ot long ago, owning a small car meant you couldn’t afford anything else. But perceptions have changed rapidly. Emerging market demands prove that the little buggies reign supreme. Every manufacturer is busy developing a small car and Ford is no exception. However, the company is equally in tune with bigger machines. Soon its Indian product line-up may witness a major revamp. But with focus on the emerging market, we showcase Ford’s new small car.
Ford is busy developing a small car, which is currently being tested in Brazil, and sources reveal that this particular model, code-named B402 may be the company’s small car for India. What’s more assuring is that this car shares its platform with the Ikon currently being sold here. Ford has already made it clear that it doesn’t intend to phase out the Ikon and therefore, developing a new car on this very platform, would mean achieving economies of scale. In turn, the company would be able to price it aggressively.
But the question remains, why has Ford taken so long to bring in a small car if the Ka was the easiest option? One justification is the latter’s unique styling (also the lack of space) which might not have gone down too well with the Indian consumer. And now that a more conventional looking car (which is also dimensionally larger) is set to replace the Ka in Brazil, it’s only logical given the synergies with the Ikon, that the B402 comes to India as well.
However, Ford Motor Company is also working on the next generation Ka. It will be a notch ahead of the current model as far as design is concerned and will be offered in only a three-door hatchback
version. Ford had announced some time back signing of a definitive agreement with Fiat to develop a small B segment hatchback. According to a press release, the current Fiat Panda platform may be the basis for the new car. Ford engineers will contribute to the development of their models. However this model would use Fiat powertrains built in Poland and Italy. Built exclusively for the European market this Ka would get the 1.3 JTD engine from Fiat, which made the Swift a better diesel car. Reports suggest that General Motors will also pick up this engine for their small car while Fiat will surely get it when its hatch is launched.
As for the B402 destined for India, it’s clear that Ford is not interested in the Japanese small car design quotient of the tall boy. Ford’s ‘kinetic’ design philosophy is apparent from the high sill line and the side profile. Flared wheel arches incorporate a sporty look. Diamond shaped headlamps occupy prime area along the fender and hood. The honeycomb grille on the made-in-India Fords is carried over to the B402, endowing it with an aggressive look.
The rear is where the excitement lies and the rear three quarters is the car’s most photogenic side. Large tail lamps wrap around the rear fender in style. However the most striking feature is the large tailgate that runs almost to the bottom half of the bumper, something seen in SUVs and is sure to make loading the boot easier. The bumper seems like a pair of pillars running all the way up to the rear tail lamps.
But no manufacturer today can get away with just a good-looking product. It has to perform equally well. Small cars with diesel engines are fast becoming essential in manufacturers’ model line-ups and Ford will definitely get it too. An option is the 1.4-litre TDCi engine found in the present Ford Fiesta. This Duratorq engine features piezo electric injectors, which enable good fuel efficiency and decent power. However the 68PS, which it now develops, may be detuned. Simultaneously the torque figures might be altered as well.
The other question yet to be answered is that the Fiesta is a much bigger car; so will the engine fit in the B402’s engine bay? Well, based on the Ikon, which once sported the 1.6-litre engine, it seems easy to fit the 1.4-litre engine into the small car. Moreover keeping the engine below the 1.5 mark will enable Ford to avail of excise duty reductions.
Ford has a 1-litre petrol engine in its Ka in Brazil. This engine develops 65PS@6000rpm and 87Nm of torque at 3250rpm. These figures seem to be adequate in the Indian context as well.
It’s possible that the 1.3-litre petrol unit from the Ikon finds its way into the B402, albeit extensively modified. To bring engine capacity below the 1.2-litre mark, Ford might convert the four-cylinder unit to a three-cylinder one, thus reducing the capacity nearly to a one-litre mark. Power and torque can easily be altered to match the competition.
Another aspect that Ford will benefit from is excise duty reductions. Reports suggest that this car will be around 3.75 metres in length, less than the demanded four metres. This would make it easier for the company to price the car at anything between Rs 3.5 lakh and Rs 4.5 lakh.
Ford Fiesta
The face-lifted version of the Fiesta sedan we revealed last month has already hit showrooms across Brazil and Ford will definitely get this to India shortly. However to compete against the likes of the Verna CRDi, Ford may put the 1.6 Duratorq oil burner under the hood.
Angular headlamps, a restyled hood and rear end makes up for what was the Fiesta’s only drawback, drab looks. Side proportions are taken care of by the wheel arches, grooming the car for battle in the Indian sedan market. Expect the interiors to be spruced up as well.
The 1.6 Duratec petrol engine generating 101PS transforms the Fiesta into a lethal projectile, while the 1.4 Duratec petrol took care of the fuel efficiency conscious customer. Ford has been successful in making the taxi operator happy with the 1.4 Duratorq diesels, where performance isn’t as important as operating cost.
Those keen on driving pleasure may get what they want at last. The 1.6L TDCi offers more power and importantly, more torque. It develops 90PS at 4,000rpm, leagues ahead of the 68PS developed by the small counterpart. Add to that the phenomenal torque output of 204Nm at a low 1750rpm and you have a Fiesta fit to drive in crowded city traffic and equally apt at munching miles on the highway.
No comments:
Post a Comment