In 1995 Ford Motor Company entered the Indian market after having a 50:50 joint venture with Mahindra & Mahindra. The venture was known as the Mahindra Ford India Limited. They setup their first plant at the Mahindra & Mahindra's manufacturing facility in Nashik.
1997 Ford Escort
1. An old-school 1.3 L OHV pushrod engine. It produced a power output of 58 hp @ 5000 rpm & a torque of 101 nm @ 2500 rpm.
2. A naturally aspirated 1.8 L diesel engine. It produced a power output of 60 hp @ 4800 rpm & a torque of 110 nm @ 2500 rpm.
It was launched with features like power steering, power windows, remote boot release, CFC free air conditioning, rear head rests and rear split seats. The Escort was fully loaded considering the era it was launched in. In later times Ford went on to introduce a 1.6 L DOHC 16v petrol engine. This was the first DOHC engines to be introduced in India. Power output of 85 hp @ 5500 rpm and 134 nm of torque @ 3000 rpm.
The Design of the Escort was disliked by many. This became one of the reasons for it being a market dud. Not only the design but overall the Escort was not a very reliable car. The clutch, overheating & suspension gave a lot of problems. Also the spares parts were very expensive. All this led to the Escort being a complete failure. Finally the Escort was discontinued in 2001. Some of the former owners of Escort swear by its build quality & the ride and handling characteristics. Ford learnt it the hard way and increased its stake to 72% in 1998. This lead to the formation of Ford India Private Limited.
The Sedan Rivals- Maruti Suzuki Esteem, Ford Escort,
Daewoo Cielo & Opel Astra
In 1999 Ford went on to launch one of its most successful sedan- the "Ikon". The Ikon changed things for Ford India. Initially launched with a 1.6 L petrol engine & a 1.8 L naturally aspirated diesel engine. The Diesel engine was the same one which did its duty in the Ford Escort. The 1.6 L ROCAM engine was an amazing engine churning out 91 hp @ 5500 rpm and a torque of 130 nm @ 2500 rpm. The 1.6 ROCAM Ikon was an absolute blast. It is one of the most loved car by automobile enthusiasts then as it offered amazing handling and an interactive steering. The 1.6 L engine was mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox which was a short throw gearbox. All this made the Ikon 1.6 a hoot to drive without sacrificing on the ride quality. Certain variants like the nxt & sxi were offered with a different bumper which made the Ikon look sporty. Overall in the design department the Ikon was pretty decent. The boot space was good but the interior space wasn't any great. The ground clearance was roughly about 175 cms which was pretty good. In the year 2000 Ford had launched a 1.3L petrol engine which had a power output of 70 hp @ 5500 rpm and a torue figures of 105 nm @ 2500 rpm. The Ikon 1.3 was strictly average. It was very sluggish in its performance. But it did sell well.
Ford Ikon SXi 1.6
Ford Ikon 1.3
Honda City vs Maruti Suzuki Baleno vs Ford Ikon
vs Hyundai Accent
The Biggest disappointment in the Ikon were its brakes. They were very weak and totally inadequate. This was one problem which Ford couldn't solve in 11 years of production of the Ikon. Overall the Ikon had earned a bad name in the market. Thanks to its unreliable parts, high cost of spares & Ford's horrible after sales service. All these factors made people stay away in general from Ford products. It was later when Ford started localisation that their spare part prices reduced. In 2006 the Ikon 1.6L petrol was discontinued to make space for the Fiesta.
In 2009 the Ikon was given a facelift and prices were further reduced for the Fiesta to fit in. The most important change was the addition of the 1.4 TDCi engine from the Ford Fiesta. The 1.8 L diesel was discontinued in 2005. So in 2009 Ford offered the Ikon at a very low price with just two engine options- 1.3 L Rocam petrol engine & a 1.4 TDCi diesel engine.
The Ikon was discontinued in 2011. It was sold for 11 years in the Indian market and did pretty well. Even though it had its fair share of issues, Ikon was a success and got Ford into limelight. It got Ford certain loyalists too.
