Ford-Mahindra Aspire Electric car will be based on long wheelbase version

Mahindra and Ford have joined hands to develop next-generation cars. Both the manufacturers have started working on the next-generation products already. Both the brands have jointly announced the development of the all-new SUV that will be powered by the powertrain supplied by Mahindra. However, before that, the first product to come out of the new alliance will be an electric sedan based on the Ford Aspire. Since it is an electric vehicle, the sub-4m rule will not be applicable to the car. This is why Ford will use a long wheelbase version of the car in India, which is available in the international markets.

AutoCar India Instagram has put up the new details with a picture of the upcoming car. The long wheelbase version of the Aspire is manufactured right here in India but is not sold in the Indian markets due to 4-meter rule that puts higher taxes on the cars longer than 4,000mm in length. Since no such rule is applicable on the electric cars, Ford will utilise the opportunity to offer a long wheelbase version of the car in Indian that will offer a much higher amount of cabin space. Also, the extra space will be useful to put in the extra batteries to increase the overall range of the car.

The electric powertrain powering the sedan is developed by Mahindra. The details of the upcoming electric car are not known but it is likely to be powered by a 380-volt Lithium-ion battery that will make the 50 kW or 67.98 PS producing electric engine move. The all-new sedan for the Indian market will be able to reach 110 km/h and will have a good range of around 150 km per charge. The all-new full-size electric sedan is expected to be launched by the end of this year or early next year in the Indian market.

The long wheelbase version of the Aspire is exported to the countries like South Africa and it measures 4,254mm in length, 1,695mm in width and 1,525mm in height. It gets a boot capacity of 445litres but the electric version of the car may not offer such a larger boot due to the positioning of the battery packs in the boot. It is also not known if Mahindra will sell a rebadged version of the all-new Aspire electric in the Indian market. However, it has been confirmed by both the brands that the all-new next-generation Mahindra XUV500 replacement will also wear the Ford badge in the Indian market

The all-new Ford Aspire electric is expected to be priced at around Rs 12 lakh but here are numerous benefits like FAME-II incentives, free parking and free toll road access for a fully electric vehicle.