Archive for the ‘Ford’ Category

Spied – More images of Euro Ford Fiesta testing in India

The Euro Fiesta hatch has been caught yet again in Chennai, this one’s red color

There have been many reports on the Euro Ford Fiesta coming to India next year with a boot, but none of them have been approved by Ford. Ford maintains that it constantly tests vehicles in Chennai and the Euro Fiesta could be part of that.

Spied testing in Chennai city, this red Ford Fiesta was quite easily the best looking car on that stretch road. It is huge, it has a great design and the red color was smashing!

Can Ford price the new Fiesta hatch competitively? Ford should have learned from Honda’s mistake of introducing a premium hatchback in India. If Ford is going to take a chance, then better give the customer with maximum value at that price point.

Perhaps Ford can take a chance by pricing the base Fiesta petrol at around 6.5 lakh rupees. They could give it features like climate control, electrically operated seats, cruise control, good sound system, etc at the entry point itself. The Fiesta is offered in Europe with a 1.4 liter petrol and diesel engine.

As the length is beyond four metres (4067mm), Ford could take two routes

1) A cosmetic change to shorten the length and plonk a re-tuned Figo petrol engine (probably turbocharge it, (read Ecoboost)) under the bonnet to qualify for small car benefits.

2) Keep the length, preserve the beauty, put in the powerful 1.4 petrol that Europe gets and sell it as a hot hatch with alloy wheels, music system, steering mounted controls, climate control etc.

Ford knows better. We’re expecting the Fiesta sedan to arrive before the hatch and its success will determine the future of the hatchback.

click through for images

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Entry posted on March 15th, 2010 and filed under Ford, Spy pictures

Ford not considering pickup trucks for India

2010 F-150 SVT RaptorNo pickup trucks from Ford’s Chennai plant at present

Contrary to what was published on Live Mint during the launch of the Ford Figo, Ford is not considering rolling out pickup trucks from its Chennai plant. The company has issued a clarification where it states that its focus is currently only on the passenger car space.

Spokesperson of Ford India -

The senior representatives of Ford India were misquoted by reporters in Mumbai (on the sidelines of Figo launch.) Right now, the company is just concentrating to enhance its marketshare in the passenger car segment. For that we are rolling out various initiatives, which include new and refreshed models. So, commercial vehicles do not come to our drawing board.

The newspaper was reporting that sub-5 tonne pickup trucks from Ford were marked for production at the Chennai plant.

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Entry posted on March 15th, 2010 and filed under Commercial Vehicles, Ford

Sporty Ford Fiesta Sport + for the European markets

The exterior theme of the Fiesta Sport + could look good on the Ford Figo

Ford’s newest addition to the Fiesta range in the UK is the Sport + model which aims to give the car a sportier appearance.

While the racing stripes and dark blue color is reminiscent of racing cars, don’t be fooled. The Ford Fiesta Sport + is just a sticker job, in plain english.

You can buy the car with either the 118bhp 1.6-litre Duratec petrol engine or the 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engine, now with a better 94bhp.

The Sport + gets a full bodykit, featuring redesigned front bumper, side skirts and rear spoiler. The car comes in a choice of two colours: Frozen White with Performance Blue stripes or in Performance Blue with Performance White stripes.

Sporting cues don’t end there. You also get special 17-inch (16-inch if you opt in for the diesel) alloy wheels.

The car will be sold only in European markets, and is based on the three-door Fiesta only. Prices and the launch date have yet to be announced.

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Entry posted on March 14th, 2010 and filed under Ford

Video – Ford Figo TV Commercials

Three TV commercials of the Ford Figo explaining neatly the key features of the car with Indian flavor. Two commercials after the break.

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Entry posted on March 11th, 2010 and filed under Commercials, Ford

Ford Figo – Prices Announced [update]

Ford Figo – Let the game begin

Ford India today announced the prices for Ford Figo variants. The base version for the Petrol is available at Rs. 3.49 lakhs while the Diesel starts at Rs. 4.47 lakhs. Figo, the first small car offering from Ford India, is specifically designed for the Indian market and is expected to be a game changer for the company. The variants and prices (ex-showroom Delhi) below -

Duratec Petrol 1.2 Litre

LXI – Rs. 3,49,900

EXI – Rs. 3,81,900

ZXI – Rs. 3,99,900

Titanium – Rs. 4,42,900

Duratorq Diesel 1.4 Litre

LXI – Rs. 4,47,900

EXI – Rs. 4,72,900

ZXI – Rs. 4,96,900

Titanium – Rs. 5,29,900

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Entry posted on March 9th, 2010 and filed under Ford

Video – Ford Figo presentation

The Ford Figo will be launched tomorrow in Delhi and the prices will be announced then. For those who can’t wait for that event, why not take a look at the presentation video which gives you all details possible of your next car?

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Entry posted on March 8th, 2010 and filed under Ford

Rendering – Ford Figo SUV

While Theophilus Chin’s rendering of the Ford Figo SUV should not be taken seriously, it also shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Chin calls this a facelifted Ford Fusion, but because the looks are similar, we’d like to refer to it as the Figo SUV. The Ford Figo rides on the automaker’s Global B-Platform which underpins a whole bunch of vehicles. Reports in the past have indicated mini SUVs from Mahindra and Maruti so one finds no reason for Ford not joining this race. Perhaps the Indian engineers are looking into this option with a sparkle in their eyes.

