[KMohanan]

As a competitor to Tata Magic and Mahindra Maxximo, Force Motors has launched 'Force Trip' Mini Van. The on road price is about 3.1 lakhs.
Photos of Force Trip, Tata Magic and Mahindra Maxximo are attached.




Some more photos of Force Trip attached.




Brochure of Force Trip.




More info is available in the following links :
http://goaonwheels.com/2011/04/29/fo...s-trip-in-goa/
http://goaonwheels.com/2011/04/29/fo...-and-brochure/

[ottocycle]

Well. Probably the ugliest of the segment. Let's see if it finds any takers.

[swiftdiesel]

Is this a rear engined van? If not, what are those vertical slats on the rear bottom for?

[Maverick1977]

I am sure that this vehicle gives you the same feeling to travelling in a local train. The pictures also seem to prove the same. People sitting in the vehicle are holding on to over head bars in the same way as one would do on a local train albeit whilst standing.
However this vehicle will definitely bring about some much needed competition in this segment for the Tier II & Tier III towns.

[Dry Ice]

How can you make something this ugly? That wobbly door is such a put off! With the Trax still doing good in rural areas, I wouldn't be surprised if this finds takers too!

[silversteed]

Originally Posted by swiftdiesel

Is this a rear engined van? If not, what are those vertical slats on the rear bottom for?

Yes, this is rear-engined. I think they've added a front axle instead of the single wheel, to the Minidor 3-wheeled contraptions that are used as "share auto" in Chennai

[ajman28]

I guess looks don't matter much in this particular segment. The end user is more interested in the power and mileage. They are more keen to know how many "extra kilos" can they pull comfortably with the vehicle.

[SCORPION]

4 wheels are definitely safer than 3 wheels, no matter how basic or uncomfortable they are. If these things can eventually replace the ubiquitous and overloaded 'share autos', then its good. Is it the same engine that powers the 3 wheeler from force motors? Minidor, if I am not mistaken? Or have they strapped in a new one? From the looks of it, it looks like the engine is in the same place as in the 3 wheeler.

[swiftdiesel]

Originally Posted by silversteed

Yes, this is rear-engined. I think they've added a front axle instead of the single wheel, to the Minidor 3-wheeled contraptions that are used as "share auto" in Chennai

Will be interesting to see how a rear-engined van fares against the front-engined ones like the Tata Ace. I know Ace struggles on inclines and that's why they don't do runs on hills like Kodai or Ooty. Will be interesting to watch this van making up an incline.

[KMohanan]

Originally Posted by Dry Ice

How can you make something this ugly? That wobbly door is such a put off! With the Trax still doing good in rural areas, I wouldn't be surprised if this finds takers too!

Force Motors (through their various mini truck models and now through this shocking 'trip') and Mahindra (through their Gio variants) are competing with each other on designing very strange looking vehicles...

[Zed]

Force Trip (Forced trip) ? Not the most appealing name for a vehicle eh?? Perhaps it is a deliberate attempt in line with the design philosophy of this vehicle which seems to be ' Exterior styling is not a deciding factor for potential buyers'.

[Ragul]

I think Indian automotive cos are not hiring engineers with a postgraduate degree in design - that's why we have such strange and cocky looking lines and angles on all the local cars. Most Indian cars look like a photoshop cut paste job.

This new Force will only look good in one avatar - as a milk van.

--Ragul

[KMohanan]

Originally Posted by swiftdiesel

Is this a rear engined van? If not, what are those vertical slats on the rear bottom for?

Atleast Force was wise enough to give an external cover for accessing the engine for service and regular oil checks etc. The world famous tata nano (rear engine) is so terrible in this aspect. If you want to check the coolant level or oil level, 45 minutes gone. Folding rear seats, sit over the rear seat, removing 6 nuts, remove cover, then sit as an inverted 'U' to reach the checking places. Then put back the cover, fix the 6 screws (if you are lucky, all 6 will get fixed in the first attempt itself), unfold the rear seat. By the time, you must have got sweat and will have carbon traces at many places in your body. So, go and take bath.
It is interesting to see that, even from such a primitive design of force trip van, there are lessons for tata to learn.

[Ashley2]

This is available since last april but not got enough attention.
Guess it was initially launched in select location and now taken pan India