[Rev_That_V8]

Waiting for the hatch version.. hope they pitch in an automatic petrol for the Hatch.
Here's a glimpse into their manufacturing facility at Sanand .
It's H-U-G-E

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=910576645660952

Cheers,

[Senna4Ever]

Read in paper (ET) that Fiesta Classic's production will be stopped by April end (might have already been stopped I guess) giving Aspire an ideal buffer period of a month, going by a June launch.

[tjacob]

Sweet video. How does an average Joe who doesn't have any connections or know the right people get a tour of these manufacturing facilities ?

[arnabchak]

Originally Posted by Senna4Ever

Read in paper (ET) that Fiesta Classic's production will be stopped by April end (might have already been stopped I guess) giving Aspire an ideal buffer period of a month, going by a June launch.

Dear Senna

The Classic productions have already stopped since February as per trust worthy sources.
The sales figures we see are just the residual Classics!!

The expected launch date for Aspire is second week of June(Probably 14th/15th) though that could not be confirmed yet.

[arunphilip]

So, my weekly visits to Ford's website have paid some fruit

They've updated the Figo Aspire page with few more pictures and details:

• 1.2 TiVCT petrol and 1.5 TDCi diesel engines
• 6 airbags
• 6 speed PowerShift transmission (no mention of which engine)
• Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Hill Launch Assist (HLA), etc. (presumably with the PowerShift variant only, similar to the EcoSport), and ABS/EBD
• Perimeter alarm - appears to be a burglar alarm
• Ford MyKey - speed limits, audio volume control (like the valet mode offered in some cars)
• MyDock - smartphone integration
• Electrically foldable mirrors
• Beige interiors. Sigh.

Exterior Shots

Interior Shots

The Boot

[D4D]

Looks like a good car. Seems well packaged along with a dual-clutch AT.

Is that a hydraulic boot opener I see in the image? It's a welcome addition to the segment.

Ford's styling along with the Aston Martin like grill make the car look wonderful.

Some segment first features:
1. Six airbags
2. DCT

Wishing that dual airbags and ABS are there in every trim level.

Will it beat the competition? Only time(and price) will tell.

[aaggoswami]

1) The gauge on right side of speedo seems to be Fuel gauge. Way too large. No temp gauge ( not atleast analogue, refer attached image ). Source of all images : http://www.india.ford.com/cars/figoaspire/

2) Overall instrument cluster looks a bit out of place as compared to the central console.

3) Relatively large bottle holder on doors visible.

4) Slot above the 12V socket seems to be large enough and makes for a convenient phone charging location.

5) Adjustable front head rests. Unlike Xcent and Amaze. I hope that the front adjustable head rests are standard across the range, not reserved only for top end. Similarly, I hope the adjustable rear head rests are also standard across the range and not top end variant exclusive.

Overall, the car looks promising, but only if its priced right. For taking fight to Amaze, this car has to be priced in range of Zest. Dzire might not even feel anything unless the diesel is strong and priced sensibly.

[petrolhead_neel]

Originally Posted by arnabchak

Dear Senna

The Classic productions have already stopped since February as per trust worthy sources.
The sales figures we see are just the residual Classics!!

The expected launch date for Aspire is second week of June(Probably 14th/15th) though that could not be confirmed yet.

Sir, day before yesterday, we picked up our Ford Classic 1.6 Titanium. The VIN was decoded by a very trusted source(namely, FordEtis) and also D-BHPian a4anurag. Both had the same results : 31st March 2015. I enquired the SM about the Classic production stopping but he told me that there was NO official news of it stopping any soon, though its not the case about the Figo.

Thanks,
petrolhead_neel

[arunphilip]

Here are some observations based on the pictures.

4-meter Aspirations (pun intended!)

• If ever it wasn't clear that this car was meant to target the <4m bracket, this picture that shows the vertical face at the front and the rear of the car should clear any doubts.
• There's negligible/no bumper protrusion at the rear, and neither is there any at the front - it starts with that flat Aston Martin-esque grille.
• Unsurprisingly, the same pattern is evident in the EcoSport:

  

• Aren't those alloys on the Aspire also reminiscent of what we saw on the EcoSport at the Auto Expo? However, what was eventually launched on the Titanium EcoSport was a different and better design, so this can similarly change on the Aspire.

Automatic Climate Control

• The automatic climate control console replaces the odd 3-lobed design seen in the EcoSport/Fiesta with a tidy design of uniform height, and a more descriptive display. For comparison, here's a shot of the ACC in the EcoSport:

  

• It seems to be more feature-laden too, with a 'Max A/C' button which I presume ramps up the A/C to rapidly cool the car after its been in the sun.

