The Ford-Mahindra joint venture was recently canceled. The JV was developing three new SUVs: a new C-SUV based on the new XUV700, a sub-4-meter SUV, and an all-new mid-sized SUV to compete with the Hyundai Creta. Furthermore, Mahindra’s latest 1.2-liter mStallion turbocharged petrol engine was expected to be installed in the current Ford EcoSport. Both of these ventures have been halted, and Ford has planned to produce and sell goods in India on its own.
The Ford C-SUV would most likely be built on the same platform as the Territory SUV. The Ford Territory is a seven-seater SUV available in China and Brazil. The SUV’s architecture, on the other hand, is likely to be created by Pininfarina, an Italian design firm (a Mahindra-owned company).
The Ford Territory is built on a platform designed by JMC, or Jiangling Motors Corporation, a Chinese automaker. This platform, like the Mahindra platform is built on a lower cost basis. To uphold global standards, Ford is likely to enlist the assistance of its Australian R&D center. The Ford Territory has a wheelbase of 2,716mm, which is identical to Mahindra’s W601 model (XUV700).
Pininfarina, a Turin-based design firm, produced the Ford C-SUV. A 2.0-liter EcoBlue diesel engine is expected to power the new SUV. This engine is produced in the United States and sold to a variety of foreign markets. The 2.0L diesel engine, dubbed the ‘Panther’ internally, currently powers the Endeavour. This engine could be tuned for the C-SUV by Ford. Front-wheel-drive cars like the Mondeo and the Edge are also driven by this engine.
In Sanand, Gujarat, Ford can launch a local assembly of the 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engine. Several Ford engines are already assembled at this place. This engine, which also powers the Territory, can produce 143bhp at 4,500-5,200rpm and 225Nm of peak torque between 1,500 and 4,000rpm. A 48V mild-hybrid system is also included in the Chinese-spec engine. A CVT distributes power to the front wheels (Continuously Variable Transmission).
The Ford C-SUV, like the Territory, could be equipped with ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System). Autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with forwarding collision warning, cruise control, lane departure warning, enhanced active park assist, blind spot information system, and other ADAS features are included. The SUV could come with a wide 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless charger, a digital instrument console, LED lighting system, heated and ventilated seats, a panoramic sunroof, automatic headlamps, and automatic air conditioning, among other features.
