Ford recently revealed the production version of its compact sedan which has been christened the Ford Figo Aspire. We first saw this car at the 2014 Auto Expo held at Greater Noida. Ford has not launched a vehicle in the booming compact sedan segment in India and this car could well turn out to be a game changer when launched around June-July this year. The car will be manufactured at the new Ford production facility in Sanand, Gujarat and as part of its pre-launch promotional activities the Figo Aspire would be showcased in 25 cities and 40 locations all over India. It was displayed in Guragon recently and that is where we had the chance to have a detailed look at the car. So if you are planning to buy a new compact sedan our advice would be to wait till July and read our first review of the Figo Aspire below!
Figo Aspire Exterior
There are a lot of similarities with the concept shown at the last Auto Expo minus some of the glitzy design touches and yes it is a well balanced design that will appeal to many. In other words it surely looks good and is a pleasing shape. The sedan shape has been nicely put in under the 4m and the boot does not like it has been added on. In the flesh it looks even better and compared to its rivals the Figo Aspire is certainly one of the best looking cars.
We like the Aston like trapezoidal grille and elongated headlamps which is easily the best part of the design and the most eye catching. Move to the side and the shape is a bit plain but pleasant nevertheless and short boot shows itself here. At the rear you nicely designed tail-lamps with a prominent chrome strip and Figo Aspire badging at the rear. Build quality is good and this eye catching paint also works well with the car.
Figo Aspire Interior
Step inside and the design of the dash is similar to the other Ford cars and that is no bad thing. The arrangement off the various controls would be familiar to any EcoSport or Fiesta and is a nice change from the old-school cabin design of the current Figo hatch. The interior looks sporty and true to any Ford offers a great driving position. Quality is also very good (similar to the Hyundai Xcent) and so is the use of materials inside. Some bits like the steering wheel are taken from the EcoSport. Also note that the indicator controls are now on the right side with the wiper controls on the left.
The car will be well kitted out too, being equipped with features such as Sync with AppLink, the in car connectivity system developed by Ford that was first seen in the current Ford Fiesta. The Sync with AppLink system allows drivers to control their phone, entertainment and apps handsfree using voice commands plus also via steering controls. Of course there are features like auto climate control. Then there is the Ford Mykey and MyFord Dock. The MyFord Dock is where you phone can be placed above the screen for charging your phone or playing music and accessing navigation system. The Ford MyKey is a nice feature enabling you to program your key for things such as increasing seat belt use, limiting vehicle top speeds and regulating audio volume.
Other features are power fold mirrors and important safety features like 6 airbags including driver and passenger airbags, side and curtain airbags (a segment first in India), hill-launch assist, ESP and Emergency Assistance which uses a paired smartphone to dial the emergency services in case of a collision. In terms of space the front seats are comfy and helps in getting you a great driving position. The all important rear seats are also pretty impressive. Space is actually better than some of its rivals and the rear seats offer decent comfort. It is much better than the Classic plus running close to its rivals (a detailed comparo and more time with the car will answer better). Boot space is good as well!
Ford Figo Aspire Engine
Figo Aspire Engines for India
Ford India have not yet revealed exact numbers including fuel efficiency for the Figo Aspire however what has been revealed is the engine line-up. In terms of engines there is a 1.2L Ti-VCT petrol and a 1.5L TDCi diesel. While we are yet to drive it there is no doubt that the Figo Aspire would be the drivers choice as all Ford cars are. A 5-speed manual is standard but the petrol will also get a 6-speed PowerShift Dual-clutch automatic gearbox option. As you can see Ford India has decided not to go on the AMT route which is something we endorse as a proper autobox will no doubt give a better driving experience which Ford India is keen on. We also expect it to be fuel efficient with the diesel economy nearby its rivals.
Ford Figo Aspire Styling Front
Ford Figo Aspire expected price and launch date
We expect a launch in July with the promotional activities starting now and Ford India just like it did with the EcoSport plans to have aggressive pricing for the Figo Aspire. Plus with the learnings from the EcoSport, Ford is read to fulfill demand also and will ensure supply with the expected high demand for the car. So with killer pricing we think Ford India is onto a winner here with the Figo Aspire. We of course are waiting to drive but as far as our first review is concerned the Figo Aspire has turned out to to be quite impressive. The styling, features plus the right mix of engines means that Ford has played it right. The compact sedan segment does not have many rivals at the moment and the Figo Aspire aims to take advantage of that. We will of course know more in the coming days so watch out for more on the Figo Aspire!
