[SmartCat]

Originally Posted by reignofchaos

Just curious - could you please post the times of the other cars tested?

Do a Youtube search for "Autocar TrackDay". Every year a bunch of cars are tested on the track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHh5l3JpUYE

Your VW Polo GT TSi clocked 2 mins 16.5 seconds on the track in 2013. However, the track was re-surfaced just before Abarth/Figo/Baleno was tested in 2016.

Originally Posted by mxh

These times make a lot more sense than the ones in the Overdrive test. It didn't make any sense for the Figo to be close to the Abarth, let alone beat it. I wonder what the huge difference in result could be attributed to?

Track prioritizes grip, agility and balance over outright power and straight line speed (not my words)

[keroo1099]

Originally Posted by smartcat

However, the track was re-surfaced just before Abarth/Figo/Baleno was tested in 2016.

Aahaa, that explains why the T-Jet was faster than the Abarth. Otherwise you would have one very upset Abarth design team.

Fiat Linea T-jet (2011) 2m16.50s
Fiat Abarth Punto (2016) 2m16.96s

[Dr.Naren]

What Narain said :

Baleno 1.2 : Brilliant engine, can carry a lot of speed into corners but understeers relatively early and not as sharp as "Swift".

Figo 1.5 : Fun to drive, fair amount of oversteer and points nicely into corners, top speed is only 3kph less than Abarth on track.

Abarth Punto : Strong mid range, good steering feel. But not suited for hard cornering due to soft suspension setup. "It gets full marks for a half-baked job".

Source : Autocar September 2016 (Anniversary Issue)

[d3mon]

TRACK RATINGS, as per Narain:

Lambo Huracan: 9 stars
Ford Figo 1.5: 8 stars
Audi R8 V10 Plus: 8 stars
Merc C63S: 7 stars
Macan Turbo: 7 stars
Audi S5: 7 stars
Jaguar XE25T: 6 stars
Abarth Punto: 6 stars
Baleno: 5 stars


So Narain thinks the Figo is as much fun on a track as the R8 V10 plus .Selected comments from him:

Figo: "Another excellent driver's car from Ford".
Pros mentioned: Torquey Engine, Strong front end, oversteer tucks it nicely into corners
Cons mentioned: Brakes a bit grabby

Abarth: "Brilliant engine, but the suspension is too comfort oriented to be a real Abarth".
Pros mentioned: Strong mid range & considerable punch. Steering feel.
Cons mentioned: Soft suspension, too much body roll, isn't suited to hard cornering.

Baleno: "In the dynamics department, it's not as sharp as the swift".
Pros mentioned: Sweet engine, Low weight, Carries speed into corners
Cons mentioned: Zero feedback from steering, Understeer

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by d3mon

So Narain thinks the Figo is as much fun on a track as the R8 V10 plus .Selected comments from him:

Figo: "Another excellent driver's car from Ford".
Pros mentioned: Torquey Engine, Strong front end, oversteer tucks it nicely into corners
Cons mentioned: Brakes a bit grabby

Wow! Those are big words from Narain. Looks like Ford has really pulled this one off.

The car that seems to be a step back from the earlier version in on road dynamics during normal test drives, actually seems to be a beast out on media track days.

[madmaxvistian]

Originally Posted by d3mon

TRACK RATINGS, as per Narain:

Lambo Huracan: 9 stars
Ford Figo 1.5: 8 stars
Audi R8 V10 Plus: 8 stars
...

So Narain thinks the Figo is as much fun on a track as the R8 V10 plus .Selected comments from him:

Figo: "Another excellent driver's car from Ford".
Pros mentioned: Torquey Engine, Strong front end, oversteer tucks it nicely into corners
Cons mentioned: Brakes a bit grabby

It's wonderful to hear such an appreciation from the pro.:thumbup:

Figo has always been a wonderful Car and even in the current avatar it's still holding its characteristic. The build quality is a notch below the usual Ford's standards, nevertheless it's still equal to some of the other manufacturers' quality if not better.

