Ford displays Figo Aspire compact sedan; launches new plant in Sanand

Ever since we saw the Figo conmpact sedan at the 2014 Auto Expo, we wanted it. It looks good, the compact sedan design is cohesive as the boot job doesn’t look like an afterthought, and Ford is known to make decent driver’s vehicles. Built at the American manufacturer’s new plant in Sanand, Gujarat for the domestic market and export, the sub-4-metre sedan (built on Ford’s B562 platform) is sure to takes its share of the compact segment, where rivals like the Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire, Honda Amaze, Tata Zest, and Hyundai’s Xcent compete.

The front trapezoidal grille (which is reminiscent of Aston Martins) strongly evokes Ford’s global design language, labeled as Kinetic. Sharing its looks with the recently launched Fiesta, the new Figo Aspire certainly looks much more mature than the current on-sale Figo hatchback. On the inside, it is expected to share bits with the larger Fiesta. The Figo Aspire is expected to be equipped with flexible mirrors that will take a hit without breaking, innovative storage spaces, Ford’s SYNC connectivity and a device dock that will mount and charge devices such as mobile phones, MP3 players and GPS systems, while seamlessly integrating them into the in-car entertainment system.

Engine options include the 1.2-litre petrol mill developing 70bhp and 102 Nm of peak troque, and the 1.5-litre diesel that makes 89bhp and 204Nm of torque. Both engines will be mated to a five-speed manual. We had hoped that the 123bhp 1-litre EcoBoost engine, available on the EcoSport, would also feature on the engine options list but we might have to wait a while for it.

While prices for the Figo Aspire will be announced later in the year, what we know so far is that it’ll enter this highly competitive segment that makes up 45 per cent of India’s market, and is expected to grow to 1.6 million units by 2018 (up from 1.1 million in 2014).

Ford also took this opportunity to talk about its new engine plant and manufacturing facility, spread over 460 acres with 19 ancillaries built in Sanand, in which the auto maker has invested USD 1 billion. Ford’s Sanand facility has effectively doubled the manufacturer’s total annual capacity as now, 6.1 lakh engines and 4.4 lakh vehicles could be able to be produced.

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Ford’s 460 acre engine and assembly plant in Sanand, Gujarat[/caption]

This area in the state of Gujarat is a 125km belt that includes Sanand, Hasapur and Vithalapur and is projected to be the biggest automotive cluster in Asia. This will effectively cut short Chakan, Pune’s prominence in manufacturing locations. This region will see an investment of Rs 15,000 crore, all to produce 1.25 million passenger cars and 3 million two-wheelers in the next 3 to 4 years. Tata Motors already has a manufacturing facility there and Maruti Suzuki, along with Honda two-wheelers and Honda cars, are in the process of setting up more plants in the area.

With 304 touch points in about 164 cities in India, Ford has not mentioned if it will be expanding its network but has confirmed that they have introduced initiatives to make buying and owning a Ford much easier.

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Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel, Ford President & CEO Mark Fields, Ford India leadership team[/caption]

Stay tuned for the prices and the launch of the Figo Aspire’s hatchback sibling coming soon.