SCOOP !! Ford's new small car for India (with Spy Pics) - Team-BHP

benbsb29 · 16th November 2007, 08:33

Had to accompany my wife to Chennai as part of some official work, and during the time she was busy with her work, i decided to catch up with fellow TBHPian John (Esteem_Lover). After a round of tea, was heading out to his office when we spotted a blue car which looked kinda familiar, but not really so. A quick thrust from the Esteem and we were able to catch up with the car in question. The badging was masked, but there
was no doubt at all regarding the lineage it hailed from. Soon two other cars caught up with it, and it was now clear that we had a Scoop on our hands.

I took upon the task of clicking the pics with my mobile while John was making his way through the traffic to ensure better angles for the pics.

Here they are, a TBHP Exclusive !!

My observations:
Since i remember reading about Ford's small car plans for India, this had to be the missing piece in the jigsaw puzzle. I believe it is based on the ikon platform, although my eye informed me that the badging through the masking read as 'Fiesta'.

From the rear, one could be forgiven for mistaking it to be a Fusion, the dimensions and width however are smaller. The dashboard ,wheelcaps and air-con vents looked similar to those on the Fusion/Fiesta.

John felt the car looked better than the Swift, although that is more of a personal thing. What was obvious was that Ford was playing it safe with the styling as they usually do.

My predictions :
I feel this car would sell, and be a good alternative in the segment, which should be the B+ category. What i wouldnt like is the added load this would put on the dealers and service centers who have their hands full with the large number of Ikons as well as Fiestas on the roads.

akshay1234 · 16th November 2007, 08:37

the ford fiesta is sold as a hatchback abroad so it must have read fiesta.

abhilashvk · 16th November 2007, 08:45

Yes, should be Ford Fiesta hatch back. I have seen a lot of Fiesta and Opel hatch backs in France early 20s and they were the cheapest cars around , approx 50K to 52K Francs. Renault Clio and Peugeot's 306 were around 80K mark, Golf and Polo around 110K to 130K mark.
Great scoop Benny, The hatch back should do well in India

ravibhat · 16th November 2007, 08:47

Nice scoop, Its resembles to fusion and fiesta I guess, Looks good in hatchback segment

Well find!

Ravi.

metropolis · 16th November 2007, 08:53

What a scoop...Looks like small fusion but very catcy and seems it would be a head turner....This is one of the best hatch among Swift, Getz, UVA etc.

LandCruiser · 16th November 2007, 08:58

Good one man! That is a cut short fiesta. So they might sell it as a Fiesta hatch with 1.2L petrol and probably a 1.3L diesel if they have it. Must be priced above the swift (obviously the fiesta hatch will be bigger in size).

The autocars of India didnt manage to find such a scoop. Good work!

But god save the Ford buyers in India as with the current volumes the service they dish out is simply awful.

narayan · 16th November 2007, 08:58

great scoop - looks very impressive too...solid european looks...hope the pricing is good and this could be my next car !!

Venkatesh.C · 16th November 2007, 09:00

Hey , that's a wonderful set of pictures. They have been testing in Nungambakkam!! in the middle of the whole city that too around what appears to be morning time rush hour traffic? What were they doing? Showing off?
Did they give you hard time to snap pics?(looks like they did not fight you at all

or were they sitting ducks?
The car does not evoke any sort of emotion in me (thats me). Much like Fiesta did not when the images first appeared. I guess the car will grow on you.

Nice scoop folks.

BMW-X5 · 16th November 2007, 09:01

Yes it is a fiesta hatch....

Please have a look at the ford uae site

Ford Middle East - Fiesta

ajmat · 16th November 2007, 09:05

This is the original fiesta. Not a bad car, I did some track driving in this car in the UK and it was good

Only thing is that a new version is on the way so why should we get a hand me down

kpzen · 16th November 2007, 09:09

Benny
Nice catch.!
For a sec i thought it may be the new version of Fusion but its the Fiesta hatchback..

Dippy · 16th November 2007, 09:16

Great catch Benny. From the rear it looks very much like the Fusion. I like the front end of this car though. I guess it will be positioned in the Swift segment. Ford do not have a car in that bracket right now. A 5 lakh price tag with a diesel option should work well IMO.

pjbiju · 16th November 2007, 09:21

Great photos Benny. And this should be a welcome addition to the existing portfolio of hatchbacks in India.

oldtraveller · 16th November 2007, 09:23

Now we have more choice in B+ category. Its very cute at rear end.

spadival · 16th November 2007, 09:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajmat

Only thing is that a new version is on the way so why should we get a hand me down

Sigh! Some things never change !!

