[Rajeevraj]

I feel in a hurry to get reviews online, not enough is done to ensure that the output is accurate. For example the overdrive review says there are only 2 engine options with the petrol mated to both MT and the DCT AT. The zigwheels review calls out 3 engine options. I assume based on the posts here that this is the correct info. Right?

Zigwheels also vaguely said that aspire comes with hill assist. Missing the point that this will be something only available in the AT. This is from a quick scan of the review

Edit: another mismatch. Overdrive says airbags are standard and ABS comes in from titanium onwards. Zigwheels indicates both are standard across the range. Any idea which is correct?

From the reviews looks like the AT was not part of the first drive. Maybe a separate drive focused on that since it will be one of the major USP's?

[Sheel]

Could any of you please share a picture of the hatch version or provide a link for it? I assume, it shall look better than the CS version.

And Ford seems to have got all the parameters right this time, hope they do so with pricing. Good to see a manufacturer of Ford's repute to come out with all guns blazing and putting in effort.

[RSR]

Originally Posted by Sheel

Could any of you please share a picture of the hatch version or provide a link for it?

Here is one spy photo of an uncamouflaged test mule:



An official image gallery is available on Ford's Brazilian website. The only external differences between the new Brazilian Ka hatchback and the new Indian Figo hatchback would be the wheels and the front grille.

The Indian version (thankfully!) gets the Aston Martin look alike front grille from the CS version. Brazilian Ka gets a less attractive front grille:

http://www.ford.com.br/carros/novo-ka/galeria/exterior

And Ford seems to have got all the parameters right this time, hope they do so with pricing.

Precisely my thought! They have done everything right as far as the specifications and the spread of features (especially safety features) across variants are concerned.

If they manage to get the pricing right, it will be a blockbuster for sure!

[JonSnow]

Originally Posted by Rajeevraj

I feel in a hurry to get reviews online, not enough is done to ensure that the output is accurate. For example the overdrive review says there are only 2 engine options with the petrol mated to both MT and the DCT AT. The zigwheels review calls out 3 engine options. I assume based on the posts here that this is the correct info. Right?

Zigwheels also vaguely said that aspire comes with hill assist. Missing the point that this will be something only available in the AT. This is from a quick scan of the review

Edit: another mismatch. Overdrive says airbags are standard and ABS comes in from titanium onwards. Zigwheels indicates both are standard across the range. Any idea which is correct?

From the reviews looks like the AT was not part of the first drive. Maybe a separate drive focused on that since it will be one of the major USP's?

Yes, i noticed the same inconsistencies. Seemed like hurriedly written articles without adequate proofreading. The sections about steering feel also seemed contradicting with zigwheels saying it has "great feel" while overdrive suggests that it has inadequate feedback. I am waiting eagerly for the official team-bhp review to get a proper and comprehensive review.

Any reason why Hill Assist will be available only in AT and not in MT versions?

[RavenAvi]

Originally Posted by Sheel

Could any of you please share a picture of the hatch version or provide a link for it? I assume, it shall look better than the CS version.

And Ford seems to have got all the parameters right this time, hope they do so with pricing. Good to see a manufacturer of Ford's repute to come out with all guns blazing and putting in effort.

Here's the link to Team-BHP's scoop pictures of the new Figo hatch. The same link takes you to the dedicated thread on the hatch as well.

I actually think it's very smart strategy for Ford India to postpone the limelight on the Figo Aspire. With the THREE big guns of the Indian car arena firing their biggest cannons for this year - Maruti-Suzuki coming with the S-Cross, Hyundai with the Creta, and Honda with the Jazz - it was smart for Ford to sit back and take some time, while the Aspire still went through it's display in city malls around the country.

Now that the Jazz has been launched, and the Creta and S-Cross are set to be launched in the next two-three weeks, Ford will have an actual idea of where to pitch the Aspire at. I am sure they will train their guns on the Jazz pricing now, and since the Honda hatch has garnered over 40% bookings for it's CVT variant, they should advertise AND price their 1.5L DCT at the thereabouts of the Jazz V CVT. That should pull enough buyers towards them.

Looking at the car itself, the Aspire is loaded to the gills and decked right up there on the safety front. I am very, very impressed with the overall package that Ford is offering in the Aspire. Combine that with some unbeatable pricing, and I am sure Honda will start cursing themselves for the eye-rolling prices of their AT and Diesel variants.

