Team-BHP - Scoop! Ford Figo "Sports" variant coming up. EDIT: Launched at Rs. 6.32 lakhs

Quote:

Originally Posted by tharian (Post 4184191)

The only disappointment is that it is a diesel and I guess I have to convert if I go down this road.

All your disappointment will vanish once you are behind the wheel & cruising on the highway. :) The diesel engine actually is pretty linear and feels very close to a petrol motor. Proper gear shifts should see you attain good speeds in very less time. Added to this is the benefit of better FE (if it matters that is) & almost zero impact to the engine with the ACC running.

Quote:

Originally Posted by e46 (Post 4184232)

Team,
any info, if Team-Bhp also participated in the media drive? A first hand info would be very much welcome.

GTO had posted that Team BHP was invited for the media drive. I hope the detailed review would be out soon :)

Quoting his post from another thread..

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO (Post 4178875)

If any enthusiast is going to book a Figo / Aspire, please wait for a couple of days. Ford is bringing out updates or possibly, a sportier variant. Received an invite for a drive that mentions "a sportier stance" and "an array of new features" for the Ford Aspire Sports & Figo Sports. Ford says it will step up the "Fun of Driving".

Don't know if there are mechanical changes, but it might be worth the wait if you've zero'ed in on these Fords.

The website says 'Sporty Black Interiors' and 'Two Tone (Charcoal Black + Light Oak) Environment' in the same column. What exactly does that mean?

Black seats with a two-tone dash and beige plastics? All black interiors except beige bits on the dash/panels? Anyone got a pic of the Aspire S interior?

From the various reviews and first drive impressions, could summarize the following regarding the 'tweaked' suspension setup of the Figo S.

Tyre size went from 175/65 R14 to 195/55 R15. Net effect is a tyre dia increase of approx 16mm.
GC would have then increased by approx 8mm, however the Figo S supposedly has 10mm shorter springs, bringing GC back to approximately the same figure as regular models (174mm?).
Likely the springs would be stiffer too. Shorter springs, taller and wider tyres - a much improved stance nevertheless.
Anti-rollbar at the front has been beefed up.
20 kg has been added compared to regular model, significant part of it would be the increase in unsprung mass (larger wheels and tyres). Minor contribution from cosmetic add-ons like spoiler.

Some questions which I hope the tbhp review of the car would shed light on:

Are the struts also same or changed for Figo S?
How about the various suspension bushings? At least the anti-roll bar bushes would have been uprated.
Going by how ford's spare part pricing have been recently, existing customers could upgrade their regular cars to have the same dynamics as Figo S for a minor cost.

VW, are you listening? Better brakes / suspension on your GT twins would be more welcome than the cosmetic additions every 6 months. It is appaling that brakes and suspension setup are identical between 75PS/110Nm and 110PS/250Nm variants of the same car:Frustrati

Quote:

Originally Posted by dailydriver (Post 4180954)

Figo and Aspire both need a substantial firming up of steering feel and suspension set up.

If they've upsized the tyres, and I guess they have, then the steering firmness would've gone up.. good because I found the steering awfully light and super-numb when I drove it, the feedback will improve in the sense that since the tyres have a wider contact patch, more of the road will filter through the rack. It is however an electric assist steering and hence can never, NEVER match the feel of say the old Figo or Fiesta, or the Fiats.

If they've played around with the bushing and springs then there is a chance that it'll be more cohesive in motion and responsive to drive. I wouldn't hold my breath if the question is about waiting for a car as fun as those in the glorious days of the past, the engine is only 25% of the story.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tharian (Post 4184191)

The only disappointment is that it is a diesel and I guess I have to convert if I go down this road.

There is the 1.2 Petrol if you need it and it's almost as fun, if not for the poor low end torque.

BTW just noticed that the rear seat armrest is missing from the Aspire-S. So all that Ford have done is, installed the Figo's seats in the Sports variant. lol:
Which if true, should mean that it's technically possible to fold down the rear seat.

Or it could be the Aspire Ambiente seats because I can't make out if the Headrests are adjustable or not.

Quote:

Originally Posted by samaspire (Post 4184420)

There is the 1.2 Petrol if you need it and it's almost as fun, if not for the poor low end torque.

I did think about it , but I have the old Figo petrol already and although the power on paper is around 87bhp which is big jump from the 71bhp of the same block of the old Figo, .it is marginally better than the old 1.2 petrol and the main reason is I don't want to feel like upgrading soon because i feel the power is low.

Happy to see that Ford Didn't go the "Maruti" way with the Figo S. They didn't just slap on tasteless stickers and slap on the sports name like Maruti did with the Swift "RS". :Frustrati

Instead they made some good cosmetic changes which I personally like and changed the suspension setup. Of course they could have added a little more power but it's still better than no mechanical changes at all.

Thumbs Up Ford!!!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by samaspire (Post 4184420)

I can't make out if the Headrests are adjustable or not.

If headrests are adjustable then is it possible to fit the seat-back as it is to Figo S? The only thing I miss in Figo is rear adjustable headrests. Why Ford excluded it is :Frustrati:Frustrati

Cheers!