2009 Updated Ford Ikon
In 2002 Ford had launched what we believe was their best offering in India- the "Ford Mondeo". The Ford Mondeo was offered with two engines- a2.0 L Duratec petrol engine & 2.0 L Duratorq diesel engine. The Mondeo was a terrific package. Both the petrol and diesel engine on offer were brilliant and offered mind blowing performance. The handling & suspension setup was awesome which made the Mondeo fun-to-drive.
But the Mondeo never sold well in our market. People always perceived it as a beefed up Ford Ikon. There were many reliability issues reported too. Most of them were related to the fuel pump going bust. The competition then had moved on and with the launch of the Honda Accord & the Hyundai Sonata. Soon the Mondeo was forgotten and eventually Ford had to discontinue it in 2006.
The Mondeo could never do the magic on the Indian Market which it did in the European market. All said and done this car definitely had made a special place among enthusiasts. People do wish Ford India launches the updated Mondeo in our market now. I hope folks from Ford India are listening.
But the Mondeo never sold well in our market. People always perceived it as a beefed up Ford Ikon. There were many reliability issues reported too. Most of them were related to the fuel pump going bust. The competition then had moved on and with the launch of the Honda Accord & the Hyundai Sonata. Soon the Mondeo was forgotten and eventually Ford had to discontinue it in 2006.
The Mondeo could never do the magic on the Indian Market which it did in the European market. All said and done this car definitely had made a special place among enthusiasts. People do wish Ford India launches the updated Mondeo in our market now. I hope folks from Ford India are listening.
2002 Ford Mondeo
2002 Ford Mondeo
The D2 segment then consisted of the Ford Mondeo,
Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata & the Opel Vectra
In India to capture the market and make your presence felt Manufacturers can succeed only by introducing a hatchback which is fuel efficient, powerful, spacious & cheap to maintain or by launching an SUV with butch looks. Ford realized the same and then came the "Ford Endeavour". The Endeavour till date retains it butch look and has an amazing road presence. It looks like a typical american SUV. The Endeavour was developed by Ford & Mazda jointly and was based on the Ford Ranger pick up. Initially it was launched with a 2.5L Turbo-diesel engine. In the later times with the updates the Endy got with the Thunder & Thunder+ editions it received a 3.0L turbo-diesel engine. Apart from a 5-speed manual transmission, A 5-speed automatic also was introduced with the 3.0L engine.
The Endeavour was overall a reliable product. It was a hit in the SUV segment until Toyota launched the Fortuner in 2009. The Endeavour as such had two major problems- the ride quality was really bad (Thanks to the leaf-springs at the back) & the floor height for the middle and last row was very high which made seating very uncomfortable. All these points went against the Endeavour and saw it slowly loose its presence in the market. Although it did come with certain Off-road goodies like a good low range transfer case & a torsen Limited-slip differential. But neither did the Endeavour establish itself as a very capable off-roader, Thanks to its long wheelbase and the Front & back overhangs.
Even though it was updated in 2010, the updates didn't help boost the sales of the Endeavour. Currently it is offered with 2 engine options- a 2.5 L & a 3.0L turbo-diesel engine. The 2.5 L is offered only in the 2WD layout with a 5-speed manual transmission. The 3.0L is offered with both 2WD & 4WD layouts with a 5-speed automatic transmission.
Even though it was updated in 2010, the updates didn't help boost the sales of the Endeavour. Currently it is offered with 2 engine options- a 2.5 L & a 3.0L turbo-diesel engine. The 2.5 L is offered only in the 2WD layout with a 5-speed manual transmission. The 3.0L is offered with both 2WD & 4WD layouts with a 5-speed automatic transmission.
Ford has come to its sense now and are soon expected to launch the all new 2015 Ford Endeavour. We hope the New Endy does a similar magic like it did way back in 2003.
