Ford Figo

After the success of Ford Ikon, Ford Fiesta and Ford Endeavour, Ford India Pvt. Ltd. increased the capacity of the manufacturing plant in Maraimalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu by investing $500 million, to start the production of its first ever hatchback, Ford Figo in India. The new American hatchback, launched in 2009 competes with its likes; Chevrolet Beat, Fiat Grande Punto and Hyundai i20. Ford Figo carries the same kinetic design as that of the Ford Mondeo and Ford Fiesta which have been designed and engineered by Ford Australia. Fuel efficiency, performance, space, comfort, practicality and gadgets contribute to the key attributes of this car. The final ingredient is the low pricing and Ford Motors seem to have got the recipe absolutely right with this hatchback. Ford Figo is one of the cheapest hatchbacks in India and ranges between Rs. 4 – 6 lakhs.

Not only Ford Figo cheaper as compared to the other hatchbacks, but very attractive too. Boasting as one of the best designs of Ford so far, this car grabs the attention of all the age groups. From the front, it looks similar to Ford Fiesta and is exceptionally appealing. The front bonnet gets a sleek ridge on the sides, which give it a sporty look. The human-eye shaped halogen headlamps with turn indicators, slim and narrow upper grille sporting the Ford logo, body colored bumpers, large and distinct lower grille having a carbon fiber like mesh finish and round fog lamps integrated in a smiley like casing on either sides of the bumper add up to the overall smart and trendy design of Ford Figo.

From the side, Ford Figo gets a sporty look with smooth ridges on its body, 8-spoke alloy wheels, turn indicator next to the front doors and distinct body colored handles and side view mirrors. At the rear, Ford Figo gets a classy look that makes a hatchback look like an SUV.  The vertically leaped taillight comprising turn indicator, brake light and the reverse light; rear window defogger, wiper and washer; flat LED brake light on the roof; rear spoiler and a remote controlled trunk, all add up to the external appearance of the car. Ford Figo measures 3795 mm in length, 1680 mm in width and 1427 mm in height with a ground clearance is 168 mm.

When it comes to interiors, Ford Figo can be considered as the top India hatchback at a cheap price. With its various appealingly dual tone colored dashboards and fabrics; sophisticated instrument cluster comprising digital clock, tachometer, digital odometer and two trip meters; circular passenger and driver AC vents; three-spoke power steering; MP3 player, Radio (AM/FM) and 4 speakers;  electrically adjustable ORVMs; Bluetooth connectivity with full phonebook access, call logs, call swaps, call holds and SMS notification and a wide boot space, this is an ultimate luxury hatchback with all state-of-the-art inbuilt features.

It is also equipped with 6 intermittent wiper speeds, lane change indicators, rapid deceleration warning, smart programmable remote key, distance to empty, speed sensing volume control and intelligent central locking. With several features, this spacious inexpensive hatchback has created a storm in the Indian market.

The Ford Figo is powered by both petrol as well as diesel engines just like any other hatchbacks in India. The petrol version gets a 1.2L Duratec four cylinder engine producing a peak power of 71 PS @ 6250 rpm and a maximum torque of 102 Nm @ 4000 rpm. On the other hand the diesel variant is powered by a 1.4L Duratorq four cylinder engine producing a maximum power of 69 PS @ 4000 rpm and a max torque of 160 Nm @ 2000 rpm. Both the petrol as well as diesel engine gets a five speed manual transmission as well as power steering making the vehicle drive smoother on the roads.

The Ford Company guarantees that Ford Figo is the safest car in its segment. With its advanced safety features like the Dual Front Airbags, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), belt tensioners and force limiters, door Ajar warning and seat-belt warning indicator, this car can be driven in a peaceful state of mind. Other security features include day and night rear view mirror, power door locks, power windows, central locking, lane change indicators, rapid decelerating warning system, engine immobilizer and Smart Programmable Remote Key (available in higher variants). Overall, Ford Figo can be considered a very safe car to drive.