WHERE HAWKS DARE

We venture into the unknown with two Mahindra SUVs and redefine what exploring the impossible means

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There's something about the word impossible that makes Mahindra grin. For a brand that built its name not in air-conditioned boardrooms but in the dust and rock of real India, 'impossible' has always been a starting point, not a dead end. From the early days of building rugged, go-anywhere 4x4s to leading modern-day off-road culture in the country, Mahindra hasn't just sold vehicles; it has sold the idea of courage on wheels. And so, when the chance came to drive the Thar Roxx 4x4 and the Scorpio-N 4Xplor to what is now officially the highest motorable pass in the world, Mig La, perched deep within Ladakh's remote expanse, the question wasn't why we'd go. It was how soon we could start.

But exploration isn't always about the destination. It's about curiosity, persistence, and the kind of belief that fuels the first turn of the key on a cold Himalayan morning. Our convoy stood gleaming in the early sunlight: a Thar Roxx 4x4 finished in Tango Red, its commanding stance and squared lines looking born of the mountain; and the Scorpio-N, muscular yet sophisticated, the kind of SUV that looks equally comfortable outside a high-altitude café as it does fording a glacial stream. Anagh and I didn't have to debate who'd take what; the Roxx called out to me. It's that rare vehicle that wears its purpose like a badge. It's a drive makes you respect it, which is endlessly rewarding. Meanwhile, the Scorpio-N with its 2.2-litre mHawk diesel, selectable terrain modes, and quiet cabin became Anagh's faithful mountain companion.