[abhi1309]

Originally Posted by Sowmya

Being a ford owner I would also suggest to rationalize the parts price. A set of Fusion Wiper (Front and Back) would cost 1200/- while in the market (Bosch) can be fixed with approx 400/-. If they priced the same for a Figo owner then its just a murder for them. FIGO and Fusion share the same parts. Some how i feel that same parts are sold in diff price with the diff car tag.

They are 350 bucks in the Ford Service center, for both Figo and Fiesta. I got both cars. Same hardware exactly.

[arin_12]

Originally Posted by abhi1309

They are 350 bucks in the Ford Service center, for both Figo and Fiesta. I got both cars. Same hardware exactly.

Ok. But that was the pricing they gave me while I called up and checked for the price. So DIY myself

[abhi1309]

Originally Posted by arin_12

Ok. But that was the pricing they gave me while I called up and checked for the price. So DIY myself

Ford and GM both have had history of being stupid. This was just one of the incidents. God what they used to sell Escort and Astra for 10 - 10 lacs each. What were they thinking.

[avishar]

The Economic Times

MUMBAI: Barely a month into singing a pact with the Gujarat government to build a plant, Ford Motor Company has started developing a global small car to be manufactured at its new Sanand facility, people with knowledge of the development told ET

Ford's new small car, which will take on the likes of Maruti Suzuki A Star and Hyundai i10, will be the cheapest yet from the US auto major's stable. The Sanand unit, situated next to the Tata's Nano plant, will be one of the big export hubs for the car, apart from China and Brazil.

The car, which is expected to hit the Indian market by early 2014, is likely to be priced at Rs 3-4 lakh and will be positioned below the company's other small car Figo. When contacted a Ford India spokesperson said: "Ford India has announced bringing eight new products by mid-decade that customers want and desire. We recently launched the global Fiesta, first of the eight new products, which is generating great interest. We have not made any specific announcements of future products to be manufactured from our new or current manufacturing sites."

The company had earlier said that the first vehicle from the Sanand facility is expected to be rolled out in early 2014. Ford's research and development centre in Brazil is currently developing the car and the company has approached component makers in India for local manufacturing, said people familiar with the matter.

The car will be part of the eight new products that the company has lined up for the Indian market by 2015. Code named B562, the small car will be built on an all-new platform, and is likely to be powered by a 1-litre Ecoboost petrol engine. The company sees a potential of selling more than 2,17,000 units of the new small car, including exports, in the first 12-18 months and has asked vendors to be ready for that kind of volume . With launch of Figo, Ford India tripled its annual sales to 83,887 units in 2010.

The small car market in India, driven by rising disposable income of the middle class, holds huge potential for carmakers. Leading global auto companies such as Renault-Nissan and Volkswagen and domestic firms like Tata Motors are actively pursuing the segment, said industry experts. Ford had earlier said that small cars will drive its volumes in India for the coming decade and sees potential for multiple small cars to take on the increasing competition. The country's largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki , is not surprised.

"With increasing income and growing number of first-time buyers, we expect the A2 segment to be large chunk of small car market. We have strong product portfolio and going forward as well, we would continue to strengthen our portfolio," said Sashank Srivastava, chief general manager-marketing , Maruti.

Good alternative to the Beat,Ritz and i10.Ford has to price this one right,the 1 litre ecoboost engine sounds good!As with all Ford expect this one to also have a sorted out and sporty chassis,and for nice driver's car among the econoboxes.

[vb-saan]

According to Hormazd Sorabjee, Autocar India, Ford's next product for India is not the Focus sedan, but a small SUV based on the Fiesta platform. Interesting move, and the car apparently will be less than 4 meters in length.

Here is the relevant link:

The Autocar India Show: Scoop - YouTube

[ampere]

Originally Posted by vb-san

According to Hormazd Sorabjee, Autocar India, Ford's next product for India is not the Focus sedan, but a small SUV based on the Fiesta platform. Interesting move, and the car apparently will be less than 4 meters in length.

Here is the relevant link: The Autocar India Show: Scoop - YouTube

That should be the Ecosport most probably.If that comes it would be great.
The Kuga is powered by 2.0L.


Looks like we are seeing moving targets. Ford does realize that this market
is waiting to be tapped. If they had entered the Focus, they would be entering an already crowded territory.

Here all they have is the Duster (only on cards) and the Yeti (1.6L) again only on scoops. This is indeed a good move, if it turns out to be true.

@Mustang any thoughts/clarifications?

[vb-saan]

Originally Posted by ampere

That should be the Ecosport most probably.If that comes it would be great.
The Kuga is powered by 2.0L.

I don't think this will be the Kuga or Ecosport - mainly because of the sub-4m length mentioned. Anyway, good move by Ford

[xingamazon]

Originally Posted by vb-san

According to Hormazd Sorabjee, Autocar India, Ford's next product for India is not the Focus sedan, but a small SUV based on the Fiesta platform. Interesting move, and the car apparently will be less than 4 meters in length.

Here is the relevant link: The Autocar India Show: Scoop - YouTube

Frankly what scares me is the thought that if Ford brings a SUV in the Fiesta's platform (for a Sedan which has already crossed 10L).

The mini SUV will surely touch the cost of Endevour itself. Again, it will end up in a situation where the vehicle is top class but cost makes it useless to even consider.
I really hope that would not be the case this time around.

[Fusion2006]

Originally Posted by xingamazon

Frankly what scares me is the thought that if Ford brings a SUV in the Fiesta's platform (for a Sedan which has already crossed 10L).

