Pune-based commercial vehicles maker Force Motors, which will mark its entry into the passenger vehicle segment with its sport utility vehicle (SUV) by August 2011, expects to sell 4,000 units of the SUV in the first year.
Priced between Rs. 10.5 – 11 lakh, the SUV will run on Mercedes-Benz licensed engine and has been developed by the home-grown company with the help of international consultants. The company plans to come up with two or three more models on the SUV platform. In line with passenger vehicle plans, the company is setting up a separate division called personalize vehicle division to cater to its plans in the segment.
Overall, the SUV market in India stands at around 80,000-90,000 units. The company plans to have proper dealership under the passenger vehicle division by the year end. The SUV will have a 2.2 litre common-rail diesel engine with 300Nm torque gear box. Managing Director, Force Motors, Firodia adds, “The car is Euro IV compliant and ready for Euro V. The chassis and suspension is completely new and designed by us with the help from the international consultants.”
The SUV will have an overall localization of 70-80%. The car will be produced out of its Pithampur plant in Madhya Pradesh, where the company has set up a completely new assembly line and paint and body shop for it.
The company has taken the help of UK-based Lotus engineering, which is a global automotive engineering consultancy company into lightweight architectures, efficient performance, electrical and electronic integration and driving dynamics. Moreover, Firodia indicated that the company has also worked with Mercedes-Benz technology, a 100% subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz, for substantial help on built quality assistance, vehicle dynamics and vehicle electronics.
Specification:
Engine – 2.2 liter common-rail diesel engine of Mercedes-Benz
300Nm torque gear box
Euro IV to Euro V conversion
New designed chassis & Suspension
Expected Price: Rs. 10,50,000/- to Rs. 11,00,000/-
CARS ARE VERY DYNAMIC AND VERY COOL