2005 Ford Endeavour Hurricane
2008 Ford Endeavour Thunder
2009 Ford Endeavour Thunder+
2014 Ford Endeavour
2015 Ford Endeavour
In 2005 Ford launches a hatchback or maybe an SUV. There was no clear definition about it. But it was one hell of a car. The "Ford Fusion" was a car way ahead of its time. It basically was a perfect Urban-crossover. Today the market has gone all crazy over these compact SUVs/crossovers But 10 years back when Ford was offering the Fusion, people didnt perceive it well and finally Ford had to discontinue the Fusion in 2010. Today we pay close to 1.5-2 times the price of the Fusion for similar Crossovers. Mind you none of these cars even today can match up to the handling characteristics of the Fusion. It was a perfect recipe for Indian automobile enthusiasts wherein without sacrificing on practicality they could enjoy driving a car. The interior & boot space was amazing. The suspensio setup offered a perfect balance. You could enjoy it around the corners and the car would remain comfortable on most of the bad roads. The steering was very communicative. It was offered with two engines- the famous 1.6 duratec petrol engine & the 1.4 duratorq diesel engine.
People perceived it as a big hatch and were not ready to pay the high price for the Fusion. Finally in 2010 Ford went ahead and discontinued the Fusion. Today we have every other manufacturer trying to offer a compact SUV at an affordable price But Ford did the same way back in 2005. The Fusion truly was a legend.
In 2005 Ford went on to launch one of its biggest hits in our market- The "Fiesta/ Classic". The Fiesta then was offered with 3 engine options- a 1.4L Duratec petrol, 1.6L Duratec Petrol & the 1.4L TDCi diesel engine. The 1.4 L diesel engine was very fuel efficient and offered decent drivability. With 100 horses under the hood, the Fiesta 1.6L petrol was a hoot to drive. In the later times Ford went ahead and launched a 1.6S version The Fiesta 1.6S had a body kit, spoiler, different engine maps & stiffer suspension. It was a perfect automobile enthusiasts choice. In 2011 the car was renamed as the Fiesta Classic. But within a year Ford named it as the Ford Classic. The Fiesta even in its stock form had a very good suspension setup. It made the drive sporty without sacrificing on the comfort.
The Fiesta Classic was well received by the Indian market. As Ford had started a high percentage of localisation, spares became cheaper. People had reported an improvement in the overall after-sales experience. Like every other car Fiesta too had its cons. Firstly it wasn't very spacious. The rear seat was cramped & the fuel efficiency figures from the 1.6L duratec petrol were horrible. Though people have reported high fuel efficiency figures with the updated Fiesta Classic. But the market never really perceived the 1,6 well. The Design of the Fiesta is one of the best under 10 lakhs. It is stylish yet elegant.
When the Classic was launched it was positioned in a way that it makes space for the new Fiesta. The 1,6L petrol was offered at a mouth watering price. Even today the Fiesta Classic is the most prefereed car by the enthusiasts under 10 lakhs. The Fiesta Classic truly was a success for Ford India. As all good things come to an end, Ford will discontinue the Classic soon. The Figo Aspire will be replacing the Classic. The Ford Fiesta Classic definitely was a Classic car.
People perceived it as a big hatch and were not ready to pay the high price for the Fusion. Finally in 2010 Ford went ahead and discontinued the Fusion. Today we have every other manufacturer trying to offer a compact SUV at an affordable price But Ford did the same way back in 2005. The Fusion truly was a legend.
Ford Fusion
In 2005 Ford went on to launch one of its biggest hits in our market- The "Fiesta/ Classic". The Fiesta then was offered with 3 engine options- a 1.4L Duratec petrol, 1.6L Duratec Petrol & the 1.4L TDCi diesel engine. The 1.4 L diesel engine was very fuel efficient and offered decent drivability. With 100 horses under the hood, the Fiesta 1.6L petrol was a hoot to drive. In the later times Ford went ahead and launched a 1.6S version The Fiesta 1.6S had a body kit, spoiler, different engine maps & stiffer suspension. It was a perfect automobile enthusiasts choice. In 2011 the car was renamed as the Fiesta Classic. But within a year Ford named it as the Ford Classic. The Fiesta even in its stock form had a very good suspension setup. It made the drive sporty without sacrificing on the comfort.
