LONDON: ‘Compact sedans’ is the latest piece of the market which everyone is after. The volumes speak for themselves and the pundits expect it to grow at a rapid rate over the next few years. The big guns are already in the fray and no one is letting up. Ford, of course, is the latest brand to turn its attention to this sub-four-meter segment and it brings fresh promises with the Figo Aspire. And although the new model carries the Figo badge, it showcases what the next generation Figo will be based on rather than building upon the existing one.
Design
You can’t miss the new signature Ford ‘trapezoidal grille’ even if you just glance at the Aspire. It dominates the front of the car along with the large swept back headlamps, setting the tone for the neatly sculpted hood and an angular windshield, which Ford claims is the result of several hours of wind-tunnel testing to reduce wind noise and improve aerodynamic efficiency. Mild references to the Figo’s design can be seen in the headlamps and triangular indicators. Ford engineers also seem to have dipped into the Ford Classic’s parts bin. The Aspire’s design is quite pleasing from the side profile too. Strong shoulder lines flank the length of the car, visually lengthening this compact sedan. The large chrome slat on the boot, however, draws mixed feelings, although the nicely detailed tail-lamps make up for it.
Engine, ride, handling
With the Aspire, Ford is going all out and will offer three engine options. The 1.2-litre petrol is from the Figo and it has been reworked for the Aspire to produce 88PS with 112Nm of torque. This engine is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, while the 1.5-litre diesel (from the Fiesta) now makes 100PS and 215Nm of torque, also mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. Yet another 1.5-litre petrol making 112PS of power and 136Nm of torque will be introduced with a six-speed automatic transmission for hassle free motoring. The naming convention for the engines has been changed by Ford. So, the Duratec and Duratorq tags are out and the Aspire’s petrols are now Ti-VCT and the diesel carries the TDCi appendage.
While the 1.2-litre petrol claims enough power on paper, it manages to deliver enough only past 4,000rpm with little bottom-end response. However, when pushed to the redline mark, it makes a lovely noise to keep you entertained. The 1.5-litre diesel is a far more effortless motor to use. There is little turbo-lag with the boost kicking in rather rapidly past 1,600rpm with a strong midrange to follow, and for once Ford hasn’t left a diesel engine at a point where it feels just a bit slow. This one goes for it. The combination means you need fewer gearshifts and there is great drivability. It isn’t the most refined of engines, but does a better job than some of its eastern counterparts.
Ride is well sorted with the Figo Aspire soaking up bumps well. The 175/65 section tyres on 14-inch rims not only ensure a smooth ride, but also offer a fair amount of grip around corners to complement the able chassis. Handling is impressive, although if you need to brake while going around a corner, the tail-end tends to lighten up and move about. Steering feel is reasonable, although not quite as good as the high standards that Ford has been setting for itself.
Verdict
The Aspire is a very impressive package which is arguably the best to drive in the segment and is incredibly spacious for a car in the sub-four-meter category. There are plenty of smart storage spaces around the cabin and they have created a smart docking station for devices at the top of the centre console to make it user-friendly for today’s consumers, with an easy to use charging port. They continue to develop on the ‘Sync’ system and have added a ‘MyKey’ feature which allows you to control a whole lot of things if you are usually driven around by a chauffeur and you would like some checks in place.
It manages to pack in a reasonably sized boot along with all of this and sets a benchmark in safety standards with driver and passenger airbags being part of standard fitment across all variants and the option of six airbags for the top-of-the-line variant apart from ABS.
Prices will be announced soon and the Aspire should be gunning for your Diwali bonus.
