Contradictory to earlier reports of a 1.4-liter 68hp diesel engine, new reports claim Ford’s small car will employ a 1.5-liter diesel engine apart from the 1.2-liter petrol. Another report claims the company casually hinted it will in fact be named Splash in India.
Ford has increased the number of suppliers to 180 from 150, and will source the some components from multiple vendors. Critical components will however be sourced from one vendor.
Ford is also negotiating steel rates with Tata Steel. Earlier it imported cut steel from its Thailand plant.
Ford’s new small car will have high paint quality. It will benefit from the three wet high solid process that Ford is installing for the first time in its plants.
Autobild India carried a photoshop mock-up last month of the upcoming new small car from Ford for India and similar markets. The new small car as we reported earlier, will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September with a 1.2-liter petrol and 1.4-liter diesel engine.
The new small car from Ford could be named Splash in India. It is certain that the company has used an older generation Ford Fiesta platform to base this car which will begin at around 3 lakh rupees. The new small car shares components with the existing Fiesta, like the A.C vents, door handles among other small items.
Going through Ford’s history, nothing like what they are going to do has been done before. The American auto maker plans to launch an assualt in the sub-compact hatchback segment of developing markets, not by creating something from scratch, but by using a phased-out base.
Ford’s new small car, developed in 19 months, is codenamed B 517 and the automaker’s first ever hatchback in India. Not only will it be manufactured and sold here, it will be shipped to Europe, South Africa and Australia. Its highlight – usage of a phased out Ford Fiesta platform.
click through to read the rest
