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| Figo is here! |
| Thursday September 24, 2009 , New Delhi |
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| Ford has unveiled it's much awaited small car for India. Based on an existing platform that supports the current Fiesta in India, the Figo is a hatch that will allow Ford an entry into the competitive and crowded small car trip. Every car maker has finally understood, that to be counted in India, there must be at least one small car in its portfolio. This is because three fourths of the Indian car market is ruled by small cars - ranging from the basic Alto and 800 at one end, and the pricy and well equipped Jazz and i20 at the other. So Ford has doubled its car making capacity in Chennai, is also making engines, and the Figo will debut with 80% local content. It will be available to Indian buyers by Mar 2010, when it hits dealerships. The car is expected to have a diesel and petrol variant, and is likely to be priced between Rs 4 and 6.5 lakh. Ford insists that the price will be competitive, and that it will offer buyers great interiors, good overall quality and driveability, at affordable prices. But that is exactly what many carmakers are now offering isn't it? Or at least they are trying to. Take cars like the Hyundai i10 or the Maruti Ritz - and you see international quality products, which are reasonably competitive on price too. This is starkly different from the old hatches like even the popular Maruti Zen, which - though considered premium in its own way - lacked even basic features like body-coloured bumpers or door handles, a left side mirror, and of course more important ones like power steering or windows. Now you can get even power mirrors if you are ready to pay for it. And a growing number of Indian are. It is still not large enough to say that the trend of the fully loaded, safe hatch is catching on - like in Europe where the hot hatch is a pretty large car with just a boot missing. So even though a hatch is traditionally bought by those "who can't afford a bigger car" which may well be an entry sedan, now people realise the practicality of buying a hatch in our congested cities. In the small car space, which stretches from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 7 lakh (the Nano is cheaper but is considered as ultra small), the percentage of the premium hatches is growing - from just 7% 3 years ago, to 30% in 2009. And what's more, there will be even more action soon. Besides Ford's Figo, the Volkswagen Polo, Nissan Micra, Chevrolet's Beat and Toyota's small car will also join the party in 2010. So expect better features, driveability and value from the not-so-small cars soon! These cars will sport everything from ABS brakes and airbags, to steering mounted controls and sunroofs. The prices will range from Rs 4 to 7 lakh. The best part is that most of these cars beat the entry sedans like the Swift Dzire and Ford Ikon on cabin space, performance, safety and creature comforts. So expect lots of action in the days to come. I know I am looking forward to it, since it will also elevate segment benchmarks, buyer sensibilities and safety to an all new level in India. |
Siddharth Vinayak Patankar is Editor, Auto with NDTV Profit