The Fiesta Classic was well received by the Indian market. As Ford had started a high percentage of localisation, spares became cheaper. People had reported an improvement in the overall after-sales experience. Like every other car Fiesta too had its cons. Firstly it wasn't very spacious. The rear seat was cramped & the fuel efficiency figures from the 1.6L duratec petrol were horrible. Though people have reported high fuel efficiency figures with the updated Fiesta Classic. But the market never really perceived the 1,6 well. The Design of the Fiesta is one of the best under 10 lakhs. It is stylish yet elegant.
When the Classic was launched it was positioned in a way that it makes space for the new Fiesta. The 1,6L petrol was offered at a mouth watering price. Even today the Fiesta Classic is the most prefereed car by the enthusiasts under 10 lakhs. The Fiesta Classic truly was a success for Ford India. As all good things come to an end, Ford will discontinue the Classic soon. The Figo Aspire will be replacing the Classic. The Ford Fiesta Classic definitely was a Classic car.
Ford Fiesta Classic
Ford Fiesta 1.6S
Ford Fiesta
2015 Ford Figo Aspire
In 2009 Ford India launched the "Figo". In its initial period the Figo was a hit. This mainly happened because Ford had managed to price the Figo well. It is offered with a 1.2L petrol engine & the 1.4L TDCi diesel engine from the Fiesta Classic/Ikon/Fusion. The Figo overall is a great package. It has decent interiors, an adequate boot & features. The Diesel Figo still sells well. The Design was a simple yet stylish no nonsense design which the market had perceived well.
In 2012 the Figo was given a minor update which inlcuded addition of a few features & some exterior changes like new headlamp & tail-lamp design. The Figo was a decent handler & offered a comfortable ride. It was a car developed for the Indian market on the Fiesta's platform.
Although there were a few disappointments. The 1,2L petrol engine was below average. Neither was it fuel efficient nor did it offer any good performance. The ground clearance of the figo has always been a concern. It scrapes on big bumps & speed breakers. As the Figo was priced well it did miss quite a lot of features. The most shocking omission was absence of rear power windows even on the top variant. All the B2 segment hatchbacks offer this basic thing even on their middle variant. It as expected that Ford might correct this with the update in 2012 but they didn't.
The competition in the B2 segment has moved up and the Figo now seriously feels outdated. So Ford plans to launch the new Figo in India very soon. We hope Ford retains the pros of the current car and eliminates the cons with the updated Figo.
Ford launched the all new "Fiesta" in 2011. The new Fiesta had a futuristic design. It was offered with a 1.5L diesel motor churning out 90hp @ 3750rpm and torque of 204nm @2000-2750rpm. A 1.5 L petrol engine producing 108@ 6045rpm & a torque of 140nm @ 4500rpm did its duty till 2014. The petrol engine had 2 transmission options- a 5-speed manual gearbox and a 6-speed dual clutch transmission. The Fiesta when launched was the first in class to offer airbags & ABS standard on all their variants.
But the Fiesta never really could get the success like its predecessor did. The biggest issue was the pricing. The Fiesta was the costliest sedan in its class when launched in 2011. The interior space wasn't any great either. The styling was awkward. All these factors added led to the Fiesta becoming a market dud.
Although in 2014 Fiesta was given a major update where in the exteriors were changed. The front end received the Aston Martin kinda grille treatment & most importantly the prices were revised. From being the costliest C1 segment sedan the Fiesta became the cheapest C1 segment sedan. The 1.5L petrol was discontinued. Fiesta is sold only in its diesel avatar now. Although Ford did silently increase the prices for the Fiesta in 2015. The New Fiesta like its predecessor had a well tuned suspension which made it fun to drive. The electronic power steering is one of the best we have experienced on any car under 20 lakhs. All said and done Ford had done a major blunder with the pricing in 2011 which killed the Fiesta. Even though the New Fiesta is quite deserving, the market has already forgotten it. The sales figures clearly show that.
