Ford Figo

Ford unveiled its new small car “Figo” in September, 2009 in New Delhi with Alan Roger Mulally, Ford’s president and chief executive, making a lightening visit to the country for the unveiling. And now Figo has been launched and will compete with the likes of Maruti Ritz, Hyundai i20, Honda Jazz & Skoda Fabia. The Ford Figo, a new nameplate and a fresh face on the Indian market, signals Ford’s intention to compete in India’s largest and most important small car market segment. Ford Figo is the result of a significant Ford investment commitment to expand its plant near Chennai for volume production as a small-car centre of excellence regionally.

Ford’s $500 million investment has doubled the plant’s production capacity to 200,000 units per year and introduces major advances in high-quality automation and innovative, eco-friendly production techniques. Ford Figo is designed and engineered to compete in India’s small car segment, which accounts for more than 70 percent of the new vehicle market. It leverages Ford’s small-car platform architecture, sharing underlying technology with the Ford Fiesta, already familiar to Indian drivers.

Design-conscious Italy inspired the new Ford Figo’s name is colloquial Italian for “cool.” From the front it is typical ford design – like we have seen in Ford Fiesta and Ikon in India – A big front air dam below the grille which gives Figo a very distinct & aggressive look. At the rear Figo it resembles “Fusion” a lot with high mounted vertical tail lamps in D-pillar. Ford Figo features a fresh, contemporary shape that will be a distinctive alternative to traditional brands in this segment. The design language conveys a dynamic spirit of energy in motion.

Quality, substance and generous proportions are clearly evident in the design of the Ford Figo, which features a solid stance, an invitingly large interior and a vibrant, youthful character. Its package is right-sized for the market, which is predominated by congested urban driving conditions. From its modern headlamps, grille shapes and sculpted bonnet of its distinctive face to the subtle integrated spoiler and chamfered window shape at the rear, Ford Figo is filled with kinetic design touches. These also include sculpted shapes to the body side – chiseled front fenders, a “comet tail” undercut in the doors and additional light-catching sculpting in the lower body side – which combine to communicate the solidity, substance and protective safety of its design.

The bold graphic of Ford Figo’s large side window shape is another key kinetic design feature hinting at the comfort and spaciousness awaiting occupants’ front and rear. The side window graphic is executed with a blacked-out B-pillar, an elegant design touch that unifies the side windows into one shape visually. With its wheels positioned at the four corners of the vehicle with minimal overhang, Ford Figo’s bold wheel arches self-assuredly signal its agility and solidity. All in all Figo looks very muscular and much better that Honda Jazz, Skoda Fabia and Maruti Ritz. But Hyundai i20 still leads the B+ hatchback segment due to its awesome styling, three engine options, spacious interiors and loads of features to play with which makes it a value for money deal. Let’s see if Ford India manages to replace the segment leader with all new Figo.

Figo gets completely fresh interior package which means a brand new instrument panel, seats and trim. According to Ford insiders, the interiors will set new standards for small hatchbacks combining class-leading aesthetics and functionality. Built on the same 2498mm wheelbase as the Indian Fiesta and Ikon, the Figo has a similar amount of passenger space as its saloon siblings. Ford’s Fusion has never been able to sell in good numbers even it was available in diesel. Ford bets very high with Figo and want to change the complete scenario in luxury small car market. Figo’s interiors are very funky and colorful which looks very good and up to date in comparison to other cars in its segment.

All models feature a black-themed interior highlighted with red or blue accents. Door panels on the up-level models include cloth inserts with distinctive blue striping matching the seat pattern. On Zxi and Titanium models, consumers also will be able to choose a coral red coloured instrument panel option. The bold colour themes are inspired by India’s colourful traditions and taste. Black finish looks much better in comparison to red and also red shade reflects in the front windscreen in sunlight. The centre console of Ford Figo is silver in matte finish and EXi, ZXi and Titanium variants comes with factory fiited dahs integrated music system with four speakers. The top of the line variant “Titanium” also comes with Remote central locking, driver seat height adjustment, Bluetooth phone interface, ABS, EBD and Dual SRS Airbags.

Ford Figo has been launched with 2 engine options:

– 1196cc DuraTec Petrol – 70 Bhp
– 1399cc DuraTorq Diesel – 68 Bhp

The diesel engine is the same 1.4 Duratorq 68bhp motor that powers the Ikon & Fiesta saloons. The Duratorq motor is incredibly responsive at low speeds and hugely economical too which should suit the urban driving conditions the Figo will mostly cater to.

The petrol engine is the all new all-aluminium 1.2-litre petrol motor which is essentially a scaled-down version of Sigma petrol engines that power the Fiesta saloon. It generates maximum power of 70 Bhp. Belonging to the same engine family, it shares common architecture like double overhead cams, four valves per cylinder an aluminium block.

A five-speed manual transmission is standard equipment on both engines. The clutch has been designed for low effort due to frequent application for shifting in high traffic found in the Indian market. Zero to 100 kilometres per hour performance is 15.5 seconds for the petrol engine and 15.8 seconds for the diesel variant. Based on Ford’s proven global small car architecture, Figo has been thoroughly tuned for Indian drivers. With the longest wheelbase in the B-car segment at 2489 millimetres, chassis dynamics have been optimised with new steering and suspension components.

Service for the Figo also has been enhanced. Ford India recently announced the opening of 28 dealerships in India, bringing the total number of Ford outlets to 164 facilities in 97 cities. Nearly 50 facilities feature Quick Service, a new servicing process that is designed to quickly perform routine maintenance in less than 90 minutes.

As part of the initial pricing, all Figo models will be covered with Roadside Assistance for two years. Additional extended warranty plans and total maintenance options will be available to the consumer. Combined with service intervals that are among the longest, and high-durability parts that are competitively priced, Figo is among the leaders with a standard scheduled service plan of five years or 100,000 kilometres.

Figo is available in seven colours:

• Diamond white
• Panther black
• Moondust silver
• Chill
• Sea grey
• Squeeze
• Colorad red.

The Top of the line “Titanium” variant of Ford Figo comes with:

Price & Variants of Ford Figo

– Ford Figo LXi (Petrol) – Rs. 3,49,000.00
– Ford Figo EXi (Petrol) – Rs. 3,81,000.00
– Ford Figo SXi (Petrol) – Rs. 3,99,000.00
– Ford Figo Titanium(Petrol) – Rs. 4,42,000.00

– Ford Figo Diesel LXi (Diesel) – Rs. 4,47,000.00
– Ford Figo Diesel EXi (Diesel) – Rs. 4,72,000.00
– Ford Figo Diesel SXi (Diesel)  – Rs. 4,96,000.00
– Ford Figo Diesel Titanium (Diesel)  – Rs 5,29,000.00

( Ex-showroom – New Delhi)