Ford has showcased the new Figo hatchback at the ongoing Sao Paulo Motor show 2014. The new Figo hatchback, sold as Ford Ka in South American markets, is expected to hit our shores next year and will eventually replace the current-generation Figo hatchback.
The new Ford Figo range will, apart from the hatchback, spawn two more body styles globally. While South American markets are expected to get the conventional-length Ford Ka+ sedan along with the hatchback, the Indian market is expected to receive a shortened Ford Figo compact sedan along with the conventional hatchback version.
Ford is yet to enter the growing compact sedan segment, which now has many players such as Maruti Dzire, Honda Amaze and the newly launched Hyundai Xcent and Tata Zest. Ford’s first offering in this high-volume segment will be the Ford Figo sedan which was unveiled at the Auto Expo 2014 in Delhi earlier this year. The Ford Figo sedan is essentially a shortened version of the Ford Ka+ sedan which will be sold in the international markets.
Mechanically, the Figo compact sedan could draw power from Ford’s 1.2-litre petrol engine, its 1.5-litre ‘Sigma’ petrol or the 1.0-litre EcoBoost turbo-petrol, and also the 1.5-litre DV5 turbo-diesel engine. There is also a possibility that an 80bhp, 999cc petrol engine, likely to be derived from the 1.0-litre EcoBoost but without the turbo, could become part of the engine lineup for the Figo. The next-generation Ford Figo twins will eventually replace the current-generation Figo hatchback and the Ford Classic sedan in the Indian market.
The new Ford Figo sedan and its derivatives are expected to roll out from the new Ford plant in Sanand in Gujarat next year. Ford is also readying the next-gen Endeavour SUV for India which is also expected to launch next year.
Akbar Merchant