Changan Ford's New Edge SUV Photo: Courtesy of Changan Ford

Changan Ford Automobile Corporation, the joint venture between China's Changan Automobile and US automaker Ford, unveiled three new models at the Guangzhou auto show, including an entry-level compact sedan as well as a 7-seat SUV - all targeted at the specific needs of Chinese consumers.

The All New Escort sedan, based on the company's Focus, is expected to be officially on the Chinese market in January. The model is designed for family use, with a pre-order price of 99,800 yuan ($16,309) to 124,800 yuan.

The All New Escort sedan is expected to see strong sales as it offers consumers a more affordable option, and it will compete with cars like Volkswagen's New Santana, analysts said.

"The lower tier cities have become a new driving force for China's car market, and more affordable cars will appeal to this specific market," Beijing-based independent industry analyst Zhang Zhiyong said.

Besides the All New Escort sedan, the company also rolled out the New Ford Edge 7-seat SUV as well as the Taurus high-end sedan, which will both hit the Chinese market next year, the company said.

The New Edge is designed for both business and family use with three rows of seats. Its 7-seat design meets the needs of Chinese families who want to put all three generations in one car, Marin Burela, president of Changan Ford, told the Global Times, noting that 2015 will be an "exciting" year for Changan Ford.

Analysts said that the three models have further completed Changan Ford's product lineup and will boost sales.

"The new Escort will see its annual sales easily exceed 100,000 units," said Zhang Yu, managing director at industry consultancy Automotive Foresight (Shanghai) Co, noting that the model is quite "competitive."

Zhang also noted that the New Edge is facing a promising market as few major companies have produced similar products so far and China's SUV sector is seeing annual growth  of above 30 percent. Toyota's Highlander could be considered a strong rival in the 7-seat SUV segment.

Changan Ford has seen rapid growth during the past three years. In the first 10 months of this year, the company sold a total of 660,000 units of vehicles in China, up 23 percent year-on-year. Its Focus model topped the sedan sales ranking, with 327,200 units sold during the period, according to data from China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

Changan Ford is also boosting its capacity in China. The company's third whole-car plant in Chongqing in southwestern China just started production two weeks ago and a fourth plant is expected to open next year in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province.

The company also said that its dealers will reach 800 by the end of this year, more than double the number in 2010.