Foton, a subsidiary of Beijing Automotive Industry Holding C0., (BAIC) is a commercial vehicle manufacturer that has previously tested the Tunland pickup truck in India. In a new development, Team-BHP forum member ObsessedByFIAT has spotted three completely uncamouflaged units of the Foton View CS2 minivan being transported on a flatbed truck near Pune.
The Foton View CS2 is a minivan that is on sale in several Asian and African markets. It comes equipped with features like power steering, keyless entry, power windows, and an FM/AM receiver with a CD player, AUX-IN and a Type-C port. Safety equipment includes dual front airbags, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), and reverse parking sensors.
The Foton View CS2 shares its engines with the Tunland pickup. The diesel variant is powered by a Cummins-sourced 2.8-litre turbocharged unit that outputs 161 hp/360 Nm. The petrol version features a Mitsubishi 4G69-based 2.4-litre naturally-aspirated motor that produces 136 hp/200 Nm. Both engines come paired with 5-speed manual transmission and are compliant with EURO 4 emission norms.
Foton first came to India in 2011 and announced investments of INR 1,700 crore over a period of five years to set up a commercial vehicles plant. However, the lack of relevant diesel options in its engine lineup and a lacklustre growth rate of the commercial vehicle market pushed the Chinese automaker to shift its focus to the passenger vehicle market.
On June 18 2018, The Economic Times reported that while the company had finalised plans to launch a premium van in India, the project was ultimately deferred by about 3 years owing to the BSVI emission norms that will come into effect from April 2020. The company is heard to be planning the Indian facility for the production of Borgward SUVs for the export market.
The Foton View C2 that has been spotted near Pune could have been imported by the company for testing, internal use or by a competitor.
[Image source - teambhp.com]
