Force Motors had marked its entry into the passenger vehicle arena when it launched the Force One in India in 2011. Later, the EX and SX variants were launched in July 2013. Though an LX variant was also announced, it hasn’t been launched as yet and was said to be undergoing trials. Now, a car website has posted a report about the LX variant of the Force One being spotted testing in Pune which when launched, will be the third, top-of-the-line variant.
The LX variant of Force One will get a Borg Warner four-wheel-drive system (also found in the XUV500 AWD) with three modes-2WD-high, 4WD-high and 4WD-low and will be coupled with wider tyres. The system also provides for an electronic Shift-on-the-Fly, which enables on-the-move switch between 2WD-high and 4WD-high. The extra kit makes it heavier by around 200kg and the Force has reworked the suspension setup to compensate for the extra weight. ABS with EBD will be available, but might be an optional extra. Cosmetically, new body graphics will set it apart from the ‘regular’ Force One while the interiors have been improved to give it a more premium feel.
The LX will use the Mercedes-Benz sourced four-pot 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine which pumps out 139bhp and 321Nm of torque. Mated to a five-speed manual transmission, the same engine is also found in the SX variant, while the EX variant uses a 2.6-litre diesel which makes a meagre 81bhp and 230Nm of torque. The current two variants are available in a combination on six and seven-seater variants, with ABS as an option in the SX.
