rkisler Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Ford introduces a new small car for India due out in 2010, along with a $500 million investment. Detroit News Ford News Release The Free Press is also commenting on an announcement tomorrow of additional plant investment in China. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausrutherford Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Now im wondering, since the ikon is a sedan...does this replace it or in addition to it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harley Lover Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 It's exciting that Ford that the ability to invest capital in projects such as these (assuming the China announcement on Friday). Both markets represent future growth, and hopefully even more economies of scale over time for global products. Ford has a long way to go in China, but this upcoming announcement at least demonstrates Ford intends to get in the game in a much more definitive way in that marketplace . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Not too bad looking I guess. Prefer the Ka though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANTAUS Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Looks ok, nothing earth shattering. I'm also looking forward to more details...if this replaces Ka, or Fiesta, or what... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ford Jellymoulds Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 I wonder what will happen to the Ford Fusion in India will that be made redundant by the Figo. LINK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 I wonder what will happen to the Ford Fusion in India will that be made redundant by the Figo.LINK I don't think the global Fusion mini-ute is long for this world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkisler Posted September 23, 2009 Author Share Posted September 23, 2009 Now im wondering, since the ikon is a sedan...does this replace it or in addition to it? I'm not really sure. The Ikon is based off the Fiesta platform and the Figo also looks to be last-generation Fiesta. One article I read indicates the retail price will be between $6,000-$8,000 and will compete a the top end of the Nano. Developing products for developing and "third world" countries is not easy. You are under tremendous cost/price pressure. In addition, different "moral values" among the competitors in terms of safety, emissions, and quality can play a big part. Ford devoted significant advanced work around 10 years ago to develop a car for emerging markets -- in particular India. The proposal was actually strikingly similar to the Tata Nano in concept with a small engine, plastic panels, web seats. Easy assembly with all panels color molded in. Two cylinder engine. It's almost as if Tata got the plans from Ford. But, as I mentioned above, Ford has a set of "inviolables" on safety, emissions, and quality. Part of what killed the project was the piling on of cost (and weight) for those items as well as the investment for plant and unique powertrain components. After the unique product proposal failed, FoE developed a cost-down Fiesta which has at least kept Ford's foot in the door. But Ford is not a big player in India and really needs to step up the game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ford Jellymoulds Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Fords sales in India August 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausrutherford Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Not that big of a market for a billion people, but thats alot of potential. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 I don't think the global Fusion mini-ute is long for this world. I thought it was being discontinued after it's current form? I remember reading something along those lines.....or at the very least the name was to be dropped to avoid confusion between the Euro and US Fusions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausrutherford Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 I thought it was being discontinued after it's current form? I remember reading something along those lines.....or at the very least the name was to be dropped to avoid confusion between the Euro and US Fusions. Yea, replaced by the B-Max. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Yea, replaced by the B-Max. Thought so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danup Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 For what it's worth, the mini-site for this car has replaced the one for the Ikon—so this might be a flat-out replacement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausrutherford Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 For what it's worth, the mini-site for this car has replaced the one for the Ikon—so this might be a flat-out replacement. Its still there: http://www.india.ford.com/servlet/ContentS...L&c=DFYPage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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