Ford has inaugurated its new and second plant in India at Sanand, Gujarat with an investment of more than US $ 1 Billion. The new plant has annual production capacity of 2, 70, 000 engines and 2, 40, 000 vehicles including domestic and export markets. The Plant is stretch over 460 acres and has vehicle manufacturing assembly, machining and assembly operations for engine manufacturing.
The Chief Minister of Gujarat Mrs. Anandiben Patel and CEO, President of Ford Motor Mark Fields was present at the grand occasion. Apart from inauguration of plant Ford has also unveiled the production version of Ford Figo based compact sedan christened as ‘Figo Aspire’. At less than four metres Figo Aspire will take on Maruti Suzuki Swift, Hyundai Xcent, Honda Amaze and Tata Zest.
Ford will roll out all the existing products from Ford’s Chennai plant while all the new products including Figo Aspire will roll out of Sanand Plant. Apart from Figo Aspire which is likely to be launched in June 2015 Ford will also launch Figo Hatchback by the end of this year. Both these products are already on sale in Brazil as KA and KA+.
The Ford Figo Aspire gets inspired by ford’s latest design and sports Aston Martin like trapezoidal front grille, large swept back headlamps, sweeping lines across the bonnet, round fog lamps. The side of the car has 8 spoke alloy wheels, ORVMs with turn indicators, Blackened B pillars, pull type door handles. Rear side features a chrome strip across the boot lid, wraparound tail lamps and bumper with black cladding.
Coming to the cabin, the dashboard is inspired by Fiesta and Eco Sport, features FORD SYNC infotainment system with 3.5 inch display screen, App Link- Smartphone integration system, unique Mobile Dock system for navigation, charging and music streaming. It will also have leather seats, multiple storage spaces.
Ford Figo Aspire build on Passenger cage created from high intensity steel, 6 airbags including driver and passenger side airbags, side and curtain airbags for top variants, location information and emergency calls in case of collision and many more features.
Ford Figo Aspire would be available with a 1.5L DV5 turbo diesel engine and new 1.2L TiVCT petrol engine mated to a manual gearbox while Ford the 1.5L petrol engine would be paired to a 6-speed automatic gearbox.
Ford Figo Aspire will be launched in June followed by Ford Figo hatchback around September 2015 and new Ford Endeavour at the end of this year.