Ford certainly deserves a shout-out for giving the wonderful diesel engine for that price range.:thumbup:

[samaspire]

Originally Posted by d3mon

TRACK RATINGS, as per Narain:

Lambo Huracan: 9 stars
Ford Figo 1.5: 8 stars
Audi R8 V10 Plus: 8 stars
Merc C63S: 7 stars
Macan Turbo: 7 stars
Audi S5: 7 stars
Jaguar XE25T: 6 stars
Abarth Punto: 6 stars
Baleno: 5 stars

So Narain thinks the Figo is as much fun on a track as the R8 V10 plus .Selected comments from him:

Figo: "Another excellent driver's car from Ford".

Ford - take a bow!
Guess everyone was chastising Ford for compromising on its core value, when they had actually not. Ask any Figo/Aspire diesel owner and he will say the exact same thing that Narain said. Heck I can say the same about my 1.2 Petrol.

Just look at the competition. The only car better than the Figo is the Lamborghini, and that costs as much as 50 Figos (you could buy a new Figo for every week of the year)

[Sheel]

I have had the pleasure of driving the first gen Figo for ~35,000 kms. A friend has got himself an Aspire diesel in Titanium trim, drove that as well, nice car but doesn't connect the way the old Figo did. The engine is a bomb in the current gen but for us normal folks, the previous gen Figo's steering feel and car's composure was something else.

Sure, the new Figo twins are faster but that connect is missing. Yes, lap-times do not have to focus on that connect and I am unsure as to what timings would the older Figo post with this new engine. It might be lesser because the entire scenario changes on a track, especially in the capable hands of someone like Narain.

Same for Fiat, that connect while driving stays, whatever be the lap-times.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by samaspire

Just look at the competition. The only car better than the Figo is the Lamborghini, and that costs as much as 50 Figos (you could buy a new Figo for every week of the year)

Anyone having the magazine knows where Narain has rated the earlier driver's Ford cars like the Fiesta 1.6S etc?

I still feel that was the best Ford in India, so probably it should be as fun as the Lamborghini around a track, if not better.

I hope the 200 crore marketing campaign really does wonders for this car's future. They really seem to be investing it at the right places.

PS- This should ideally be discussed in a new thread IMO. Current thread is for Overdrive results.

[vibbs]

Kudos to ford actually. They made Figo more mainstream by catering more to the mass market requirements. At the same time ensured that it remains a beast at the track!

Pity its not selling well.

[jetsetgo08]

According to the autocar track day 2013, even the ecosport ecoboost managed a very competitive 2m19.3s, considering its high CG.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by smartcat

Suzuki Baleno 1.2 Petrol: 2 minutes 20.17 seconds
Ford Figo 1.5 Diesel: 2 minutes 19.89 seconds
Fiat Abarth Punto: 2 minutes 16.96 seconds

Originally Posted by jetsetgo08

According to the autocar track day 2013, even the ecosport ecoboost managed a very competitive 2m19.3s, considering its high CG.

So the Ecosport is faster than the Figo diesel?

Hope Figo Ecoboost (Priced against Baleno RS, GT TSI and Punto Abarth) is introduced. Imagine taking one to the track and having more fun than a Lamborghini.

Speaking of which, was the 1.5 DCT tested by Autocar?

[samaspire]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

So the Ecosport is faster than the Figo diesel?

Here's why the ecosport seems faster.

Originally Posted by smartcat

However, the track was re-surfaced just before Abarth/Figo/Baleno was tested in 2016.

Track prioritizes grip, agility and balance over outright power and straight line speed (not my words)

[Dr.Naren]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

So the Ecosport is faster than the Figo diesel?

Hope Figo Ecoboost (Priced against Baleno RS, GT TSI and Punto Abarth) is introduced. Imagine taking one to the track and having more fun than a Lamborghini.

Speaking of which, was the 1.5 DCT tested by Autocar?

We cannot compare cars tested at present and those tested previously as the track has been resurfaced this year.

[swiftnfurious]

Originally Posted by Dr.Naren

We cannot compare cars tested at present and those tested previously as the track has been resurfaced this year.

Curious, what difference does the re-surfacing make and how does it impact the lap times? Would like to know what exactly is "re-surfacing" of the track.