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Force Motors was positioned in a pavilion that was home mainly to commercial vehicle manufacturers, and quite a distance away from the regular brands. When I got there, there were some interviews going on with the senior management and luckily, the security was only letting those with media badges in:
Force Motors had a smaller presence at the Auto Expo, yet it was logically laid out and there was sufficient space between the different vehicles they had on display:
I found it a little strange that the Force One brand ambassador -
Mr. Amitabh Bachchan - didn't unveil the 4x4. Even though he was at the Auto Expo for the DC Supercar!
I was told that the 4x4 variant with ABS will come first, followed shortly by dual airbags. The Force One 4x4 should be launched around the July - August period and will have a price premium of ~75K over the 4x2.
4x4 badging on both front fenders. Notice the gap between the fender & door, and the paint on the borders:
Front bull guard will be standard on the Force One 4x4. Notice the additional fender-mounted ORVM!
Interior quality is acceptable & way better than the Scorpio & Safari. Long-throw gearshift is awful, as is the clutch action. Air-con vents for all three seat rows with independent blower controls:
Electronic shift between 4x2H, 4x4H and 4x4L:
Projector headlamp & daytime running lights:
Look at all that ground clearance! The 4x4 stands taller due to the upsized Kumho Mohave tyres:
Power comes from the Mercedes 2.2L turbo-diesel with 139 BHP (@ 3,800 rpm) and 321 Nm torque (@ 1,600 - 2,400 rpm):
Rear is similar to that of the Landcruiser 100 series:
285/75 R16 tyres. These were for the Auto Expo only, and won't make it to the production vehicle. However, Force Motors did add that the 4x4 will have tyres that are a size larger than those on the 4x2:
Good luck getting yourself towed out if you ever get stuck (which you will, considering the heft & size of this beast):
Thread moved from the Assembly Line to the Auto Expo 2012 Section
The Trax Gurkha is too conspicuous by its absence
I like the Force One. Unlike the new Safari Storme and the Mahindra XUV, this SUV looks the business. Don't get me wrong, I like the understated lines of the Safari (not the Storme, I'm not a fan of that) and the loud and bordering-on-offensive design of the XUV, but the Force One seems to exude some sort of charm. It looks butch, manly and very tough. Almost like a cheaper Ford Endeavour. I think the One looks very American. That may not be good, always. But it's a great alternative for those who find the Safari Storme too boring, the XUV - too flashy, and the Endeavour - too expensive.
Thanks for this comprehensive thread on the Force products, Rush. :thumbs up
Quote:
Originally Posted by GTO
(Post 2639547)
4x4 badging on both front fenders. Notice the gap between the fender & door, and the paint on the borders: |
That is really sad, and looks very cheap. Plonking over 10 lakhs on a car that does not have a decent paint-job and huge panel gaps is not what you'd want to do. I hope Force Motors address this, if they want to do as well, or even better Mahindra and Tata at their game.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GTO
(Post 2639547)
Interior quality is acceptable & way better than the Scorpio & Safari. |
The steering wheel on the Force One looks like a cheap imitation of Land Rover's steering wheels.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GTO
(Post 2639551)
:Frustrati Shocked to see manufacturers endorsing unsafe guards! |
That does look very unsafe. And are my eyes deceiving me, or isn't that right in the way of the exhaust pipes? That's just as unscientific as bull-bars can get.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1100D
(Post 2639845)
The Trax Gurkha is too conspicuous by its absence |
I was told that the Gurkha will be back in production in 2013. Imagine a Gurkha with the Mercedes 2.2L :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by suhaas307
(Post 2639956)
I like the Force One. |
Looks aren't bad, but then Force doesn't get any credit for it; it's the Chinese body panel supplier who does.
Quote:
or isn't that right in the way of the exhaust pipes?
|
It's called......BACK-PRESSURE rl:
Thanks for the pics GTO.
The Force One looks fort like but with the similar "Tata"isque traits of huge panel gaps and poor paint quality, Force will find few takers unless they address the pain points ASAP. I was wondering why such a huge gap between the wheel arch and tyres, ideal resting place for the mischief mongers - read cats,rats and the gang.
@GTO - you pointed out the towing issues, isnt there a towing hook available for the One. Also the steering wheel looks horrible with so many controls given.
The Force one is totally unglamourous but would make an "unbeatable" beater
Re: Sub-assembly of Merc components
There is a discrete corporate ethical message being stated - Mercedes are complying with the CKD ruling.
There is no evidence that its rivals have even started engine assembly. Either they are incurring running losses due to increased dutiues or there are mis-statements
Quote:
Originally Posted by GTO
(Post 2639547)
Interior quality is acceptable & way better than the Scorpio & Safari. |
While quality of plastic in Safari and Scorpio are of very average quality, but Force One?
I am not sure but from the pictures they look even worse than that in Tata and Mahindra. Color combination spoils the theme even further.
Steering and dials look decent though
Thanks GTO. It looks dated, but for some reason I am liking the Force-1 SUV. May be it looks masculine..
I like this thread. Thanks GTO for a close up of the Force1. I had seen one in the parking lot of my society and i was amazed by the amount of leg room on the 3rd row! It was by far the most spacious 3rd row thought the seat backs were of low height and didn't have head rests. I hope Force Motors keeps working on this product and improves it with each generation. Takes investments but look at how far Tata have come! And they didn't have Mercedes in Indica. :)
Does the 4X4 carry IFS ?
Its incredible as to how Force motors has been assembling engines for mercedes for so long.That goes to show that Indian manufacturers even with transfer of technology can keep up with the strictest quality norms.I wish Force had spent sometime in increasing the quality norms of its own offering the Force One,after having been associated with high quality manufacturing for so long.
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