5 FORGOTTEN Ford cars of India: From Mondeo to Fiesta

Ford has been around for a long time in the world of automobiles. The brand entered India in 1996 and it has become the sixth largest selling brand in the Indian market since then. Being a manufacturer with an international portfolio, Ford did launch a lot of vehicles in the Indian market. Some cars did well but others were largely forgotten. Here are 5 such forgotten Fords of India.

Ford Escort

The Escort was the first car that appeared in the Indian market with the Ford logo. The large sedan was the first car of the brand that was launched after Ford and Mahindra tied-up in the Indian market. The Escort was launched with a long list of features that included powered ORVMs, power steering, music system, air conditioning and front power windows.

It was also quite a spacious car with a large boot space and ample room in the rear. The Escort did not gain momentum in the market. It was offered with two engine options: a 1.3-litre petrol and a 1.8-litre diesel.

Ford Fusion

The Ford EcoSport enjoys the status of making the sub 4-meter compact SUV segment popular in the Indian market. Many years ago, Ford launched the Fusion, which is the first ever crossover in the Indian market. The Fusion became popular among the enthusiasts but looked like a large hatchback, which meant that SUV buyers stayed away.

The Fusion was offered with 1.4 liter and 1.6-litre petrol engines, and a 1.4 liter diesel engine. The Fusion was regarded as extremely practical and was favoured by big Indian families. The car is quite rare on Indian roads now.

Ford Fiesta S 1.6

The first generation of the Ford Fiesta gained a lot of popularity in India. Later, Ford launched a special S variant of the sedan for the enthusiasts in the market. The Fiesta was already known for its good handling and with the S variant, Ford took it to the next level. The Fiesta S had better suspension, a body kit and also received a new special colour. Ford did not change the engine though, it was powered by the same 1.6-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that produced a maximum of 100 Bhp and 145 Nm. The car has become so rare that only a few enthusiasts have them now.

Ford Fiesta facelift

Ford’s latest family design was introduced by the facelifted Fiesta in India in 2014. The sedan had the hexagonal Aston-Martin inspired front grille. The sleek design of the vehicle gathered a lot of eyeballs on the road. However, the car did not become popular in the segment due to the stiff competition, especially from Honda.

The car offered top-class handling through its sharp steering set-up that made car lovers happy. And the 1.5-litre diesel engine that produced 89 Bhp – 205 Nm did put a smile on the driver’s face due to minimal turbo lag. However, the car was not captivating enough for the mass segment buyers in its time.

Ford Mondeo

The Mondeo stays in the heart of many enthusiasts in India. It was the first time that Ford decided to enter the luxury segment in the Indian market. The Mondeo was launched in 2002 and attracted a lot of attention in the market. However, the heavy price tag it came with was a repelling attribute of the vehicle. The car was powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine that produced 142 Bhp of maximum power and a diesel engine that produced 128 bhp of maximum power.