What's so special about Ford cars in India?

by admin | August 26, 2020

Cars offer a many utilities like transporting people and other things in a comfortable and civilised way. Many look at it as a ferry of some sort to reach from point A to B. Many others look at it as a symbol of status, luxury. Many, look at cars as mere appliances to get stuff done.

And then there are people who adore their cars, love them and live with them. People who love driving their machines. People who call themselves automobile enthusiasts, car lovers, petrolheads, etc.

Enthusiasts as we know are an endangered species today because very often, challenges and responsibilities in life ensure we leave aside our passion for short or long periods of time. The RPM needle doesn't go past the half mark. Fuel economy suddenly becomes the most important factor to consider in a car. Comfy suspension replaces the sporty suspension. That fun to drive factor is replaced by a dead, light and lifeless steering wheel. Life, then as we know gets dreary and lifeless.

But does it really have to be that way? Does life always have to go in that direction? Or is there a way where can have a bite from both worlds and maintain equilibrium? Of course, you still can’t expect good mileage if you rev it too much. But still, we think there's still hope for people like us. A way where we could maintain a fine balance between fun and responsibility. A balance between passion and practicality.

Often, we find this balance in cars from Ford. Of course not all of them from the fleet have this speciality where you get two things for the price of one. But mostly, they do have the capability to bring a smile on your face every time you take those cars out for a drive.

Ford Ecosport, Ford Fiesta, Ford Figo, Ford Freestyle. They've all been around us for a pretty long time. We’ve seen them evolve with us (except the Freestyle) but most importantly, what has stayed in this process of evolution is a communicative steering wheel that lets you feel every crack on the road, a suspension setup that offers decent comfort and enough stiffness to handle those curves. Horsepower figures are usually just enough to take you back by surprise and yet, there’s enough fuel left to do a last minute road trip.

This fusion of both worlds creates such a blend that driving these machines indeed feels very special. Not only this, We’ve mostly seen that cars from Ford India often offer safety features like 6 airbags, ARP, TCS, etc to even cars like the Freestyle! That says a lot about what the brand really prioritises on. We haven’t even moved onto the service costs yet because we feel that would be off topic.

With so many different choices in the market today and in this ever ending race between manufacturers to be on the top, what is often left behind is the essence of driving. Sadly, items like large infotainment systems, sunroof, projector head lamps, etc are features that are considered a priority by consumers while cars that offer an excellent driving experience with other satisfactory features are being ignored. To petrol heads like us, this is a worrying trend indeed. It is easy to find cars that go fast and have all the latest features. But it is indeed difficult to find great cars today that offer a blend of both worlds. Enthusiastic drivers and drivers’ cars then, are indeed endangered species.

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2021 Toyota Fortuner Facelift India

Toyota Fortuner Facelift Bookings Open - What's New?

Toyota India is preparing to launch the facelifted Toyota Fortuner by early next year. Bookings have commenced unofficially for the new facelifted SUV at select dealerships for an advance of ?50,000.

Exterior:

The majority of the upgrades will occur at the front end of the Fortuner. The new model will feature a new grille, LED headlights with LED DRLs, redesigned fog lights and a new silver skid plate. Other changes will include redesigned 18” alloy wheels and re-profiled LED taillights.

Interior:

The new Fortuner launched in

Thailand features an all-black interior with a new instrument cluster and a larger touchscreen infotainment system. The Fortuner Legender edition also offers a powered tailgate with the swipe-to-open function, wireless charging and a 360-degree parking camera. Similar to the facelifted Innova Crysta, the new Fortuner will also include Android Auto and Apple carplay finally.

Powertrains:

The first powertrain for the facelifted Fortuner will be the 2.7L petrol engine which produces 166 PS and 245 Nm through either a 6-speed manual or automatic gearbox. The Thai-spec Fortuner gets a new 2.8L turbo-diesel engine which produces 204 PS and 500 Nm. This engine is expected to be introduced in the Indian model as well. While all the models will be 2WD as standard, only the diesel will get a 4WD option.

Price:

The current BS6 Toyota Fortuner is available from ?28.66 lakh to ?36.88 lakh (ex-showroom). The facelifted model is expected to cost around ?50,000 more.

Stay tuned for further updates on the new Fortuner.

Toyota Innova Crysta Facelift Details Revealed Ahead Of Launch!

