5 good reasons to wait for the new 2015 Ford Figo Hatchback

Snapshot – In the second half of this year, Ford India will launch the 2015 Figo hatchback here. The 2015 Figo will replace the current version of the car. Price and positioning of the new car is likely to be similar to the outgoing variant, and Ford is currently busy testing the 2015 Figo on streets here. The new B+ segment hatchback will be the least priced Ford car in India, aimed at bringing in big volumes for the American automaker. The car will be built at Ford’s new Sanand factory, near Gujarat. If you’re wondering about whether to wait for the new, 2015 Figo or to go in for the current variant, you’ve got help at hand. CarToq lists out 5 good reasons for you to wait for the new B+ segment hatchback.

A more contemporary design

The current Figo, even when it was launched in 2010, wasn’t the most ravishing or modern looking car around. However, the new car, with its hexagonal front grille and Ford’s global design philosophy is a looker right from get-go. Looks can swing car buyers’ decisions and this is what Ford will be counting on. So, if you’re in the market for a car that looks fresh and different from the other B+ segment hatchbacks around, the 2015 Figo would be an option worth waiting for.

More powerful petrol and turbo diesel engines

The 1.2 liter Duratec motor on the current Figo is a disappointment. The 1.4 TDCI turbo diesel, which impresses with its responsiveness, loses steam at three digits. So, more power under the hood is what the Figo begged for and Ford has just answered it in the new, 2015 hatchback. The car will gain a new 1.2 liter petrol engine that will get additional pep, thanks to variable camshaft timing or Ti-VCT in Ford speak. The 1.4 liter diesel mill will be replaced by a 1.5 liter TDCI turbo diesel motor. So more pep on the new car is a given.

Revamped interiors

Another area that the older Figo didn’t impress buyers, especially the fairer sex, was in the interiors department. The car’s innards were hard wearing but did’nt feel premium enough, especially when compared to the likes of the Volkswagen Polo and the Hyundai i20. This is another area where the new, 2015 Figo is expected to impress, especially given the quality, and the contemporary layout of the car’s interiors as seen on the Brazil-spec models. Also, the new Figo will get the new interior design seen on the likes of the EcoSport and the Fiesta models.

More features and improved connectivity options

More features and improved connectivity options will be served up on the 2015 Figo, in keeping with the changing market dynamics. From automatic climate control to Ford’s latest iteration of the SYNC infotainment interface, the car is expected to loaded with features that bring it up to speed with what the competition offers. While an automatic gearbox equipped variant would be nice, it remains to be seen if such a variant would be sold here. What is certain though is ABS+EBD and twin airbags.

Good driving dynamics

Most Ford cars sold in India are known for their driving dynamics. Going by the positive reviews that the 2015 Figo has garnered in Brazil, where the car is already on sale and where it is known as the Ka, the new hatchback promises to be a cracker when it comes to ride and handling. On the new, 2015 Figo, an electronic power steering will replace the hydraulic unit of its predecessor, which will bump up fuel efficiency. However, reviews from Brazil suggest that the electric power steering provides good steering feel at all speeds, a crucial factor that can make or mar a car’s fun to drive nature.