Force Motors updates website with new Force One SUV variants

Force Motors has updated its website with prices and specifications of new variants of the flagship Force One SUV. The Indian utility vehicle maker has added a base trim to the Force One SUV line up in the form of the EX variant while the higher SX and LX variants get ABS+EBD. Also, Force Motors has added the 4X4 function to the top end LX model.

The EX variant is priced at 8.99 lakh rupees while the 7 seat SX variant with ABS comes in at 11.99 lakh rupees, both prices reflecting ex-showroom Delhi figures. Pricing for the LX 4X4 variant is yet to be released.  So, it might still be a while before the Force One 4X4 variant is available in the market.

Coming back to the base version of the SUV, one major change involves the replacement of the 2.2 liter common rail-turbo diesel engine (140 Bhp-320 Nm) with the less powerful 2.6 liter unit. The 2.6 liter turbo diesel motor outputs 80 Bhp of peak power and 230 Nm of peak torque.

This engine does duty in a range of Force Motors vehicles and is a tried and tested unit. The 2.6 liter turbo diesel engine also gets a different 5 speed gearbox (G1-18/5B) when compared with the 2.2 liter engined models, which get the G32/5 gearbox.  Another change on the Force One EX variant is that the SUV's 2.6 liter engine omits the dual mass flywheel, a standard bit on the 2.2 liter motor.

The 2.6 liter engine comes with direct injection, turbo charging and intercooling. The motor is BS-III emission norms compatible, which is an indication that Force Motors will pitch the EX variant mainly at cab operators. While these are the changes on the mechanicals front, Force Motors has omitted various features and creature comforts on the entry level model. Here's a round up.

• All terrain tyres get replaced by highway tyres, while alloy wheels make way for steel units.
• Leather seats make way for fabric units.
• Day time running lamps are missing and so are rear fog lamps.
• The electric wing mirrors lose integrated turn indicators.
• Roof rails, hub caps, rear wash-wipe and defogger are omitted. 
• Factory fitted stereo with Bluetooth missing.
• Steering mounted audio controls, cruise control, reverse parking sensors, embedded radio antenna, driver seat height adjust and remote key are the other deletions. 

Some features such as air conditioning for all three rows, projector headlamps, puddle lamps and central locking are standard on the base EX variant. Notably, ABS+EBD can be specified as an option on the SX variant while it is standard on the LX model. The electronic, shift-on-the-fly 4X4 feature is only available on the top end LX variant. Expect Force Motors to make an official announcement of the new variants along with a market launch in the coming weeks.