Ford To Launch Mahindra Marazzo-based MPV in India

Last month, two automotive giants Ford and Mahindra officially announced their co-development in tech sharing and producing new vehicles. Both executives of the two companies revealed there plans for developing new SUVs for Ford and their cooperation in EVs department. Now, according to a report from Autocar, we can confirm that there will be a lot more to come under the JV – including an all-new Ford MPV based on the Marazzo.

Ford & Mahindra are co-developing new products for India, including a Marazzo-based MPV by Ford.

Well, it won’t be another re-badged engineering job like what we see on the Maruti Baleno-based Toyota Glanza. Despite being developed on the Marazzo’s platform, the new Ford MPV is expected to come with a whole different body designed to retain Ford’s global MPVs family look. What will be the same here is the ladder-on-frame chassis and front-wheel-drive system that is unique to the Mahindra offering. There will be a slew of distinctions on the inside as well, including a new dashboard with SYNC series infotainment system. Like the Marazzo counterpart, the Ford car will be available in either seven or eight-seat configurations.

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New Ford MPV will be based on Marazzo's platform but it will appear in a whole new body in line with Ford's global MPV models.

Under the skin, the new MPV will borrow the similar engine-transmission combo from its donor model. It is likely to get the BSVI version of Marazzo’s 1.5-litre diesel motor which comes mated to a manual and an AMT unit. Another 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine (which Mahindra has been working on) will also power the new vehicle as well.

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Honestly, the new JV between Ford and Mahindra has opened up a range of new models that won’t be possible for Ford to work on its own. In fact, the MPVs segment have been a pivotal part of Ford’s global products range. Earlier, Ford has previously considered penetrating into the Indian MPVs section with the introduction of a low-cost version of Ford B-Max to take on the like of Maruti Ertiga. However, this plan has been finally shelved due to the high investment costs and the low demands for MPVs in the country. Now that Ford has an MPV option under its belt, especially with Mahindra tie-up, the American carmaker is back on the drawing board again. The all-new Ford MPV is expected to go on sale in the country for some time in 2021.