Ford Figo Aspire To Be India's Fastest Compact Sedan

The Ford Figo Aspire compact sedan is weeks away from being launched in India. Competition for the Figo Aspire will come from the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Dzire, the Honda Amaze, the Tata Zest and the Hyundai Xcent. One thing that really stands out about the new Ford is the kind of engine performance it promises.

The car will be the most powerful, sub-4 meter compact sedan sold here. Facts and figures about the Figo Aspire have been released. The car will use a a completely revamped range of engines that put out good power and torque outputs. Also, Ford has engineered the car with a light kerb weight in mind. Over to the numbers now.

The 1.2 liter petrol motor of the Ford Figo Aspire will serve on the base model. Variable camshaft timing and other tweaks have meant that power and torque numbers for this motor now stand at 87 Bhp and 112 Nm, which is par for the course and a big upgrade from the underpowered 1.2 liter Duratec motor on the Figo. A 5 speed manual gearbox is standard on this variant, while the 995 kilogram kerb weight should give it decent pep in regular driving conditions.

The real deal though is the 1.5 liter Ti-VCT engined version of the Figo Aspire, which is a straight lift off from the likes of the Ecosport and the Fiesta. This motor makes 112 Bhp and 140 Nm, which makes the Figo Aspire the most powerful car in its class. The 6 speed twin clutch automatic gearbox shifts fast, and adds to the sporty appeal of this variant. And with a kerb weight of 1,048 kilograms, the car also has the best power to weight ratio. Expect some theatrics from the top-end, Figo Aspire Petrol.

Ford’s diesel cars sold in India have never really dominated the numbers game. The 1.4 liter TDCI mill found on the Figo and Classic are responsive but not really powerful. The same can be said of the 1.5 liter TDCI turbo diesel engine found on the Ecosport and the Fiesta. On the Figo Aspire though, this very engine gets a solid kick in its pants. A remap has seen power bumped up to 98.6 Bhp, while torque has gone up to 215 Nm. These numbers, along with the 1,048 kilogram kerb weight, makes the Figo Aspire the most powerful car in its segment.

The car measures 3,995 mm in length, 1,695 mm in width, 1,525 mm in height and gets a class leading 2,491 mm wheelbase. A 359 liter boot and a 174 mm ground clearance number means that the Figo Aspire is a well rounded automobile as far as the numbers go. If Ford can price this car well, it could have a winner on its hands. The Figo Aspire will replace the Classic sedan in Ford’s Indian portfolio, and will go on sale in the next few weeks. Bookings will open shortly.