Wrong Side Hyundai Venue Flips Mahindra Scorpio: Sturdy SUV Saves Lives
Driving on the wrong side of the road or on the wrong lane can be very dangerous. This practice is, however, common in many Indian cities, and the same shows pathetic civic sense. Many a time, we see careless drivers breaking lane rules and causing major havoc. A recent incident from Uttar Pradesh shows how a Hyundai Venue driving on the wrong lane flipped a Mahindra Scorpio. Luckily, no lives were lost in this unfortunate incident. The SUV's sturdy build saved the occupants.
This video was shared online by Prateek Singh on his YouTube channel. It is, in fact, CCTV footage from a petrol station. A four-lane highway (two lanes each to go to each side) connecting Gonda and Lucknow can be seen in the background. There is a cut in the median to allow vehicle crossing and entry into the fuel station.
In some time we see a White Hyundai Venue coming from the left side. It rushes in and uses the 'cut' to enter the opposite lane. Just when it was about to do so, we see a Black Mahindra Scorpio approaching from the right side. It is seen speeding through the fast lane, just when the Venue tries to enter it. The Hyundai doesn't abort its attempt and indeed enters the wrong lane.
The Scorpio's driver sees this and is left with very little time to react and salvage his vehicle. Backed by quick thinking, he flicks the steering wheel to the left to avoid crashing into the Venue. This, however, unsettles the Scorpio and makes it lose balance. It soon flips and takes much damage.
The high vehicle speed is one reason for it to topple. Another reason is its high-standing nature. The Scorpio has a ground clearance of 209 mm and an overall height of 1995 mm. This means that the centre of gravity sits high. Factor in the soft-sprung nature of the vehicle's suspension, and the Scorpio-toppling is no surprise anymore!
For the uninitiated, the Scorpio Classic is powered by the 2.2L mHawk generation 2 engine which also does duty on the XUV700 and the new Thar. On the Classic, it makes 130hp and 300 Nm. This powerplant comes mated to a six-speed manual transmission.
In this case, the Venue's reckless driving caused the mishap. It, however, remained unaffected. The Scorpio, on the other hand, took severe damage. The Venue driver had no remorse and soon fled the scene. People came rushing and carried out the rescue operations.
This video shows the aftermath of the accident as well. The Scorpio's A and B pillars, doors, and roof have been heavily deformed. The windows and front and rear windshields are seen shattered as well. The condition of the car would make one believe that the occupants may not have survived the incident. This isn't, however, true. All of its occupants could escape with just minor injuries.
The SUV here seems to be the Scorpio Classic. Originally launched in August 2022, it comes packed with safety features like dual airbags, ABS with EBD, brake assist, speed alert system, electronic stability control, hill hold control, ISOFIX anchors for child seats, speed alert system, seatbelt reminder, and rear parking sensors with camera.
Global NCAP crash tested the Scorpio Classic under its new and more stringent protocols. It scored five stars for adult occupant protection (AOP) and three stars for Child Occupant Protection (COP).