Pune based automotive major Force Motors (India’s largest van maker) has named its next generation shared mobility platform as URBANIA. Till now code named as T1N, the new name was revealed at the Dealers Meet held at Indore today where select dealers from India and abroad were invited for a plant visit and test rides.
This product was showcased at the Auto Expo 2020 but on account of the Covid pandemic and its cascading effect the launch was delayed. Serial production has now commenced at the new state- of-the-art manufacturing facilities created for this platform. The first lot of vehicles will be shipped to dealerships in the coming fortnight.
The URBANIA is the first vehicle in this category in the country offering crash and rollover compliance with air bags for driver and co-driver even though current Indian legislation does not mandate them. In addition URBANIA comes with large ventilated disc brakes on all four wheels with ESP, ABS, EBD and ETDC offering unmatched safety for its passengers.
The URBANIA has been developed with global aspirations, it is design protected for plying in select markets of Middle East, Africa, ASEAN and South America where the URBANIA is expected to be an excellent value proposition vis a vis high premium products from Europe, Far East and USA.
The creation and development of this ground up modular monocoque van and the setting up of new state-of-the art manufacturing facilities has been done with a total investment of over Rs.1000 Crores.
The Force Motors team working on the development of URBANIA extensively consulted with leading technology specialists, domain experts across the globe, in Italy, Spain, UK, Germany, Japan, and USA to improve, refine and validate this platform made in India, so as to match international performance expectations.
The URBANIA with its next generation, international styling and body design is in a class by itself and in the same league as leading international offerings. The looks are further enhanced by first in segment signature day running LEDs, first in segment projector lamps and first in segment tail lamps with light guide technology, all making it a head turner whichever way one looks at it.
The URBANIA platform has been designed with a 2-box construction keeping the engine fully outside ensuring least NVH in passenger compartment. For the first time in this segment independent front suspension with transverse springs has been offered, giving it best in class ride quality.
The URBANIA is powered by the proven Mercedes derived 115 hp, BS6 compliant, Common Rail Diesel engine, offering peak torque of 350Nm over a wide range starting from 1400 to 2200 rpm.