Ford to launch 5 vehicles this year

Ford India Ltd is all set to launch five passenger vehicles this year, including two in completely new segments, company officials said on Wednesday.

"The two new vehicles will be introduced in totally different platforms and in segments where we were not present before. They will add to the excitement started by the 'Ikon'," Randy Shockley, vice president (marketing, sales and service) of Ford India told PTI.

He said three variants of the mid-size car 'Ikon' would also be introduced in the coming months.

The two new vehicles would be manufactured at the company's plant near Chennai unlike the luxury sedan 'Mondeo', which is imported as a fully-built-unit to India from the parent, Ford Motor Company's plant in Belgium, Shockley said.

He, however, declined to divulge any further details.

It is believed that Ford India is considering the mid-size sedan 'Fusion', sports-utility-vehicle 'Escape' and the pick-up vehicle 'Ranger' for the domestic market.

Ford India, meanwhile, launched a limited edition version of 'Ikon 1.3 CLXi NXT' model called 'NXT 1.3 CLXi Finesse'.

The car has been priced at Rs 589,000 (ex-showroom Delhi), a premium of Rs 56,221 over the existing model.

The new 'Ikon' variant would be produced only during March and April this year, Shockley said, adding the 1300cc car would have features like alloy wheels, rear spoiler, front fog lamps, leather and fabric synchro seats, power windows, power steering and electric boot release.

Ford India's director (sales operations) Vinay Piparsania said sales of the 'Ikon' have increased by over 840 units after the new 'Nxt' range was introduced in January 2003.

"Right now, the '1.3' and '1.6' petrol 'Ikon' models contribute over 80 cent of total sales with the '1.8' diesel model accounting for the rest," he said.

The company would ramp up its dealer network to 94 in 72 cities by this year-end from the current 82 dealers in 67 cities, Piparsania said.