Mahindra and Ford will go forward with its plan to collectively produce C-segment SUVs for the Indian market regardless of each firms calling off its proposed three way partnership.
- Ford’s C-SUV will share its underpinnings with the brand new XUV500 (W601)
- Might be contract manufactured by Mahindra at its Chakan plant
- Will include the identical petrol and diesel engine choices as the brand new XUV500.
Ford C-SUV for India: What is the plan forward
Whereas each the manufacturers have mutually agreed to name of their proposed three way partnership, Ford’s model of Mahindra’s upcoming XUV500 (W605) will nonetheless see mild of day. Ford and Mahindra had determined to collectively work on the brand new C-segment SUV beneath a separate settlement referred to as “Mission Black.” Each manufacturers had begun work on this SUV way back and have made important investments and the challenge is upfront levels of improvement. This new SUV from Ford, as reported by us first, will share its underpinnings with the new XUV500 that’s anticipated to see a market launch by April this 12 months. The Ford model is anticipated to hit the showrooms after a niche of round eight-to-nine months which implies an early 2022 debut will be anticipated.
Ford C-SUV for India: What we all know to this point
Whereas each SUVs will share a number of frequent bits together with the powertrain and underpinnings, each fashions can have a novel exterior and inside design and like the brand new XUV500 can have acquainted styling cues from the outgoing mannequin, its Ford model is anticipated to have styling cues from different newer Ford SUVs like the brand new Ford Equator (pictured) which are on sale abroad. Whereas test-mules of the next-gen XUV500 (W601) have been noticed commonly throughout the nation, there hasn’t been a single sighting of the Ford model but. Ford’s C-SUV for India would be the model’s second three-row providing after the Endeavour however will sit at a a lot lower cost level, thus filling the much-needed hole between the Ecosport and the Endeavour in Ford’s India line-up.
Mahindra Ford JV: Ecosport 1.2 turbo-petrol plans unaffected
Together with the C-SUV challenge, the choice for Mahindra to provide its 1.2-liter TGDi turbo-petrol engine to Ford for the EcoSport as introduced earlier additionally stays in place. This engine will primarily be a alternative for the EcoSport 1.0 turbo-petrol variant that was discontinued final 12 months simply earlier than BS6 norms got here into impact. This model of the EcoSport is anticipated to launch later this 12 months.