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Taiwan: Ford announces the i-Max

Tuesday, May 08, 2007, AutomotiveWorld.com

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Ford Lio Ho has issued images of its forthcoming i-Max minivan. The Taiwanese company is a 70/30 joint venture with Lio Ho Machinery set up in 1972, which manufactures and assembles various Ford and Mazda models for the domestic and export markets.

The i-Max is a restyled, locally developed version of the Mazda5/Premacy minivan. The changes include new headlamps, grille, bonnet, front wings, tail-lights, bumpers and alloy wheels.

Ford Lio Ho says it will build left- and right hand drive versions, with the latter targeted at the Australian and New Zealand markets. It will be launched in Taiwan in July and built alongside the joint venture's other Ford and Mazda vehicles at the existing plant.

Other Ford models assembled by the joint venture include the Tierra, a version of the 1990s Mazda 323/Familia; the Metrostar, a slightly altered second generation Mondeo and the Mazda Tribute-based Escape SUV. The Tribute and Mazda5 are also assembled at the joint venture's Chung Li plant.

Ford's Asia-Pacific division has lacked a model to compete in the compact minivan segment until now. Previously, it sold the Ixion, a version of the former Mazda Premacy built by Ford Lio Ho between 2000 and late 2005.

Published on Tuesday, May 08, 2007

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