Ford unveiled the Figo Concept sedan just a couple of days before the 2014 Auto Expo and is now showcasing it at the biggest automobile event in India. The Figo concept sedan is Ford’s entrant to the sub-4 metre sedan segment and will go on sale in 2015. The Figo Sedan will be replacing the Classic (old Fiesta) which for the longest period has been the best driver’s car in the C-segment. Thanks to the sub-4 metre length, expect pricing to be aggressive, making it a value for money offering.
Gauging by the first look, the Figo sedan looks exceptionally great and certainly gets the best styling in its class. Working on the ‘One Ford’ strategy, the Figo concept sedan is based on the next generation Ka (Figo in India) hatchback that will also debut in India next year. The car is largely the same until the B-pillar, but gets a full boot added at the rear. The front facia is certainly the most handsome with the bold and wide chrome induced Aston Martin-like grille with four horizontal slats. The 3-piece headlight unit features LEDs on the concept and an eye lid that hopefully will make it to production. The front bumper is wide curving on the sides and also carries Daytime Running Lights (DRLs), which will be replaced by circular fog lamps on the production model.
The side profile of the Figo Concept has a high rising shoulder line that starts from the front fender, while a smaller crease runs through on the lower sides. The ORVMs also carry indicators, giving a premium touch. Moving at the back, the rear gets all the qualities deemed fit for a compact sedan. It is stubby, compact and proportional to the rest of the car. The boot-lid comes from the Ka hatchback and so is the tail light design. The tail lights receive LEDs on the concept, but that should be toned down on the production. The windshield is large and also carries a centre stop light. The car on display featured a cherry red paint job which looks very premium, while Ford has given subtle touches of chrome all around. The roof receives a glossy black paint, while the concept featured 8-spoke alloys wheels wrapped on 17-inch tyres inducing sportiness in the design for a younger appeal.
While the interior wasn’t on display, we do expect decent levels of fit and finish, along with a potent multimedia system, automatic climate control, parking sensors, rear demister, dual airbags, ABS and much more. The top-end variants could also offer the Ford SYNC system.
The Figo sedan when launched in 2015 will feature a 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine which is also seen on the EcoSport and the Fiesta, producing 91 BHP of power. The petrol duties will be taken care by the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine, albeit in a lower state of tune than the EcoSport for better fuel efficiency. Both the engines will be mated to 5-speed manual transmissions. Ford could also offer the 1.5-litre petrol mill on the lower variants. Considering the lower weight of the Figo concept, we do expect the car to be frugal.
Ford India definitely has an ace up its sleeve with the Ford Figo concept sedan. What we do hope is Ford retains its handling prowess on the compact sedan, while offering an aggressive price too hard to resist. The Figo sedan will be competing against the current segment leader Maruti DZire, the new Hyundai Xcent sedan, Honda Amaze and the Tata Zest when launched. The competition may not look that bad themselves, but Ford definitely has a upper hand.