The Cockpit

• Piano black plastic around the ICE. While piano black is often a fingerprint magnet, it is visually an improvement over the garish silver used in the EcoSport.
• Ditto for the steering wheel - although the likelihood of picking up fingerprints here is far higher, given the steering wheel is meant to be held!
• The display resolution of the Sync screen appears unchanged (foreign markets get a higher resolution display)
• The instrument cluster looks bad - the light gray/silver that surrounds the dials reminds us of the Classic and Figo's instrument panel. While there's nothing wrong with this, it is a generation older.
• Lovely rotary knob to control the headlights, it looks much better than the pinch-knob used in the EcoSport
• Those door handles look like they're taken out of the Figo's parts bin. Why can't we have the EcoSport's handles?
• Electrically foldable mirrors. Drool.
• Ford's site also seems to have some inconsistency among the two images. Notice the first image doesn't have the central locking buttons at the bottom of the ICE cluster, but the second one does. FWIW, the Brazil site has the second image, so its same to assume that the first image is just a picture editing error. Amusingly, the second picture doesn't have the mirror controls on the inside of the A-pillar. Well, these are initial shots so may be excusable!
• On that topic, these are two changes I like: Firstly, separating the hazard flasher button away from the central locking one (I keep having to look at the buttons in my EcoSport, since they're clustered together). Secondly, keeping discrete buttons for lock & unlock (rather than the single button/light combination on the EcoSport. Separate buttons make it easier to explicitly re-lock the car after a single passenger alights).

The Rear Seat

• Foldable arm-rest at the rear? Check! And they couldn't even get this into the EcoSport.
• Adjustable headrests? Check. Good on you, Ford.
• If we're having beige interiors, shouldn't the seat belts match? Grey seat belts on beige seats looks incongruous.

[deetjohn]

Originally Posted by arunphilip

Here are some observations based on the pictures.

• It seems to be more feature-laden too, with a 'Max A/C' button which I presume ramps up the A/C to rapidly cool the car after its been in the sun.

You have summed it pretty well. Looks like a great package overall. So far, the main grouse for me is the beige stuff. Wish Ford had it in signature black and light grey combo instead of this.

And isn't the 'Max' button is there on the Fiesta and EcoSport too?

[arunphilip]

Originally Posted by deetjohn

And isn't the 'Max' button is there on the Fiesta and EcoSport too?

I was referring to the Max A/C button on the top left of the Aspire's ACC console. I think you're looking at the Max Defogger button on the EcoSport, which is present on the top right of the Aspire.

Unless you're aware of a shortcut combination on the EcoSport to run the A/C at max? The EcoSport has a few such combinations like the one that allows one to turn on climate control in recirculation mode.

[deetjohn]

Originally Posted by arunphilip

I was referring to the Max A/C button on the top left of the Aspire's ACC console.

My bad! I didn't notice Aspire has 2 Max buttons.

And interesting! Normally, Max A/C button is used for the variants without ACC. Usually, 'Auto' mode does the trick.

Looks like this button controls only the blower speed as the temp reading in the pic you have shared shows 20 C and the fan speed is at max.

[naveen.raju]

Originally Posted by arunphilip

Unless you're aware of a shortcut combination on the EcoSport to run the A/C at max? The EcoSport has a few such combinations like the one that allows one to turn on climate control in recirculation mode.

Originally Posted by deetjohn

And interesting! Normally, Max A/C button is used for the variants without ACC. Usually, 'Auto' mode does the trick.

The orange MAX button on Fiesta/Ecosport is the heated windshield while the white defogger button heats the rear glass.

To cool the cabin quickly, the only combo is to press the "AUTO" button and set the temperature to "LO".

[Senna4Ever]

Originally Posted by petrolhead_neel

Sir, day before yesterday, we picked up our Ford Classic 1.6 Titanium. The VIN was decoded by a very trusted source(namely, FordEtis) and also D-BHPian a4anurag. Both had the same results : 31st March 2015.

April deadline must be correct then afterall.

...there was NO official news of it stopping any soon, though its not the case about the Figo.

not the case about the Figo?? as in stopping soon or as in there IS some official news about Figo? I presume current-gen Figo still has few months to go.

Originally Posted by arunphilip

If ever it wasn't clear that this car was meant to target the <4m bracket, this picture that shows the vertical face at the front and the rear of the car should clear any doubts.

Isn't the nose infact few mm's ahead of the 'real' bumper ?? That would make it more than vertical.. or is it the angles?

[swiftnfurious]

Quite surprised to see the MID in the Aspire. Thought it would come with a device holder in the same place. Would be great to have the MID. I love all the pieces in the car except one - the odd looking door open lever!! That's taken straight from the Classic. The ones from Ecosport would have looked better anyday. And yes - I would have preferred the ACC module from Ecosport as well. It would have looked trendy & in line with the Audio piece.