In a departure from its focus on vehicles for rural and semi-urban markets, Pune based Force Motors is developing an all-new SUV that's aimed at mainstream car buyers.
The company hopes this SUV can do for them what the Scorpio did for Mahindra. Force Motors is leaving no stone unturned and has roped in expertise from abroad to help engineer it's flagship which is scheduled for launch next year. Lotus Engineering, the legendary British firm are the specialists employed to hone the ride and handling.
Power will come from a brand new 2.2 litre engine which will be built under license from Daimler. This motor is expected to churn out a whopping 220 bhp! Foreign consultants are working on minimizing NVH levels. In an exclusive interview with Autocar India, Prasan Firodia, MD, Force Motors says “the powertrain technology being offered would be best in the segment. The SUV uses a C-in-C chassis that's been designed and developed in-house by Force Motors. We are very happy with the performance of our prototypes.”
Force Motors will build the SUV at its Pithampur plant. Around Rs. 150crore has been invested in the project which will have an installed annual production capacity of 24,000 units. The company has set up a new vertical for R&D, manufacturing, marketing & sales of the new SUV.