Ford To Launch Figo Sports - Gets Better Handling and Features

Ford cars are widely known for their charismatic handling. But in India, the sporty tadka which is associated with the American brand has been missing for quite some time now. To add this characteristic to its portfolio, Ford will soon be launching a 'Sports' variant of the Figo. Though it won't be featuring any engine changes, it will have a revised suspension setup to make the car feel sportier. This variant will be available for both the Figo and the Aspire and is expected to be launch later this month.

In terms of mechanical changes, the most important one in the Sports variants will be a new suspension setup. We know from the past (Ford Fiesta S) that Ford can really take the driving experience up a notch by tuning the suspension in a stiffer and sportier manner. The Figo in the current state of tune is already a decent handler and the Sport is expected to make it even better. Especially the 1.5-litre diesel feels very sporty to drive and the retuned suspension might just be the updates it needs to make it a complete sporty package. Look-wise, the Sports variants will feature new 15-inch alloy wheels in place of the current 14-inch rims. The design of the alloy wheels is also expected to be more aggressive to make the car look sporty. Keeping the car up to date with the market trend, Ford will also offer dual-tone colour options on the Figo and Aspire to make it look more attractive. 

In terms of features, the Figo Sports could feature the new touchscreen which was introduced in the EcoSport a while back. Also, keeping in sync with the dual tone exteriors, the Sports variants could also feature a new interior upholstery. 

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Both the Figo hatchback and the Aspire sedan feature the same engine options - two petrol (1.2-, 1.5-litre) and one diesel (1.5-litre). The Sports variant will only be available with the manual transmission options - meaning it won't be available with the 1.5-litre petrol. The smaller petrol is a 1.2-litre Ti-VCT mill which produces 88PS of peak power and 112Nm of max torque. This engine comes mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. The diesel engine is a 1.5-litre TDCi unit which belts out 100PS of max power and 215Nm of max torque. It comes mated to a 5-speed transmission as well. 

The bigger petrol is a 1.5-litre Ti-VCT unit and is only available on the top-end variant. It produces a hefty 111PS of max power and 136Nm of peak torque. This engine is only available with a 6-speed dual clutch automatic transmission and sadly, won't be available in the Sports variant. 

List of changes

Mechanical
- New Suspension Setup

Exteriors
- All Black Mesh Grille
- Dual-Tone Paint Scheme (Contrast Roof)
- 15-inch Alloy Wheels (Black)
- Smoked Headlamps
- New Boot Mounted Spoiler

Interiors
- Added Features

The market of hot-hatchbacks has started to take shape in India. Though the Figo won't be a hot hatch, it will attract attention of new-car buyers who are looking for sporty characteristics in a car. With the above-mentioned changes, the Figo and Aspire Sport are likely to be priced at a premium of Rs 40,000 - Rs 50,000 above the current lineup. It will rival the likes of the Maruti Baleno and Hyundai i20. We will soon be driving the Figo Sport and coming with a first drive review - stay tuned.

Recommended Read

- Ford Figo : Detailed Review