Now we come to the most successful products from Ford India- the "Ecosport". The car which changed the game for the urban crossovers. There was a time when the Renault Duster was the king of the compact SUV/crossover segment. Enters the Ecosport and gets the crown. Futuristic design, amazing engines on offer, mind-blowing feature list & most importantly smart pricing. The Ecosport was an instant success.
The Ecosport is a sub 4m SUV. Offered with 3 engines- 1.5L Duratec petrol engine (same as the new Fiesta), the most awarded 1.0L ecoboost engine & the 1,5L TDCi diesel engine. The 6-speed dual clutch transmission is offered on the 1.5L Petrol engine. The 1.0L ecoboost engine is the most awarded engine internationally. Its a 1,0L 3 cylinder turbo petrol producing a whopping 123bhp. It is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. The 1,5L TDCi diesel is the same as in the Fiesta producing 90hp. It offers terrific fuel economy and drivability. The Ecosport typically has a stiff suspension. This enhances the handling charcterstics and also helps it ride flat at high speeds. It has a ground clearance of 200mm which is expected from a car of this category. Overall the Ecosport is a perfect package. Certain variants come with 6-airbags which make it extremely safe.
Many people had booked the Ecosport but Ford couldn't meet the demand as they were focusing on the export market. The waiting period was extended to an year in some cities. Eventually people started exploring other options and from being a star performer the Ecosport has come down to an above average performer in the market.
Today the Ecosport does sell well But Ford needs to revamp the Ecosport soon. Competition is moving up with the launch of cars like Creta & S-cross. There are rumors that Ford is working on updating the Ecosport. The sooner the better for Ford.
Ford India has seen their fair share of ups and downs but that has never discouraged them from introducing new products and technologies in the Indian market. We really hope we get to see more of this with their upcoming launches.
In general cars from Ford are fun to drive and are well built. Ford is a brand loved by the enthusiasts. They gave our market two of the best petrol engines- the 1.6L Duratec petrol engine & the 1.0L 3 cylinder ecoboost engine. Both engines caused quite a stir upon their launch.
The Diesel engines on the hatchbacks and sedans barring the Mondeo are a disappointment. A common complaint from the diesel ford owners is that their cars feel under-powered. In reality the engines are adequate but the it dies down before the brilliant chassis Ford offers on all their products. These chassis's deserve a more powerful engine. Rumours suggest that the Figo Aspire will get a slightly powerful diesel engine. We really hope Ford carry forwards these changes to their other products too. All the cars from Ford are well calibrated which makes driving them enjoyable.
We really hope someday Ford brings the Mondeo in India. The current generation Mondeo in the international market is a really good package.
The biggest surprise from Ford India is the launch of the "Mustang GT" in India. Test cars have already been spotted at various places. We really hope Ford brings in its iconic Mustang to India very soon.
Ford offers products which may not sell really well but they are lovely packages. Buying a Ford product is definitely a heart over head decision. It may not be the best seller but it will definitely put a smile on your face every time you look at it or drive it.
In 2012 the Figo was given a minor update which inlcuded addition of a few features & some exterior changes like new headlamp & tail-lamp design. The Figo was a decent handler & offered a comfortable ride. It was a car developed for the Indian market on the Fiesta's platform.
Although there were a few disappointments. The 1,2L petrol engine was below average. Neither was it fuel efficient nor did it offer any good performance. The ground clearance of the figo has always been a concern. It scrapes on big bumps & speed breakers. As the Figo was priced well it did miss quite a lot of features. The most shocking omission was absence of rear power windows even on the top variant. All the B2 segment hatchbacks offer this basic thing even on their middle variant. It as expected that Ford might correct this with the update in 2012 but they didn't.
The competition in the B2 segment has moved up and the Figo now seriously feels outdated. So Ford plans to launch the new Figo in India very soon. We hope Ford retains the pros of the current car and eliminates the cons with the updated Figo.
