Here are the best moments of our unveiling event yesterday. Watch the Ford Figo drive out for the first time and what president and CEO Alan Mulally had to say about Ford and the new car.
What do you think of the Figo? Let us know.
It’s anything but small- it’s substantial. It’s a Ford. And it’s finally revealed!
Say hello to the newest member of the Ford carline in India– the Ford Figo!
Figo is colloquial Italian for “cool”, and our new car personifies the vibrant spirit and youthful character of its name, plus the quality and substance car buyers expect from a Ford.
Our president and CEO Alan Mulally introduced Figo to the foreign and Indian media at a press conference in Delhi a short while ago. It was a fascinating sneak peek at our future in India.
“We know the high importance Indian consumers place on value for money. We know you want quality, fuel efficiency, technology, and safety. And Ford is going to give it to you,” Mr. Mulally said at the conference.
We like Figo’s kinetic design, which shares key elements with the Focus, Mondeo and Fiesta. Its contemporary touches include expressive headlamps and grille, and sculpted bonnet. Also check out a host of other design details, such as:
Generous proportions are evident in the Figo design. And being a Ford, we ensured the Figo has a solid stance with a spacious interior. The car’s profile and bold graphic large side window shape strongly hint at the comfort and spaciousness of the car.
We’ve made the Figo nimble and agile, another core Ford characteristic. The pronounced wheel arches signal both agility and solidity, and the body shape has minimal overhang with a wheels-at-the-corners look.
Our team has leveraged Ford’s small-car platform architecture to create the Figo. It shares underlying technology with the Ford Fiesta, already familiar to Indian drivers.
We have designed the Figo for driving on congested city roads, fully geared to take on the competition in India’s small car segment. As Michael Boneham, president and managing director, Ford India, said at the conference: “We’re confident that the new Ford Figo will be extremely attractive to Indian car buyers. It’s going to be very competitive with the current market leaders and offer a tremendous value story for our consumers.”
The car will be produced at our Chennai plant, which has undergone a $500 million transformation to become a regional centre of excellence for Ford small car production. The Figo will be exported to international markets as well. Volume production is scheduled to begin in early 2010.
Keep track of our blog for more information about the car and Ford in India. Meanwhile, we leave you with first glimpses of the car. Enjoy the pictures, and do let us know what you think of Figo.
-By the Ford Figo Team
It was an historic moment for Ford today as president and CEO Alan Mulally unveiled our new car in India – the Figo – at a press conference in Delhi. The Figo is Ford’s substantial offering to Indian car buyers, and is scheduled for launch in early 2010.
The excitement among our team grew as journalists from around the world poured into the conference hall. The theme – One Ford, One Vision, One Team, One Moment – became apparent as the events unfolded.
Michael Boneham, president and managing director, Ford India, kicked off the press conference with an insightful introduction to Ford’s $500 million investment in India. “This strategic investment is transforming our India business – into a volume manufacturing and export hub…and a regional center of excellence for Ford small car development and production.”
Mr Boneham called the Figo a game-changer for the India operations. “It will give us competitive muscle in the heart of the India market. And it marks the beginning of a series of new products for customers here,” he envisioned.
Taking over the stage from Mr Boneham, president and CEO Alan Mulally explained the One Ford strategy to the transfixed audience. “The centre of our One Ford plan is developing a full line-up of Ford vehicles across all global markets, in all segments- small, medium and large; cars, utilities and trucks, each of them best-in-class for fuel efficiency, quality, safety and value. Around the world and, particularly here in India, our plan includes accelerating development of fuel efficient, small cars,” he said.
“We know the high importance Indian consumers place on value for money. We know you want quality, fuel efficiency, technology, and safety. And Ford is going to give it to you,” Mr Mulally stated emphatically.
As the new Ford Figo rolled on to stage, Mr Mulally highlighted its important features: “It combines Ford's kinetic design, class-leading interior space, several technology firsts and modern comforts and conveniences that make this car a game-changer.”
Mr Mulally invited senior executives on stage for a photo op with the new Ford Figo- Michael Boneham, John Parker, Sandip Sayal, Tom Chakalakal and Nigel Wark.
As the media steps forward to get a better view of the car, we’d like you to take a closer look as well. Keep reading this blog to get all the dope on the newest member of the Ford family in India- the Ford Figo.
-By the Ford Figo team
