The Hindu Business Line : Crossovers — the new breed on Indian roads

COULD they be the next big thing to hit the Indian automobile market as Ford, Toyota and even Honda are all set to launch their own versions of the crossover passenger vehicles sooner than later.

Ford Fusion is all set to hit the Indian roads in a couple of months while Innova, which Toyota describes as a lifestyle vehicle, is expected to be launched during the middle of next year while Honda Stream may follow these two launches.

"There is a blurring of lines with auto makers trying to combine the best elements of each model to create an entirely different vehicle," Ford India's Managing Director, Mr David Friedman told Business Line. Ford's Fusion belongs to that category. Mr Friedman describes Fusion as a car that combines the elements of a hatchback, an SUV and a minivan.

Toyota Kirlsokar is understood to have recently carried out a study to find out whether Indian customers were ready for a crossover. The study clearly indicated that the market was ripe for a crossover. With rising income and better road infrastructure, customers were keen to have a vehicle which could be used during the weekends as well as on weekdays.

Anything you chose it to be: But what exactly are crossover vehicles. They have neither a definite profile nor do they belong to a definite segment. They are what the auto maker chooses to emphasise. Hence, one crossover can be different from another's idea of a crossover as auto makers mix and match cars, minivans, SUVs, pick-ups and station wagons to create their own versions.

According to auto analysts, they have one thing in common. They are built on a common platform on which one can either build a car, or an SUV or a pick-up van. For example, the Innova is built on the international multi-purpose vehicle platform.

The next is that they have flexible seating. They have a minimum of five seats and can be extended to seven or eight. The ability to flip, fold, hide or even remove some of these seats is what makes crossovers, crossovers.

In fact, Ford designers `cubed out' Fusion's body shape to create its taller, wider and longer occupant compartment. Fusion can seat five adults and has fold down rear seats, a flat load floor and has an increased ride height.

Most of these crossovers have all-wheel drive and are customised to suit domestic conditions. Ford carried out modifications in Fusion's cabin making it monsoon-proof.

Pricing: The pricing is the tricky part because auto makers want all those who already own a car to buy a crossover too. Fusion could be priced anywhere between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 7 lakh.

If one has to go by what the auto makers want us to believe, the crossovers or lifestyle vehicles could be the beginning of a new segment to hit the Indian market.