It is no secret that Ford Motor Company has joined hands with Mahindra & Mahindra to drive sales in India. Under this partnership, Mahindra will take care of developing, distributing and selling of Ford cars in India. In return, Ford will help Mahindra to expand its business in the global markets. Under this partnership, Ford will introduce 3 brand new SUVs in the Indian market.
Media reports claim that the upcoming Ford SUVs will be designed with the help of Pininfarina, Italian design house owned by Mahindra & Mahindra. The first model to be launched under the new partnership will be an all-new C-SUV, which will be sold through Ford dealerships in India. The new Ford C-SUV will be designed and developed on the new front-wheel-drive platform, which will also underpin the soon-to-be-launched new-gen Mahindra XUV500.
The new Ford C-SUV will take on the likes of the Jeep Compass, Tata Harrier and others in the segment. The new model will be offered with two engine options – a 2.2-litre turbodiesel expected to produce around 180bhp and a 190bhp, 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol.
The second SUV to be launched under the new partnership is an all-new mid-sized SUV, codenamed Ford BX745. This SUV will sit between the EcoSport and the upcoming C-SUV. It will rival the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and the Nissan Kicks. The new mid-sized SUV is likely to be developed on the Ford’s B-platform, which also underpins the Ford EcoSport and the Figo. This platform could also be used to develop the upcoming Mahindra XUV400 mid-sized SUV.
Mahindra is also likely to use the Tivoli’s X100 platform that also underpins the Mahindra XUV300. The mid-sized SUV is expected to source the engine options with Mahindra. It is likely to receive the 163bhp, 1.5L turbo petrol and a 121bhp, 1.5L turbo-diesel engines. The turbocharged petrol engine was unveiled at the 2020 Auto Expo.
The third SUV will be the next-gen Ford EcoSport, codenamed BX744. The new model was earlier scheduled to be launched in the late 2021; however, launch could be pushed to 2022 due to COVID-19. Details about the next-gen model are yet to be revealed, but it is rumoured to retain the existing Fiesta’s B-platform. The new model will borrow the 130bhp, 1.2L turbocharged petrol and 15L diesel engines from Mahindra.
