[Dry Ice]

Originally Posted by djpeesh

Press Conference on 23 May to announce the name of the SUV. And apparently, after the 'premium SUV' they are going to launch a premium MPV in the next two years. Wonderful isn't it how a Chinese product can become premium? Next stop, China to launch the djpeesh coupe :P

23 May? I think you meant June or maybe July.

Premium and chinese have one advantage, cheap. Look at the imitations these guys make at a fraction of the cost! I hope this one is priced sensibly and force motors doesn't do an Aria!!

[DicKy]

Originally Posted by djpeesh

Press Conference on 23 May to announce the name of the SUV. And apparently, after the 'premium SUV' they are going to launch a premium MPV in the next two years. Wonderful isn't it how a Chinese product can become premium? Next stop, China to launch the djpeesh coupe :P

Premium MPV eh?
Guess that will be the 7 seater van he was talking about in the BSM interview.
Hope it's not like this Foday thingy and is developed indigenously(with a Merc touch maybe).
Also any plans about the Traveller upgrade?

[2500cc]

Originally Posted by djpeesh

Press Conference on 23 May to announce the name of the SUV. And apparently, after the 'premium SUV' they are going to launch a premium MPV in the next two years. Wonderful isn't it how a Chinese product can become premium? Next stop, China to launch the djpeesh coupe :P

Which May 23rd buddy ?

[shortbread]

It is understandable if this foday UV is a giant leap for Force from their existing line up, but that will not help justify the imposed 'premium' tag and +10 lac price tag with buyers who have more established and credible options in the market. They will also need a seperate sales and service network from their existing set up for an altogether different client base.

What would be wise for them is to drop the price and make it a cost competitive option to the likes of Scorpio or even the Safari. The existing network might be enough to sell and service such a VFM product.

[djpeesh]

Sorry I meant June 23. The presser is at the Four Seasons in Mumbai, so they're really going for the premium tag eh?

[aravind.anand]

So the unveil event would take place tomorrow, here's the article about it from motoroids- Breaking: Force Motors to unveil their new SUV tomorrow

But it is just an unveil event, so prices will most probably not be announced.

[akshay4587]

I spotted it near chandigarh,was going in the opposite directions,so couldnt click any pics.
Under the camouflage,it somehow looked kind of disproportionate to me.

[fz_rider]

According to indianautosblog , the SUV is christened ' ONE ' and it's going to be unveiled today

[shortbread]

They have revealed the new emblem, which looks exactly like the Chinese supplier Foday's. May as well called it the Foday Explorer and sourced the stickers from them too.

[DicKy]

Force One. What a ridiculous name, reminds me of the U.S president's plane.
Also the next gen of the SUV is then planned to be launched in 2013, hope atleast that one is an indigenous one.
Also the proposed MPV will be bigger than the Innova and premium product. Doh!, i was anticipating something more affordable.
Source:http://www.autocarindia.com/news/for...-suv-force-one

[ashutoshb]

A teaser pic is released:

(courtesy: BSM)

[abhisheksircar]

Originally Posted by shortbread

They have revealed the new emblem, which looks exactly like the Chinese supplier Foday's. May as well called it the Foday Explorer and sourced the stickers from them too.

The more I see the unveiling of this product the more it convinces this car to be a modified Guadong Foday Explorer SUV although the Force motor's Managing Director, Prasan Firodia's, reply to this question confuses me.

Is it true that the new SUV will take after the China-made Guangdong Foday Explorer III, as reported?

The SUV has 85 per cent local content. Bottom-up, the chassis is completely new, designed by Force. It is a new-generation C in C chassis for which there is a complete robotic welding line coming up; the ride and handling, including suspension, is designed by us, and Lotus, the globally renowned automobile engineering consultant, fine-tuned the ride and handling (such as steering and suspension). Moving up, the driveline is completely localised. It has a 2.2 litre engine, licensed from Mercedes Benz or Daimler. You look at any other critical element such as the steering gear and rack, wiper motors and blades, tail and head lamps - they are all localised. The complete body will be welded at our Pithampur (Madhya Pradesh) plant. The name of Guangdong came up because we are looking at some elements of plastic and sheet metal for the car from there. Mercedes Benz Technology (a 100 per cent subsidiary of Daimler and a consultancy) has done the complete vehicle electronic mapping, that is, all the communication inside the vehicle. It helped since the quantum of electronics is substantially higher than what we are used to.

Source : Will Force Motors works its magic in the SUV space? - Rediff.com Business

[swiftnfurious]

Ah ! DRLs all the way I guess ! From the tweets which I received,

• Launch in 3-4 weeks
• Force One to be priced between Safari & Endeavor
• Bigger than Innova & a premium one too
• Acres of space even in 3rd row.
• Another MPV to be launched in 2012
• Successor to this model coming in 2013

[djpeesh]

Got the Press Release. They claim to have designed the SUV with Lotus and Daimler inputs. They don't mention Foday at all. What a load of rubbish!!!

Here's Force's new logo


Here's Foday's logo


About the comment about interior space, here's what Foday says about the space inside

Ample inner space
the vehible is designed with 3 row for 7 seats. The inner space is ample for passengers to get on and off freely. The second row and first row are separated by 450 mm. Once fold up the seats of second and third row, there will be a big space around 2572 L.

forget the spelling mistakes, but will anyone here be willing to pay a premium for a chinese product that's been beautified with daytime running lights and indicators in the ORVMs??? I think not

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by djpeesh

Got the Press Release. They claim to have designed the SUV with Lotus and Daimler inputs. They don't mention Foday at all. What a load of rubbish!!!

Here's Force's new logo

Why do you call it new logo? I don't see anything new other than red background.

Here is the Gurkha photograph from 2007, same logo.