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 Models of Ford to be seen in 2013

American car manufacturer Ford would be rolling out several new models in the Indian passenger vehicle market during 2013. New vehicles would be seen across different segments, namely Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), hatchbacks, Multi Utility Vehicles (MUVs) and luxury sedans. Though the company has not achieved great success with many vehicles in the Indian market, it is hopeful of writing a new story in the current year.

One of the new models for Ford would be the new edition of Endeavour. Though the current one is also doing quite well, Ford believes that it will need to take the competition from Toyota Fortuner and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport to the next level by bringing in the new vehicle. The new Endeavour, based on the Ford Ranger pick up truck, has already been launched in Thailand and it can be expected any time this year in India. From the looks point of view, the Endeavour appears bolder and bigger than before. The vehicle presents a plush new look on the inside, with interiors that are more luxurious than the previous version. Its three spoke steering wheel has audio and Bluetooth controls mounted. Legroom and headroom for passengers is also better. On the engine front, this monstrous SUV gets a 2.2 litre Ford Duratorq powertrain, which produces 149 bhp of power and 375 Nm of torque. Even if this vehicle is priced high, it would still give rivals sleepless nights.

Another vehicle that may be seen on the Indian horizon during 2013 is the Ford Focus. Ford India firmly feels that the hatchback segment will continue to grow by leaps and bounds in the country and this will also lead to the entry of luxury hatchbacks. One of these luxury hatchbacks is the Ford Focus, which is quite popular in international markets. It also used as a rally car in the World Rally Championship. While expressing his views on the Indian automobile market, Joe Hinrichs, President for Asia Pacific and African Operations said, “TheFord Focusis going to be one of the best offerings of the firm to the Indian car market where the customers desire to own a sedan for the symbol of luxury it carries, but this sentiment has started to change. Now people are shifting to the premium hatchbacks which are more features enriched and powerful. For these reasons majority of people find them to be more practical and thus best suited to drive around in the busy traffic of city.”

The new Ford Focus is a large luxury hatchback, which is expected to get a 2.0 litre Duratec 16 V engine and a 2.0 litre Duratec 16V DOHC 20E PZEVengine. Not only will these engines deliver great torque, but they will also be highly fuel efficient. These factors will definitely make the new hatchback a popular option among many customers. While the first engine would deliver 140 bhp of power, the other will churn out 136 bhp. On the outside, the Focus gets a muscular Z-shaped design. There are curvy lines visible all across its side profile.

Ford said that it would launch 8 new models between the years 2010 and 2015. It is possible that the B-Max Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV) could also be among these. The new B-Max could be a replacement for the Fusion, which has not done particularly well in the Indian market. B-Max offers a great mix of futuristic styling and interior space. The B pillar in this vehicle has been integrated with front and sliding rear doors. Space has been engineered in such a fashion that it is easy to get in and get out of the sliding doors. Under the hood, B-Max is expected to get a1.0 litre 3 cylinder SCTi EcoBoost petrol engine as an option and the 1.2 litre petrol, along with 1.4 litre diesel powertrains from the Figo.

The Mondeo is a luxury sedan which has already been in India for several years. However, the sedan has not earned much success and for this reason, Ford engineers have completely redesigned it now. It looks a stunner from the front, with a new front grille and aggressive-looking headlamps. Several fuel-efficient engines could be offered with this vehicle. One of these would be 2.0 litre petrol EcoBoost, mated to a six-speed SelectShift Automatic gearbox with paddle-shift. It would also come with a 2.0 Atkinson cycle petrol engine for a hybrid variant.

One reason for Ford to consider a hatchback of its Fiesta has been the high price of this sedan, which has kept many buyers away. The Fiesta has gone through a major facelift, which gives it stunning looks at present. Its font has a sporty new grille with laser-cut headlamps. These lamps have daytime running LEDs that appear like beads that add to the appeal of this hatchback. On the inside, a leather steering wheel has been provided. Ambient lighting options are available to set the mood in its cabin. A Sony HD audio system has been fitted with 8 premium speakers. The system is also capable of setting maximum volume limits. From the engine perspective, this vehicle would use a 1.0 litre EcoBoost petrol engine to generate 123 bhp of power.

With so many vehicles across different segments and significant attention being given to improvement, Ford India seems to have the perfect recipe for success during 2013.