chennai”. I checked it out, dismissed it and went about my day. I wasn’t too keen to drive one of Mahindra’s souped up Thars through their curated trails. Few days pass by and I get a message from ROG_AK about the same event. He had clarified with the event organisers: this event was curated for customers to bring their own cars and experience its capabilities. I liked the ring of that.

A few days and random chit-chat later, ROG_AK, soumobakshi and I signed up. airguitar joined the bandwagon a couple of days later.

The line-up consisted of 3 Scorpio-Ns, all 4x4 D-ATs and airguitar’s Thar D-MT.

ROG_AK's Black beast, Scorpio-N 4XPLOR D-AT

soumobakshi's most recent toy, Scorpio-N 4XPLOR D-AT

airguitar's ride - Thar D-MT

My Scorpio-N 4XPLOR D-AT

About MSPT

MSPT or Mahindra SUV Proving Track, is one of the biggest and most comprehensive automotive proving grounds owned by an automobile OEM in India. It was started in 2021 and houses the very strategic 4x4 Centre of Excellence where the Mahindra team innovates on creating breakthrough solutions. In 2022, the track was opened up to passionate customers to have a world-class off-roading experience in a specially curated track by the 4x4 COE and Mahindra Adventure teams.

MSPT has been developed with an investment of Rs 510 crore and is built over 454 acres of land at Cheyyar SIPCOT Industrial Area. Designed by Spain’s IDIADA (Institut d'Investigació Aplicada de l'Automòbil - Institute for Applied Automotive Research) and built by Larsen and Tubro (L&T), the MSPT is said to be amongst the best such facilities in the world. It took three years for completion of this track.
Some of the interesting highlights of the facility include –
The MSPT has more than 20 purpose-built tracks which are fully operational.
These include zero percent slope high-speed test track with a 43.7-degree parabolic banking for higher neutral speed testing. In the straight high-speed road, vehicles can reach over 200kph.
In addition to that an arrow straight 2km, 11m wide road with zero % longitudinal slope is built for performance and coast down measurements.
The circular dynamic platform that spans 250 metres in diameter is meant for vehicle dynamics development and evaluation.
A braking pad with six different surfaces, and dry and wet tracks are built to test braking, ABS, ESP and TCS.
A general Highway Durability track and a Simulated City track are built for simulating public road durability.
An Accelerated test track which has all imaginable bad road surfaces including potholes, undulations, Belgian pavement, cobblestone, rumblers and various kinds of wash board and speed breakers are factored into it.
The world out there is unpredictable with storms and floods, MSPT can simulate rain, water wading and water splash. Also, it can simulate dust storms in a chamber.
MSPT houses a Full Vehicle corrosion test facility with a humidity chamber.
A 4x4 Adventure track that has over 25 obstacles for testing 4X4 and AWD vehicles will ensure that the future Mahindra SUVs are capable off-road as well as on road. More details below
Exclusive prototype workshops, health Centre and an administration tower that can house over 200 engineers completes the MSPT facility.
MSPT also has its own fuel station.
A 4x4 specific off-road track has been built at the MSPT to help enthusiasts and experts gain experience of adventurous terrains. This exclusive facility has multiple off-road set ups like up and down hills (slopes 7, 11, 18, and 35 degree), drive thru forest/woods, riverbeds (0.9m and 1.2m deep), mud, slush, sand, rock beds, sea saw, wooden bridge over river pass, hard and soft articulation, wood logs, railway sleepers, a dead drop etc.

Source - Autocar

Drive to Cheyyar

The four of us gathered at Kamat, Narsapura’s parking lot by 7AM, had breakfast and charted a path towards Cheyyar that did not involve the regular Chittoor route. airguitar suggested a back road from Palamaner that joins NH48 near Vellore - we’re grateful he did. The tarmac was smooth, windy and scenic. It was a blast to drive on. It was so good that I promised myself to retrace it again in my Polo GT.

Little bit of hooning later, we diverted off the highway to mesmerizing views beyond Mordhana Dam amidst a little hamlet. The approach roads were mostly unpaved, but that did not bother our SUVs at all.