The launch should ideally be done after the S-Cross launch, so that the market stays hot for a brand new, VFM launch. I am sure that in the 5.5 lakh - 9 lakh bracket, the Aspire will be a very tempting option for all prospective customers during the festive season ahead.

[Rajeevraj]

Originally Posted by JonSnow

Any reason why Hill Assist will be available only in AT and not in MT versions?

In an MT you anyway control the car on an incline with the clutch release, and even an average driver will be able to manage the release and movement with minimal roll back. So it is relevant for AT.

Apart from this I think it is technically dependent on the gear box. This is why we see the feature only in the dual clutch gearboxes. Have not seen it in any of the CVT or Torque converter AT's.( although the natural torque multiplication of a TC based AT will ensure it creeps forward on most reasonable inclines)

May be wrong on the 2nd point.

[RavenAvi]

BBC TopGear India has driven the Figo Aspire.

Excerpts:

What you see here is an extremely sound dynamic package. The Aspire, in our short drive in laid-back and beautiful Udaipur, showed quite a lot of, er, zest and pep that it hides beneath its humble appearance.

There are three engines to choose from, of which we sampled two.

The 1.2-litre petrol (87bhp, 112Nm) is just about up to the task. You need to work it up to a good 3,000 revs to get it going. And, beyond 5,000, you get steady but glacial progress. The good thing with the 1.2, though, is despite it not being a powerhouse, it doesn't need you to change gears frequently.

That sticks for the 1.5-litre diesel (99bhp, 215Nm) as well. But, cross 1,500rpm, and this little sedan is open to a world of possibilities. On our roads, the Aspire never reminds you that it is a mere budget hatch that's been converted into a sedan and should be treated accordingly.

It's obviously very adept at handling city runs. But, the surprise with the Aspire is its back road hill-climb ability. It doesn't have enough power to make its tyres squeal around hairpins. But, the engine provides enough poke for a quick ascent, and the chassis ensures minimal roll while you're at it. Moreover, ride quality over bad roads (and even no roads) leaves no room for complaint.

You could complain about crosswinds affecting the Aspire at speeds of above 150kph. But then, you could also complain about a tail-end batsman's inability to play a bouncer.

There's decent room for three in the rear, and sufficient space for a good chunk of luggage in the boot. The steering isn't from the golden era of the Ikon or the original Fiesta, but it's accurate and precise enough to make it much better than the Aspire's direct competition.

The sub-four metre sedan has always been about stuffing in the maximum within the minimum. And, the Aspire does just that. But with dynamics so sorted, you won't feel shortchanged. At all.

The verdict

Lacks a couple of features, and isn't an all-out driver's car. But, the Aspire has very sound road manners and is at home in traffic, on the highway and in the mountains.

BBC TopGear India
Details

[RSR]

According to Shapur Kotwal of What Car? / Autocar India:

Ford Aspire diesel has plenty of power and punch and there isn't much lag either; it feels really nicely done.

Figo Aspire's kerb weight is neither too heavy nor too light, for Ford have managed to get it just right. Here are the kerb weights (hat tip to shifting-gears.com):

Weight (1.2L P, 88 PS): 995 - 1,015 kg

Weight (1.5L D, 100 PS): 1,023 – 1,048 kg

Weight (1.5L P, 112 PS): 1,038 – 1,047 kg

If one were to consider the kerb weights of the top (i.e. heaviest) variant in each case, then the power-to-weight ratios would work out to be:

1.2 Ti-VCT: 86.70 PS/ton

1.5 TDCi: 95.42 PS/ton

1.5 Ti-VCT: 106.97 PS/ton

At least as far as comparable diesel MTs & petrol ATs are concerned, these are the highest power-to-weight ratios in the segment!

One of the best things about the Aspire is that it gets six safety balloons. This is a very, very welcome first in the C1 sedan segment, be it sub-4m or 4m+. Aspire will become one of only two cars (with the other also being a Ford i.e. EcoSport) below the one million-rupee mark (ex-showroom, Chennai) to get 6 airbags:

[dipen]

The biggest hit would be

• VW 1.5 diesels and the GT TDI. Though these dont sell in huge numbers, their little numbers will have a big impact % wise unless they cough in 60k plus discounts

• Dzire diesel will be the hardest hit as it has nothing, just about nothing to compete against the Aspire. Looks, FE, power, build, space, boot, price as the Aspire Titanium (not plus) will be in 9.30-9.50 on-road Mumbai range of diesel. There needs to be at least 2 lakhs difference between Fiesta (< 11.50 L on road Mumbai) and Aspire pricing considering length taxes and the next segment slab.

