New Ford Figo twins to get new 1.2 petrol

While it was widely believed that next-generation Ford Figos would feature a derivative of Ford’s award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine, sources within Ford have confirmed that the cars will come powered by a new 1.2-litre petrol engine instead. The EcoBoost was proving to be too expensive for what is considered a cost sensitive segment. The new 1.2-litre petrol engine will feature four valves per cylinder, and could also get variable valve timing.

The engine is expected to better the current Figo’s 1.2 unit on both power and efficiency. The other engine on offer will be Ford’s 1.5-litre DV5 turbo-diesel. Ford has started testing the new Figo in both hatchback and compact sedan forms in India.

Going by the spy pictures, the new Figos are likely to be available in trims that will be spaced out in a wide price bracket. While some of the cars — most likely the base trim — come with weedy, small tyres, a black grille and door handles, the other trim comes with alloys, chromed grille, and wing mirrors with turn indicators. The Figo compact sedan is due for launch first, and is expected to be here by around June this year. The car will take on the Tata Zest, Hyundai Xcent, Honda Amaze and the Maruti Dzire, and will replace the Fiesta Classic in the American carmaker’s sedan portfolio here in India.

While Ford has officially confirmed that Indian markets will be getting the Figo hatchback and compact sedan, there have been sightings of the standard-length Figo sedan being tested as well. In all probability, it is likely that Ford will be exporting the sedan model from India too. It is already confirmed that the hatchback and compact sedan will be exported from here. Whether Ford eventually launches the sedan model here remains to be seen.

Both Figos will be rolled out of Ford’s new manufacturing plant at Sanand, Gujarat. The cars will be launched in India with a high level of local content, and this promises competitive pricing.

Comments

Honda CB Unicorn 160 vs Suzuki Gixxer comparison

There is no replacement for displacement, as goes the old American saying, with which the rest of the world often nods in agreement. Increase in the number of cubic centimeters of fuel that our engines burn, seems only to be a pleasant idea to almost every petrolhead. More power, more torque and a healthier sounding grunt from the exhaust are the common expectations from larger engines. Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has walked this same path, to add 10 extra cubic centimeters of capacity to the now proven CB Unicorn engine, to make the Honda CB Unicorn 160. FROLIC FASHION Although some of the features of the older CB Unicorn have been bettered, we’ve gone ahead and pitched it right in at the deep end, to face off against the very best in the segment to find out the exact degree to which this motorcycle has improved. So, in steps the Suzuki Gixxer, a Japanese-made premium commuter that’s fast rising to the top of its segment, with enough promise to overshadow all o...

ABS brakes mandatory for two-wheelers soon

The Government Of India is paying some attention to road safety issues in the country. Keeping road safety in mind, the GOI is working on making the anti-lock braking system mandatory for all two-wheelers above the engine capacity of 125cc. This is a big step forward in the right direction, as over 70 percent of accidents that take place in India involve two-wheelers. Nitin Gadkari, Road Transport Minister has just recently approved this proposal, and is working on implementing it. Gadkari, who was recently present at the Bloomberg TV Autocar India Awards 2015 also talked about his plans of building safer roads for India. This is absolutely necessary, keeping in mind that as per data collected in 2013, 39,353 people were killed on Indian roads while riding two-wheelers. While the time frame for the Indian government to enforce this law remains undecided, sources say that safer roads for India aren't too far away.

Volkswagen T-Cross

Volkswagen’s smallest SUV, the T-Cross, is likely to see a global unveil on October 25, 2018. While details of the European-spec T-Cross were already released, the company has now revealed more information about the slightly longer version that’s aimed initially at emerging markets like Brazil and China, with India likely to see local production a little later. The T-Cross for emerging markets sits on Volkswagen’s slightly tweaked MQB A0 platform and, as reported by us earlier, it gets a longer wheelbase than its European cousin . The model is 4,199mm long, 1,568mm high and has a 2,651mm long wheelbase. In comparison, the Hyundai Creta is slightly longer, at 4,270mm and higher, at 1,780mm; but it has a slightly shorter wheelbase, at 2,590mm. The T-Cross has better cabin room than the Creta and also comes with rear seats that can be moved fore and aft in order to liberate more cargo or legroom. The SUV comes with dedicated rear AC vents and dual USB ports for the second row...

Automobilestillnow

Search This Blog