Force badged Mercedes Vito Van (spied in Bangalore)
Pune-based automobile company, Force Motors is planning to expand its product portfolio further by adding two more MPVs (Multi Purpose Vehicle or Multi Utility Vehicle) which are expected to be launched by the end of 2013 or in early 2014. The company will buy the dies and tools from Daimler-Mercedes and manufacture here in India. Like the current Traveller and Gurkha, these MPVs too will share the design and styling from the Mercedes-Benz with few modifications.
Force Motors will be launching a premium MPV, which is the rebadged version of the Mercedes Viano, spied late last-year. Now yet another MPV was caught testing in the streets of Bangalore, thanks to Anish Sridhar for sharing the spy pictures of heavily camouflaged Mercedes Vito van. Although at first glimpse, even we mistook it has Mercedes Viano, later, after clear examination and research we found it to be the Mercedes Vito van.
The Mercedes Vito van seen here is the first-generation manufactured between 1996 and 2003. It is available as a standard panel van for cargo or with an option of passenger accommodations. The second-generation of Vito van was replaced with the ‘Viano’ name. The Viano was introduced in 2004 and is on-sale even today in some markets like Spain, Mexico and China.
1996-2003 Mercedes Vito Van
Under the hood, the new MPV will be powered by the same 2.2-litre four cylinder Daimler-Mercedes derived common rail turbo diesel engine that currently powers the Force One. This diesel engine is built by Force Motors under license from Mercedes Benz. As with the current Force One entry-level test mules, the Pune-based manufacturer might also plonk in a BS3 engine for low-spec variants.
The trusted sources close to us reveal, Force Motors will also launch the rebadged version of the Mercedes Vito, alongside the Viano MPV. The company has not announced any name for these 2 new MPVs but it is expected to be announced in the coming months. This Force MPV will compete head-on with Evalia and possibly a few bigger commercial ones as well.
The greatest thing that Force Motors is banking on is its alliance partnership with Mercedes.
Check out more spy pictures below the jump.
Also see – Spied – Force Motors’ Mercedes Viano
Force badged Mercedes Vito Van – RearView
Force badged Mercedes Vito Van – FrontView