16th November 2007, 08:33	#1 (permalink)
benbsb29 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bangalore - Back To ChaoS Posts: 2,325 View My Garage	SCOOP !! Ford's new small car for India (with Spy Pics) Had to accompany my wife to Chennai as part of some official work, and during the time she was busy with her work, i decided to catch up with fellow TBHPian John (Esteem_Lover). After a round of tea, was heading out to his office when we spotted a blue car which looked kinda familiar, but not really so. A quick thrust from the Esteem and we were able to catch up with the car in question. The badging was masked, but there was no doubt at all regarding the lineage it hailed from. Soon two other cars caught up with it, and it was now clear that we had a Scoop on our hands. I took upon the task of clicking the pics with my mobile while John was making his way through the traffic to ensure better angles for the pics. Here they are, a TBHP Exclusive !! My observations: Since i remember reading about Ford's small car plans for India, this had to be the missing piece in the jigsaw puzzle. I believe it is based on the ikon platform, although my eye informed me that the badging through the masking read as 'Fiesta'. From the rear, one could be forgiven for mistaking it to be a Fusion, the dimensions and width however are smaller. The dashboard ,wheelcaps and air-con vents looked similar to those on the Fusion/Fiesta. John felt the car looked better than the Swift, although that is more of a personal thing. What was obvious was that Ford was playing it safe with the styling as they usually do. My predictions : I feel this car would sell, and be a good alternative in the segment, which should be the B+ category. What i wouldnt like is the added load this would put on the dealers and service centers who have their hands full with the large number of Ikons as well as Fiestas on the roads. __________________ "Wise are they who invested in a diesel powered automobile" - Benny

16th November 2007, 08:45	#3 (permalink)
abhilashvk BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bangalore/Calicut/Kochi Posts: 367 View My Garage	Yes, should be Ford Fiesta hatch back. I have seen a lot of Fiesta and Opel hatch backs in France early 20s and they were the cheapest cars around , approx 50K to 52K Francs. Renault Clio and Peugeot's 306 were around 80K mark, Golf and Polo around 110K to 130K mark. Great scoop Benny, The hatch back should do well in India __________________ Abhi Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves.

16th November 2007, 09:00	#8 (permalink)
Venkatesh.C BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 241	Hey , that's a wonderful set of pictures. They have been testing in Nungambakkam!! in the middle of the whole city that too around what appears to be morning time rush hour traffic? What were they doing? Showing off? Did they give you hard time to snap pics?(looks like they did not fight you at all or were they sitting ducks? The car does not evoke any sort of emotion in me (thats me). Much like Fiesta did not when the images first appeared. I guess the car will grow on you. Nice scoop folks. __________________ Forget about World Peace...Visualize Using Your Turn Signal! - Anonymous

16th November 2007, 09:05	#10 (permalink)
ajmat Team-BHP Moderator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 5,224 View My Garage	This is the original fiesta. Not a bad car, I did some track driving in this car in the UK and it was good Only thing is that a new version is on the way so why should we get a hand me down __________________ I love the whoosh, but i miss the bellowing

16th November 2007, 09:09	#11 (permalink)
kpzen Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: !!Himalayas.!! Dunno where? Posts: 3,363 View My Garage	Benny Nice catch.! For a sec i thought it may be the new version of Fusion but its the Fiesta hatchback.. __________________ Prajesh - << will be offline till August >> A true friend is someone who says nice things behind your back...

16th November 2007, 08:37	#2 (permalink)
akshay1234 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 2,933 View My Garage	the ford fiesta is sold as a hatchback abroad so it must have read fiesta.

16th November 2007, 08:47	#4 (permalink)
ravibhat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,359 View My Garage	Nice scoop, Its resembles to fusion and fiesta I guess, Looks good in hatchback segment Well find! Ravi.

16th November 2007, 08:53	#5 (permalink)
metropolis BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 158 Infractions: 0/1 (4)	What a scoop...Looks like small fusion but very catcy and seems it would be a head turner....This is one of the best hatch among Swift, Getz, UVA etc.

16th November 2007, 08:58	#6 (permalink)
LandCruiser BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chennai Posts: 425 View My Garage	Good one man! That is a cut short fiesta. So they might sell it as a Fiesta hatch with 1.2L petrol and probably a 1.3L diesel if they have it. Must be priced above the swift (obviously the fiesta hatch will be bigger in size). The autocars of India didnt manage to find such a scoop. Good work! But god save the Ford buyers in India as with the current volumes the service they dish out is simply awful.

16th November 2007, 08:58	#7 (permalink)
narayan BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: gurgaon Posts: 628 View My Garage	great scoop - looks very impressive too...solid european looks...hope the pricing is good and this could be my next car !!

16th November 2007, 09:01	#9 (permalink)
BMW-X5 BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 57	Yes it is a fiesta hatch.... Please have a look at the ford uae site Ford Middle East - Fiesta

16th November 2007, 09:16	#12 (permalink)
Dippy Team-BHP Moderator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 4,926 View My Garage	Great catch Benny. From the rear it looks very much like the Fusion. I like the front end of this car though. I guess it will be positioned in the Swift segment. Ford do not have a car in that bracket right now. A 5 lakh price tag with a diesel option should work well IMO. __________________ My name is Adrian Sutil. You can call me ADDY - Force India dippy@team-bhp.com

16th November 2007, 09:21	#13 (permalink)
pjbiju BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Karamattom, Aluva, Kotagiri, Yercaud, Hospet, Indore, Nashik, Pune (now) Posts: 230	Great photos Benny. And this should be a welcome addition to the existing portfolio of hatchbacks in India.

16th November 2007, 09:23	#14 (permalink)
oldtraveller Newbie Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kovilpatti Posts: 4	Now we have more choice in B+ category. Its very cute at rear end.

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