Cool car: Ford Ikon ikool launched

Ford India introduced its new variant, Ikon ikool, of Ford Ikon in India. Equipped with Duratorq TDCi 1.4 diesel and ROCAM 1.3 petrol engines, these models will be available from tomorrow. The ex-showroom price of the car in Delhi is Rs 4.82 lakh for petrol version and Rs 5.42 lakh for diesel version. Ford India said in a statement that the engines of the car are designed in a way to give class leading fuel efficiency.

Next week will see brand new Ford Endeavour

Ford is ready to take on the competition head on with recently launched Toyota Fortuner. If Toyota Fortuner has been a runaway success for Toyota, Ford is not ready to step aside. It’s brand new Ford Endeavour being launched in Indian market next week. The premium SUV from Ford will be completely face lifted and launch of this advanced vehicle means to cater to the rising demand of the vehicles in market, says a senior company official.

"We will launch the Ford Endeavour by next week. It will be an automatic version and we hope to achieve a significant market share after the launch," Ford India president and managing director, Michael Boneham said. No price has been declared though for the new model. “Some new mechanical bits have been added. The new Ford Endeavour SUV is equipped with Borg Warner’s Shift-on-the-Fly system which will enable you to switch between 2wd and 4wd up to 100kmph. There will be some cosmetic changes like changed headlights, grille, with the rear side likely to be the same,” says a Delhi-based Ford dealer.

A new small car from Ford will launch in India by middle of 2010

Ford will also export this product from India by end of next year. Ford intends to tap the fast growing small car market in India which is world’s largest small car market. Ford Motor executive vice president for Asia Pacific John Parker said that the launch will be a game changer and it will take us into the centre of indian market. He did not reveal any numbers targeted for exports from India.

Ford car demands on a high

Indian counterpart of American car maker, Ford India Motors, expects higher sales volumes during the festive season. It will increase its vehicle production by almost 30 percent. "We have been producing about 130 vehicles a day but this will be increased to 174 vehicles a day this month," Ford India President and MD Michael Boneham.

Ford’s entry level sedan Ford Ikon is the highest selling model in India. Its demand is already high. Ford Endeavour and Ford Fiesta models have also registered healthy sales growth in recent months. Ford launched new Ford Endeavour this week is priced between Rs. 15.99 lakh and 17.99 lakh..

New Ford Endeavour launched in India

New Ford Endeavour has been launched in India on Wednesday. The much-awaited premium SUV has a fresh look. Once a very popular car, now, comes with a number of advance and stylish features. This five-speed automatic transmission vehicle is to compete with Toyota Fortuner. The price tag for 3.0L 4X4 automatic transmission is Rs. 17, 99, 000 while the manual variant of Ford Endeavour 2.5L 4X2 is priced at Rs 15, 99, 000. Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty launched the vehicle in New Delhi. Customers of North and West region can book their vehicle from today but SUV lovers from Southern and Eastern markets have to wait for a while. The new grille design three features, detailed horizontal bars that seem to float in the grille opening, the middle of which supports a proud ford oval badge. The top edge of the grille features a wide header bar with the Ford Endeavour embossed boldly into its surface.

New Ford Mondeo to be launched in January

New Ford Mondeo is all set to be launched in India in January 2010. This luxury sedan is in process to revamp in the company's Chennai facility. The outgoing version of Ford Mondeo was not as successful as it was sold 5 to 10 units since its launch in 2001. The old Ford Mondeo had a price tag of Rs 16.30 l lakh but the new version will see a minor change. Ford India, Vice president (sales and marketing), Vinay Piparsania, said that the new model is already there in India for upgradation.

Sime Darby to handle Porsche brand in Malaysia

Porsche Asia Pacific Pte Ltd has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to appoint Sime Darby the sole and exclusive importer of Porsche cars in Malaysia.

The LOI outlines that Sime Darby will assume full responsibility for the importation, distribution, sales, marketing, PR and after sales service for Porsche cars in Malaysia. This also includes the right to appoint dealers and service centres.

Sime Darby is expected to officially take on this responsibility from Jaseri Automotive Group Sdn Bhd by the end of the first quarter of 2010.

According to Christer Ekberg, Managing Director of Porsche Asia Pacific, “We are pleased to welcome a new partner to our Asia Pacific family, and are confident that the team at Sime Darby are the right choice for us to grow the Porsche brand even further. We are also very happy that Dato’ Mokhzani Mahathir will remain as a shareholder in this new partnership, which will ensure continuity and a seamless transition for our customers.”

Porsche Centre Glenmarie will remain as the base for Porsche Sales and Service while additional Porsche Centres will be added to ensure higher service levels to existing as well as new Porsche customers.

Dato’ Lawrence Lee, Sime Darby’s Executive Vice President, Motors Division said, “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to add the Porsche brand to our stable, and are certain that our depth of experience in representing some of the world’s best known marques will stand us in good stead in this partnership. Malaysia will be our second representation of Porsche as we are currently representing the brand with a Porsche Centre in New Zealand.”

About Porsche Asia Pacific Pte Ltd

On 1 October 2001, Porsche established its Asia Pacific office, headquartered in Singapore to support its current 12 independent importers in the region regarding Sales, Marketing, After Sales, Training and PR.