Ford lines up small car for India

Ford is lining up a small car for India. The US car maker is planning to unveil the new small car in the Indian market by year 2010.

FORD FIGO LAUNCHED

Ford Figo photo

Update: Ford has launched its small car for India, the Ford Figo, on 23 Sep 2009. Click here Ford Figo unveiled

The proposed Ford small car, which is likely to be powered with a sub-1.2 liter engine, is being designed at the moment by a Ford Global Team.

Ford has said that the expert team from the Ford US is developing the small car specifically to meet the demands of the Indian customer. The car maker has already announced massive investments in the Indian market for enhancing presence. With a presence in just 30 per cent of India’s automobile market segments, the car maker is now aiming to make itself visible in a slew of other segments too.

The car maker has said that it is kick-starting a new engine manufacturing unit and it will serve both the domestic and global markets. The new engine plant is being made to make it flexibile to produce diesel and petrol engines. The idea is to go for higher localization in the months to come, Ford officials said.

It has been said that Ford would be making use of an existing platform for the new proposed small car.

To be aimed at the Indian middle class customer, the Ford small car would be specifically made for India and would have inputs from Ford engineers from Australia, England and Germany. The car maker is said to be mulling over pricing the new car cheaper than Ford’s cheapest car Ikon. An upgraded / new version of the Ford Ikon is due in India in the next six months.