Toyota is all set to launch the new facelifted 2021 Innova Crysta MPV soon in Indonesia. New photos have surfaced of this updated model from Indonesia. An Indian launch is expected to happen early next year. Here are some key highlights of this new model:

Exterior:

While the overall dimensions remain exactly the same, the facelift model will feature an all-new front grille finished in glossy black with five slats while the outer portion of the grille sports chrome finishing which is further connected to the headlights. The front fascia resembles the Toyota Highlander SUV and Hilux pick up truck to a

certain extent.

The bumper has also been made to resemble an SUV and looks more beefy with a faux skid plate. The fog lamps are located lower down in the bumper on the lower variants whereas the higher variants get LED DRLs integrated with the fog lamps on the regular location. There are no major changes on the sides except for the new dual tone Alloy wheels. The rear too, looks exactly the same except for minor changes in the tail lamps.

Interior:

The interior of the new Crysta offers a n.ew, larger infotainment system which is expected to feature Android auto and Apple carplay. The Indian version is expected to receive a different faux wood treatment as well. Apart from these changes, the overall layout and comfort will remain the same.

Powertrain:

Mechanically, no changes are expected and the updated model is expected to get the same engine options as before. The 2.4-litre 4-cylinder diesel engine mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox generates a maximum power of 150PS and maximum torque of 343NM. The 6-speed automatic equipped diesel variants however generate slightly higher torque figure of 360NM. The 2.7-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine on the other hand produces a maximum power of 167PS and Max torque of 245NM through either a 5 speed Manual or 6 speed Automatic transmission.

Launch and pricing:

This new facelifted Innova Crysta when launched next year is expected to be priced slightly higher than the current one. At present, the base petrol variant is available in India with an ex-showroom price tag of Rs.15.66 lakhs while the top-spec diesel variant is priced at Rs.23.63 lakhs. Stay tuned for further updates on the new Innova Crysta.

Nissan Magnite Compact SUV Officially Unveiled, Rivals Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet!

The Nissan Magnite officially unveiled.This new compact SUV is going to be the Make-it or Break-it product for Nissan India.

Exterior

The production-spec Nissan Magnite seems to retain most of the concept’s design elements including the large grille, the Sharp creases and the funky alloy wheels. It has even the same sculpted bonnet and angular headlights. Since the Magnite was originally meant to be launched as a Datsun, the grille bears resemblance to the other Datsun models.

The side profile looks muscular with prominent body cladding and large wheel arches which seem to dwarf the 16”

wheels. The higher spec variants also seem to receive a dual-tone roof, blacked-out pillars and silver roof rails. At the back, the Magnite sports sharp looking LED tail lamps which resemble those on the Triber's, a clean tail gate and a dual tone bumper. The Magnite is also set to be the first model in India to sport the new Nissan logo.

Interior

The interior too is expected to be close to the concept with a large, centrally mounted 8” touchscreen and layered dashboard with an octagonal theme. Other expected features include:

4 airbags
ABS with EBD
Rear AC vents
Rear 60:40 Split Seat
Push button start
7 inch Digital instrument cluster
Auto climate control
Auto headlamps
Auto wipers
360 degree camera
Connected car tech
Front and Rear seat armrests
Auto folding ORVMs
LED Projector Headlights
L-shaped LED DRLs
16-inch alloys
Functional roof rails
336-litre boot space
205 mm ground clearance
8-inch Touchscreen infotainment Apple Carplay Android Auto
6 Speakers

Powertrain

The Nissan Magnite is expected to be available with two engine options. The first will be the 1.0L Energy series, 3 cyl Naturally aspirated engine from the Renault Triber, producing 72PS Power through a 5 speed manual gearbox. The second powertrain will be a new 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol unit producing 95PS Power through either a 5 speed manual or CVT automatic gearbox.

Pricing and launch:

The new Nissan Magnite will be launched by early 2021.The Magnite is also likely to be priced very aggressively with expected starting price of Rs.5.5L ex showroom for the entry level non turbo variant. The fully loaded top spec variant is expected to be priced equivalent to the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, one of its chief rivals. When launched, the Magnite will go against the Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Ford Ecosport, Mahindra XUV300 and the Honda WRV as well. Stay tuned for further updates on the Nissan Magnite.