[wheelguy]

Mahindra and Ford jumping into the heart of SUV segment with 4.2-4.3m length SUVs built of a common platform.

SUVs have become a focus area at Ford globally, and of the multiple models in development is a mid-size SUV that will head to India as well. Known by its internal codename B745, the SUV will be built on an all-new platform and will be about 4.3m long. The new Ford SUV's size will put it right in the heart of the hotly contested Indian mid-size SUV segment.

Along with the next-gen Mahindra XUV500-based C-SUV (code: C757), the new mid-sized model will be one of three new Ford-branded SUVs for India. What’s more, the B745 platform will also serve as the base for the long-touted Mahindra XUV400 (code: S204) which Mahindra has greenlighted for production. Remember, Mahindra and Ford have entered into a JV in India and will jointly develop products for our market. Mahindra’s XUV line of SUVs – the XUV500 and XUV300 – comprise monocoque-bodied and front-wheel-drive (or front-biased AWD) models, and the new XUV400 will be no different in its basic architecture.

While the SUVs will be built on a Ford platform and use Mahindra engines, the two models will be different in look – an approach both the carmakers will follow for all jointly developed products. There will be common elements on the inside as well but things like the infotainment systems will be shared. Also, like other models to come from the venture, the duo will be sold from their respective carmaker’s dealerships.

Ford and Mahindra’s SUVs will not be the only new entrants to the mid-size segment in the years to come. Maruti and Toyota are jointly developing their own models; Skoda and Volkswagen will have a model each by 2021; and early next year, the second-gen Hyundai Creta will also go on sale. If you aspire to own a mid-size SUV, be prepared to be spoilt for choice.

Source: Auocar India

[adi.mariner]

Wondering about the pricing strategy which Mahindra will adopt for this segment. The XUV300 is comparatively overpriced where it belongs and overlaps some mid segments SUVs already. Maybe the new XUV500 will move half a segment higher and this will slot in between.

[Reinhard]

Originally Posted by wheelguy

Mahindra and Ford jumping into the heart of SUV segment with 4.2-4.3m length SUVs built of a common platform.

For the car to sell well, all that Ford has to do is, name it anything other than XUV4OO. Just with a "normal" name, it will rob all of XUV4OOs sales numbers.

[romeomidhun]

What Ford has to do is to utilise the "EcoSport" brand name. The styling should match with the current EcoSport, and launch it as a "Grand EcoSport" with 4.4m length, 7 seats, more powerful engine and good feature list.

[Venkatesh]

Mahindra XUV400, Ford B-SUV engine details revealed.

New B-segment SUVs from Mahindra-Ford will be unveiled in FY22
Mahindra's 1.5 turbo-petrol will be among the engine options on both models
Ford EcoSport with 1.2-turbo petrol confirmed for early 2021 launch.

https://www.autocarindia.com/car-new...evealed-417635

[RavenAvi]

According to Pawan Goenka, managing director, M&M:

“The only gap that we have in the platform is a 4.4 meter kind of vehicle, and that will come from a joint product development that we are doing with Ford. This is a Ford platform called VX-772, which will take care of that need for Mahindra also.”

“The three engines that we have talked about - the 1.2 liter, the 1.5 liter and the 2 liter - they are all ready for launch. The 1.2-liter engine will go into Ford EcoSport, the 1.5-liter engine will also go into the B Platform SUV that Ford is developing right now. That platform will be used by Mahindra also. And the 2-liter engine has been accepted by Ford for the W605, the common platform, that we have for the C Platform SUV.”

“Both Ford and Mahindra brands would remain independent and products would be sold through two different channels. Work has started on the C segment SUV, based on M&M’s platform. Ford would pay Rs 1,000 crore for the product development. The alliance would bring down the time to market, reduce capex in product development and also shrink the cost structure of the JV.”

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