Indian Autos blog

Sources have told IndianAutosBlog.com that Ford India is working on two platforms – BV2 and BV3. These are spin-offs from the B-Platform which underpin the Fiesta siblings. One of these two derivatives will form the foundation for the Ford Fiesta SUV, a successor to the EcoSport sold in South America. The interesting part is Ford India will be interested in selling this product.

Codenamed B515, similarities between the hatch and the SUV are easy to spot, but expect a “coupeish SUV” outline on this trendy fellow. Ford could keep the length under four meters to lower the price point. Under the hood, the new Fiesta’s 1.5 turbocharged CRDI could feature along with the 1.0-liter 3cyl EcoBoost that Ford announced recently.

If the EcoSport can be positioned say between the Classic and the Fiesta, Ford will have another killer product in its lineup.

The Ford Fiesta is celebrating its 35th birthday. More than 15 million units of the iconic compact car have rolled out of production lines around the world and here in India, the new generation model in the sedan outfit, was presented last month.

The Fiesta is in its sixth generation and is showing no signs of a mid-life crisis with sharp styling and benchmark handling. The fuel efficiency is at its peak as well, the class leading figure here in India reflects its not only about fancy wheels, muscular styling and funky lamps.

Over a million examples of the latest generation model have been made around the globe.

Click through to read about the Fiesta in Ford’s words.

Wasn’t a particularly good day to launch a hotly anticipated sedan in the market with a series of 3 blasts rocking the city the night before and then the morning filled with torrential downpour, but a work at hand is a work at hand. Ford India decided that the show must go on!

A very low key launch of a very important product of 2011 took place in the Mumbai on 14^th of July – the global Fiesta was finally launched in India. We got you minute by minute updates from the launch as promised.

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As you read this, the launch of the Fiesta is rolling. Prices have been announced. The Fiesta range starts at 8.23 lakh rupees and ends at 10.42 lakh rupees (ex-showroom Delhi) for the top-end model loaded with voice-activated controls, steering-mounted controls, semi-automatic climate control, etc.

The new Fiesta is the first of 8 products from Ford by mid-decade. Right from today, the B+ segment sedan is offered with both petrol and diesel variants. Both variants will come in four trims – Style, Trend, Titanium and Titanium+ details of which can be viewed in the brochure snaps appended below.

Standard equipment on all Fiesta variants -

• Body colored door handles, mirrors and bumpers
• Turn indicators on ORVMs
• Tilt adjustable steering wheel
• Front and rear power windows
• Rear armrest
• Electric boot release
• Keyless entry
• Rear defogger/demister
• Electrically operated rear view mirrors
• 6 speakers with audio controls on steering wheel
• ABS and EBD
• Dual front airbags

Ford Fiesta prices (ex-showroom Delhi by variant)

Fiesta Petrol

Style – 8.23,500
Trend – 8,77,200
Titanium – 9,17,200
Titanium+ – 9.42,200

Fiesta Diesel

Style – 9,27,200
Trend – 9,77,200
Titanium – 10,17,200
Titanium+ – 10,42,200

What do you think about the prices? With a gamut of equipment even on the base variant along with class leading fuel economy, aren’t they justified?

click through for the press release

In the recent past we’ve brought you variants and equipment of the new Verna, Etios Liva and the to be launched VW Jetta well before their launch.

With the help of Akhil, who just attended the Ford Fiesta dealer preview, we’re showing you the brochure of the new Fiesta today. This is another IAB exclusive.

Both petrol and diesel cars will have four variants each – Style, Trend, Titanium and Titanium+

Standard equipment across the new Fiesta range (equipment by default) – Body colored door handles, mirrors and bumpers, turn indicators on ORVMs, tilt adjustable steering, front and rear power windows, rear armrest, electric boot release, rear defogger/demister, electrically operated rear view mirrors, 6 speakers, audio controls on steering wheel, ABS and EBD, and dual front airbags.

Ford is not going to offer a skimped variant. The Style variant has manual AC and body colored fitments while leather wrapped steering, Bluetooth and Voice control are available only on the Titanium and Titanium+models.

We’re expecting all variants new Fiesta to be priced between 7.99-10.99 lakh rupees (ex-showroom Delhi). Ford, will you pop a surprise?

IAB fan Akhil Gopal just returned from the dealer preview showcasing select customers the new Fiesta that launches on the 14th. Akhil has been following us on twitter (you can follow IAB @indianautos) where he regularly tweets and reacts to our stories. Akhil puts down his first hand experience of seeing and experiencing Ford’s B+ segment challenger.

take it away Akhil..

I’m Akhil Gopal (@akhilgopalg). These are a couple of snaps I took of the car that needs no introduction to IABians. The Fiesta does not miss out on the glam while traveling from a computer screen to real life. I’m seeing it for the first time and it is exactly the way I thought it would look.

click Continue to finish reading

In a mass mailer reaching out to Ford customers, Ford has spilled the beans on the Fiesta’s launch date. The following image, cut out from the mass email gives you the details.

Ford is holding the launch on the 14th, but four days prior to that privileged customers get a chance to experience the car’s features in comfort at the local dealership.

The new Fiesta comes with a pair of new 1.5-liter engines paired to 5-speed manual transmissions. You can learn everything about the new Fiesta using the following links.

Ford Fiesta – Everything technical you ever wanted to know
Ford Fiesta – Indian Fiesta vs European Fiesta
Ford Fiesta AT not coming in 2011
Ford Fiesta – Voice activated controls at work [video]
Ford Fiesta – First impressions

Now that the Fiesta has come back into focus, make sure to check back later for our review.

Feeling the heat from VW Vento, mid way through the month, Honda Siel slashed the prices of the Honda City by Rs 44,000-66,000 depending on the model. The move seems to have been worked in favor of Honda, although only marginally.

In May, the Honda City only sold 1,828 units whereas the arch rival Vento sold 2,403 units. However, things are a bit different this month as City has managed to ship 2,802 units and the VW Vento has only managed 2,457 units. So the Honda City may not have dented VW Vento’s sales but has definitely hurt the SX4 (713 units) and Fiat Linea 350 units (no typos there).

However, don’t jump for joy Honda boys as the City did not reclaim its top position in the C+ Segment. The title of the king goes to Hyundai Verna which managed to ship an astonishing 4,102 units in June. That’s nearly double of what the nearest competitors have managed.

The Hyundai has managed to capture the fancy of the Indian market with its tonnes of features and rational pricing. It doesn’t seem like the Verna would let go of its segment crown very easily as it has already clocked 20,000 bookings.

However, July will see the entry of a new contender – the Global Fiesta from Ford. The Fiesta is expected to create a shakedown in the now Hyundai dominated territory. Honda Siel, in its efforts to regain its top position, is planning to give the City a small facelift in the near future.

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