The Figo SUV gets its front fascia from the recently unveiled Ford Edge. Jacked up ground clearance, larger wheels, bigger mirrors and probably bigger engine with 4×4 should help it conquer harsh terrain.

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Entry posted on March 1st, 2010 and filed under Ford, Renderings

Spied – Ford testing next generation Endeavour*

*Ford testing next generation Endeavour in the form of the Ranger pickup truck

You might have come across the Ford Ranger while watching the Australian Domestic cricket league on Star Cricket. In truth, the Ranger is the pickup truck formed on the Endeavour’s platform sold in Australia.

The Ford Endeavour (Endy) just received a complete facelift last year. Ford’s also planning automatic and manual transmission variants for the Endy and has not hinted about a model change.

Car Advice Australia says the new Ranger enters their market in 2011 and will be a “global model.” No details have emerged on the powertrain front but it is safe to expect a CRDI engine with a turbocharger.

They claim the next Ranger will be slightly wider and longer than the current model. Does this mean the Endy will grow in size? Wouldn’t that make it longer than a goods train? :P

The spyshots were captured in Sweden and the new Endeavour could come to India in 2012. Or 2013.

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Entry posted on February 25th, 2010 and filed under Ford, Spy pictures

Ford India expands dealer network

Figo to be next growth engine for Ford

Ford India has opened 28 new dealership across India. With these additions, Ford currently has 164 dealer across 97 cities in India.

Clearly the focus is on growth. They may have got the right product in the Figo and with competitive pricing, this is the next growth engine after the Fiesta and Ikon.

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Entry posted on February 18th, 2010 and filed under Ford

Ford discontinues Fusion in India

The costly Ford Fusion makes no sense in Ford’s new small car strategy for India

It is official – The Ford Fusion will not be produced in India here onwards.

Ford could bring in the European Fiesta hatchback spied yesterday to fill in the gap between the Ikon and Fiesta in their product portfolio. Apart from dismal sales figures, another probable reason for this move could be linked with the Fusion’s looks – 2D images hint a dangerously close resemblance from certain angles.

Michael Boneham, Managing Director and President, Ford India -

We will discontinue the Fusion. The car was anyway giving us relatively small volumes.

We have to wait for an official announcement on what takes the Fusion’s place. For now, we assume it will be the Fiesta hatchback.

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Entry posted on February 16th, 2010 and filed under Ford

Scoop – Ford Fiesta hatchback testing in India (Video)

Here’s one we are closely following – the Ford Fiesta Hatchback.

This is a five door hatch back that will soon be launched in North America (US and Canada). However, it is possible that this car could also find its way to India in 2011. A sedan version is also in the offering for the global market.

Pictures of this car on test are available elsewhere as well, but we may be the first to provide scoops of the front end. With that we can also identify some of the external features of this car.

To start with, the build quality looks absolutely sturdy. Appears to be a very heavy car with a meaty engine to pull it through. In comparison to the current Fiesta in India, this car has a aggressive design with up-swept lines and a broader waist line. The body lines are however smooth and clean. It gives the car a stocky feel. It is miles ahead of the Indian Fiesta. Infact, it makes the current version look like an outdated piece of soviet machinery.

click through to read more and see images

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Entry posted on February 15th, 2010 and filed under Ford, Spy pictures

Ford interested in bringing Ecoboost engines to India

Ecoboost could be slightly costly, but the benefits should level out extra expenditure over time

When quizzed on chances of electric and hybrid powertrains on the Ford Figo during the media drive recently in Goa, Michael Boneham, President and Managing Director of Ford India, told IAB EVs are not on the company’s agenda as traffic jams don’t allow EVs to operate like normal cars and getting stuck in traffic is a big threat for electric vehicles.

He insisted that the internal combustion engine is the main focus for the company and “technology like Ecoboost” is suitable for the demands of the Indian market.

EcoBoost is a family of turbocharged and direct injected six-cylinder and four-cylinder gasoline engines that achieve approximately 20-percent better fuel efficiency and 15-per cent reduced greenhouse emissions than these same engines otherwise.

Ford believes Ecoboost technology is the best alternative to hybrid or electric cars. Ford expects over ninety percent of its North American vehicle range to offer EcoBoost engine technology by 2013. The Ford Figo might not receive Ecoboost technology, but the bigger Fiesta and the Focus arriving here shortly should.

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Entry posted on February 15th, 2010 and filed under Ford

Spied – Ford testing new variant of Endeavour in Chennai?

Thanks to our regular reader Sundar, we are able to show you a Ford Endeavour test mule caught in Chennai city traffic. Visually the test mule had no differences to a showroom model except for the “On Test” badge pasted on the rear windshield.

When we started digging for a connection, we unearthed what we were looking for.

Michael Boneham, President and Managing Director, Ford India to Zigwheels at the Endy launch last year -

As far as offering a manual transmission on the 3.0 litre goes (3.0 comes only with automatic transmission), I can’t say anything right now. In the future we might introduce an automatic on the 2.5 litre TDCi (2.5 comes only with manual box) as well and a manual on the 3.0 litre. It depends on demand and right now we feel that there is a need for an automatic box.

Although Mr.Boneham doesn’t confirm any plans, he hints about a 3.0-liter manual and the 2.5-liter automatic transmission variants. What Sundar has caught here could well be one of the two.

have you spotted a test mule recently? get in touch with me at editor(at)indianautosblog.com

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Entry posted on February 10th, 2010 and filed under Ford, Spy pictures
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