• Amaze never had much other than space which its provides way better than the competition. Again other than space, nothing to offer comparatively.

• Grand i10 already has 20k+ discounts majorly. With about 90-100k, people would be able to upgrade to a bigger car which may not pinch so much. FE wise, both a are close. Plus you end up with better safety in lower variants as well. Grand 1.1 diesel would be lost soon and would quickly make way for 1.4 at least in the Xcent.

• Xcent - Like Amaze other than better interior rear space, cannot sell any other feature

• It would be a very happy moment to see the Swift falling down from its unjustified premium (or lack of equal competition) as the Swift too has nothing better to offer comparatively. Add 60-70k to the Swift and get the Aspire equivalent model ignoring any discounts on offer.

• Elite i20 still has good premiumness which it might continue to enjoy with lower impact for some time. But Hyundai always has a keen eye and is quick to throw in discounts.

Will Ford Sell a Figo hatch with 100 horses. Who needs a GT GTI. If not 100 horses, Ford might detune it for ~27 ARAI FE which would again be class leading. Just hope the drivability and refinement is not way compromised like the Amaze.

@Ford : Dont price this absurdly. Introduce Titanium head-on with the Dzire ZDI price as introductory price and watch market response and take a call. Remember the Dzire and Amaze already have some decent discounts on offer. So dont make the price difference way higher for the consumer to ignore.

[theredliner]

Autocar review is out. Some parts related to driving:

1.5 Diesel:

The good power combined with the car’s low weight, has a positive effect on performance. Acceleration is strong, even if you use just half-throttle, and the Aspire pulls forward effortlessly when you demand a sudden burst of acceleration. It’s not got the initial response of Honda’s 1.5 diesel but driveability is still very good. The turbo comes in nice and early at a low 1400rpm and there is ample power till about 4000rpm. It’s not a very free-revving engine but there is enough of a top-end to excite keen drivers. The diesel, however, does tend to get noisy when pulled hard past 3500rpm and the drone can get obtrusive. Otherwise at moderate revs this engine is pretty refined. In fact, thanks to superb insulation cabin noise is pretty hushed making the Aspire (especially the petrol) one of the quietest compact sedans around.

1.2 Petrol:

Like the diesel, the 1.2 petrol powerplant is much improved too. It now produces a more useful 87bhp, compared to the old Figo hatchback's 70bhp and that's something you feel immediately, especially in the city. Part- throttle responses are quicker and the Aspire accelerates better all through the powerband. Thing is this engine is more suited to the requirements of everyday driving than for all-out fun - floor the throttle and you’ll know why. The engine feels labored in the mid-range at full load. You’ll also feel the need for more power as you head out to more open roads where overtaking can require some prior planning. Still, with the power and performance on offer, the Aspire is clearly more than capable, especially in the city.

Ride and Handling:

When it comes to ride and handling, comfort is clearly a focus area with the Aspire. The suspension is quite plush and absorbent and bumps are ridden over so well that you stop paying attention to every pimple on the road and makes driving a bit more relaxed. On really bad sections of road, the ride does get a bit jiggly and bouncy, which is when you detect a hint of stiffness, but that's only to be expected. What makes ride quality even nicer is that the suspension works quite silently for the most part.

Unfortunately, there’s some bad news for driving enthusiasts who’ve been eyeing the Aspire. Yes, it does mildly enjoy being driven hard and responds better the more you load up the suspension. But, that effortless grip, unimpeachable confidence and precise steering you get on Fords like the Fiesta is missing here. There's a strange looseness in the steering around the straight ahead position it doesn’t have the same agility as other Fords and body roll is ever-present. The petrol version is the better of the two Aspires in the corners with a touch more on-centre steering feel and correspondingly a greater feeling of connection with the car. The brakes on both petrol and diesel Aspires, however, inspire tremendous confidence; stopping power was impressive as well and that lends a lot to the overall driving experience.

For the hardcore enthusiasts, Abarth Punto Evo (and Avventura T-Jet 135) will still be the only way to go unfortunately (in this price range). However, the Aspire seems to be the most enthusiastic compact sedan out there. (My view. Not taken from review )


Source

PS: One interesting observation:

What we did miss on the Aspire is that tough European car build seen on other Ford products like the EcoSport and the Fiesta. Ford has pared the car’s weight down in the interest of better fuel economy; the heaviest version weighs in at just 1,048kg, which seems to have affected that feeling of solidity. The car’s structure is tested to be tough though – the Aspire passed the NCAP’s crash test even without airbags!