The mini SUV will surely touch the cost of Endevour itself. Again, it will end up in a situation where the vehicle is top class but cost makes it useless to even consider.
I really hope that would not be the case this time around.

HA! I was thinking the same thing!

And less than 4m??? A mini SUV at the price of a Yeti, yeah, like that's going to sell well. (NOT)

[suhaas307]

What Ford should do is introduce the hatch version of the new Fiesta sold here.

It's such a fantastic car, with great features and good space. Not to mention, it's a great driver's car and it looks brilliant. It would blow away the likes of the i20, the Polo, the Punto, the Jazz, etc. if it's priced right, especially with the availability of a diesel lump.

Anyway, a 4-meter mini-SUV is actually perfect for our market. If it is like the Fusion, it should be quite a success. Think about it:

- Interior space/boot space: Check

- Ground clearance to tackle bad roads: Check

- Frugal diesel engine: Check

- Small dimensions ideal for city traffic/parking: Check

- Priced under 10 lakhs: let's hope for that.

- After-Sales-Service: Needs improvement.

If Ford concentrate on this product, and market it well, they could have a potential winner on their hands.

The Fusion did not do well enough largely due to poor marketing. It was perceived, by the Indian customer, that it's a large hatchback priced at 7-10 lakhs. If Ford markets it as a mini-SUV that does several things well, then it might open up a new segment altogether!

[KiloAlpha]

Small sub-4m SUV is a good idea. Coming to think of it, it is an excellent idea. There hasn't been a modern successor to the Gypsy in ages, and I think there is space in the market for one.

One of the things that Ford needs to do is put that SUV on a very strict diet from the drawing board itself. The Gypsy succeeded off road because it was so light, Ford will be best off learning that lesson. And a lighter vehicle means that the "kitna deta hai" brigade (aka 90% of car buying public) will be a happier lot.

[MaserQ]

Originally Posted by suhaas307

What Ford should do is introduce the hatch version of the new Fiesta sold here.

Anyway, a 4-meter mini-SUV is actually perfect for our market. If it is like the Fusion, it should be quite a success.

The Fiesta hatch should come once the sedan has settled into discount season. Ford have a chance to redeem themselves with the hatch, which is much better looking than its sedan sibling. It would be a pity if they choose to price it out of reckoning.

A mini SUV sounds great on paper, lets hope they have learnt their lessons from the Fusion debacle.

[vb-saan]

Originally Posted by xingamazon

Frankly what scares me is the thought that if Ford brings a SUV in the Fiesta's platform (for a Sedan which has already crossed 10L).
The mini SUV will surely touch the cost of Endevour itself. Again, it will end up in a situation where the vehicle is top class but cost makes it useless to even consider.
I really hope that would not be the case this time around.

Originally Posted by suhaas307

What Ford should do is introduce the hatch version of the new Fiesta sold here…
…It was perceived, by the Indian customer, that it's a large hatchback priced at 7-10 lakhs. If Ford markets it as a mini-SUV that does several things well, then it might open up a new segment altogether!

Well, if they bring the hatch, it will definitely cost close to the sedan, and could be another sales dud. Whereas if they jack it up and get an SUV out of it, and price it around 10 lakhs, it could be another success story from Ford (after the Figo).

[suhaas307]

Originally Posted by MaserQ

The Fiesta hatch should come once the sedan has settled into discount season. Ford have a chance to redeem themselves with the hatch, which is much better looking than its sedan sibling. It would be a pity if they choose to price it out of reckoning.

A mini SUV sounds great on paper, lets hope they have learnt their lessons from the Fusion debacle.

Are you sure about that? I really hope you're right. A reliable sourse, right here on Team BHP, had mentioned that there are no plans for the Fiesta hatch in India. That's very disappointing as it looks absolutely stunning! Much, much better than its sedan sibling.

By the way, even Ford seems to think so! Sorry if this is slightly OT, but I'd caught the newest Fiesta advertisement on the telly. The advertisement is about a bunch of people, normal average everyday ordinary folks who drive the Fiesta and are blown away by it.

Now as they drive it along the road, the camera seems to catch only the front-end of the car, at all times! There is only one bit in the advert that shows the Fiesta's rear-end, and that's just a drive-by. Barely a second later, and you have the front-end in your face, again!

Originally Posted by vb-san

Well, if they bring the hatch, it will definitely cost close to the sedan, and could be another sales dud. Whereas if they jack it up and get an SUV out of it, and price it around 10 lakhs, it could be another success story from Ford (after the Figo).

Well, they could introduce the Fiesta hatch at an interesting and introductory price and then jack it up too. That would work. However, the only difference between the sedan and hatch should be, well, the boot. And nothing else. And yes, by then, we hope Ford has ironed out the quality issues and niggles that the sedan seems to suffer.

The mini-SUV sounds great too. But I wonder how they propose they do that. What car do they have in mind? Will it be a SKD of some existing Ford product sold elsewhere, or would it be a brand-new in-house, India-specific car?

[RavenAvi]

Originally Posted by suhaas307

The mini-SUV sounds great too. But I wonder how they propose they do that. What car do they have in mind? Will it be a SKD of some existing Ford product sold elsewhere, or would it be a brand-new in-house, India-specific car?

It could be a derivative of the Endeavour, on the lines of the mini Xylo.

The Endeavour is selling in pretty decent numbers, so a mini Endeavour might find plenty of takers, with a nice little detuned TCDI unit powering it.