As we reported earlier, Force Motors had plans to launch the SUV in March-April 2011 but now it has deferred another 10 months.
If the rumors are to be believed, the SUV might be called as Explorer that will directly compete with Mahindra Scorpio and Tata Safari.
Force Motors is working towards the launch of a seven seater utility vehicle in a price band of Rs 12 lakh to Rs 15 lakh. The Indian pioneers are planning to establish a different service and distribution network altogether. It is being highly speculated that the new SUV is based on the platform of the Chinese Guangdong Foday Explorer III. The power wagon will be loaded with 2.2 litre common rail diesel powertrain attained from Mercedes-Benz which comes affixed in Mercedes-Benz C-Class car model.
The new car is expected to churn a power of 150-170 bhp and offer a maximum torque of 33-35 kgm of peak torque. The mill comes with five-speed manual transmission and will come in rear wheel drive format which will also have four wheel drive car model but in the later stages. The new SUV from Force will be produced in the company’s manufacturing unit Pithampur in Madhya Pradesh which also makes the trucks, Man Force for India.
As per the sources close to the new SUV launch, more than Rs 300 crore has already been invested in the new SUV project. The manufacturing plant has a capacity of producing 12,000 cars in one year. Following the company’s expansion in the various auto segments in India, the Indian car maker will come with a new passenger car by 2012.
The company is still testing the SUV to make sure that every component fixed on it is working perfectly rather than give some problem later so the company has to recall this model.
Also see – Force India’s bright hope with its new SUV
More pictures of Force Motors Explorer SUV –