[sunsetorange]

Originally Posted by dipen

The biggest hit would be

• VW 1.5 diesels and the GT TDI. Though these dont sell in huge numbers, their little numbers will have a big impact % wise unless they cough in 60k plus discounts

• Dzire diesel will be the hardest hit as it has nothing, just about nothing to compete against the Aspire. Looks, FE, power, build, space, boot, price as the Aspire Titanium (not plus) will be in 9.30-9.50 on-road Mumbai range of diesel. There needs to be at least 2 lakhs difference between Fiesta (< 11.50 L on road Mumbai) and Aspire pricing considering length taxes and the next segment slab.

• Amaze never had much other than space which its provides way better than the competition. Again other than space, nothing to offer comparatively.

• Grand i10 already has 20k+ discounts majorly. With about 90-100k, people would be able to upgrade to a bigger car which may not pinch so much. FE wise, both a are close. Plus you end up with better safety in lower variants as well. Grand 1.1 diesel would be lost soon and would quickly make way for 1.4 at least in the Xcent.

• Xcent - Like Amaze other than better interior rear space, cannot sell any other feature

• It would be a very happy moment to see the Swift falling down from its unjustified premium (or lack of equal competition) as the Swift too has nothing better to offer comparatively. Add 60-70k to the Swift and get the Aspire equivalent model ignoring any discounts on offer.

• Elite i20 still has good premiumness which it might continue to enjoy with lower impact for some time. But Hyundai always has a keen eye and is quick to throw in discounts.

Will Ford Sell a Figo hatch with 100 horses. Who needs a GT GTI. If not 100 horses, Ford might detune it for ~27 ARAI FE which would again be class leading. Just hope the drivability and refinement is not way compromised like the Amaze.

@Ford : Dont price this absurdly. Introduce Titanium head-on with the Dzire ZDI price as introductory price and watch market response and take a call. Remember the Dzire and Amaze already have some decent discounts on offer. So dont make the price difference way higher for the consumer to ignore.

Please hold on to your horses!

The Aspire taking on the almighty Dzire?
Ford builds fun to drive cars but at the end of the day people prefer economy, reliability and consistent quality of service.

I own a Figo for the last 3 years and had a Swift for 5 years. The Figo is just not as easy to own as the Swift was. Service costs are more, spares cost more and the service experience was just not consistent.

This is not a rant against Ford but they should treat all customers equally well. MASS experiences were always good comparatively.

Ford just can't compete with the big boys here (Maruti & Hyundai ).

[JonSnow]

Originally Posted by theredliner

Autocar review is out. Some parts related to driving:

Source

PS: One interesting observation:
The car’s structure is tested to be tough though – the Aspire passed the NCAP’s crash test even without airbags!

I think there might be some confusion regarding the statement on NCAP crash test. Shapur Kotwal (of Autocar) was referring to the CURRENT Figo when he tweeted that it passed the NCAP crash test at 56 kmph without airbags. Seems like they are mistakenly attributing it to the Figo Aspire in this article.

[PPS]

Originally Posted by dipen

VW 1.5 diesels and the GT TDI. Though these dont sell in huge numbers.

VW is an aspirational brand among the Indian public, they also have superior build quality compared to the Aspire atleast from the reviews we've read so far.

Dzire diesel will be the hardest hit as it has nothing, just about nothing to compete against the Aspire.

Agree it has nothing much but it has the Maruti brand name which is its biggest trumpcard!

Amaze never had much other than space which its provides way better than the competition. Again other than space, nothing to offer comparatively.

Again, Honda has a good brand value.

Remember the Zest inspite of being a competent product is lagging behind in sales because of poor brand value. To be in the consideration list of shoppers, Ford apart from pricing the product competitively will also have to focus on their marketing/promoting their car which they forgot to do with their previous launch, the Fiesta!

[volkman10]

First look video from ACI.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh53OLNulQo

[differential]

Surprised that even the top end aspire is not available with black interiors. Ford usually bucked the trend and offered black interiors in their cars.

I suspect they would have knocked off the keyless start stop to keep costs in check.

Coming to the point of weight, was the Figo hatch heavier than the aspire sedan diesel?