2009 Ford Figo
2012 Ford Figo
2015 Ford Figo
Ford launched the all new "Fiesta" in 2011. The new Fiesta had a futuristic design. It was offered with a 1.5L diesel motor churning out 90hp @ 3750rpm and torque of 204nm @2000-2750rpm. A 1.5 L petrol engine producing 108@ 6045rpm & a torque of 140nm @ 4500rpm did its duty till 2014. The petrol engine had 2 transmission options- a 5-speed manual gearbox and a 6-speed dual clutch transmission. The Fiesta when launched was the first in class to offer airbags & ABS standard on all their variants.
But the Fiesta never really could get the success like its predecessor did. The biggest issue was the pricing. The Fiesta was the costliest sedan in its class when launched in 2011. The interior space wasn't any great either. The styling was awkward. All these factors added led to the Fiesta becoming a market dud.
Although in 2014 Fiesta was given a major update where in the exteriors were changed. The front end received the Aston Martin kinda grille treatment & most importantly the prices were revised. From being the costliest C1 segment sedan the Fiesta became the cheapest C1 segment sedan. The 1.5L petrol was discontinued. Fiesta is sold only in its diesel avatar now. Although Ford did silently increase the prices for the Fiesta in 2015. The New Fiesta like its predecessor had a well tuned suspension which made it fun to drive. The electronic power steering is one of the best we have experienced on any car under 20 lakhs. All said and done Ford had done a major blunder with the pricing in 2011 which killed the Fiesta. Even though the New Fiesta is quite deserving, the market has already forgotten it. The sales figures clearly show that.
2011 Ford Fiesta
2014 Ford Fiesta
The Ecosport is a sub 4m SUV. Offered with 3 engines- 1.5L Duratec petrol engine (same as the new Fiesta), the most awarded 1.0L ecoboost engine & the 1,5L TDCi diesel engine. The 6-speed dual clutch transmission is offered on the 1.5L Petrol engine. The 1.0L ecoboost engine is the most awarded engine internationally. Its a 1,0L 3 cylinder turbo petrol producing a whopping 123bhp. It is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. The 1,5L TDCi diesel is the same as in the Fiesta producing 90hp. It offers terrific fuel economy and drivability. The Ecosport typically has a stiff suspension. This enhances the handling charcterstics and also helps it ride flat at high speeds. It has a ground clearance of 200mm which is expected from a car of this category. Overall the Ecosport is a perfect package. Certain variants come with 6-airbags which make it extremely safe.
Many people had booked the Ecosport but Ford couldn't meet the demand as they were focusing on the export market. The waiting period was extended to an year in some cities. Eventually people started exploring other options and from being a star performer the Ecosport has come down to an above average performer in the market.
Today the Ecosport does sell well But Ford needs to revamp the Ecosport soon. Competition is moving up with the launch of cars like Creta & S-cross. There are rumors that Ford is working on updating the Ecosport. The sooner the better for Ford.
Ford Ecosport
In general cars from Ford are fun to drive and are well built. Ford is a brand loved by the enthusiasts. They gave our market two of the best petrol engines- the 1.6L Duratec petrol engine & the 1.0L 3 cylinder ecoboost engine. Both engines caused quite a stir upon their launch.
The Diesel engines on the hatchbacks and sedans barring the Mondeo are a disappointment. A common complaint from the diesel ford owners is that their cars feel under-powered. In reality the engines are adequate but the it dies down before the brilliant chassis Ford offers on all their products. These chassis's deserve a more powerful engine. Rumours suggest that the Figo Aspire will get a slightly powerful diesel engine. We really hope Ford carry forwards these changes to their other products too. All the cars from Ford are well calibrated which makes driving them enjoyable.
We really hope someday Ford brings the Mondeo in India. The current generation Mondeo in the international market is a really good package.
The biggest surprise from Ford India is the launch of the "Mustang GT" in India. Test cars have already been spotted at various places. We really hope Ford brings in its iconic Mustang to India very soon.
Ford offers products which may not sell really well but they are lovely packages. Buying a Ford product is definitely a heart over head decision. It may not be the best seller but it will definitely put a smile on your face every time you look at it or drive it.
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