Ford Figo concept unveiled

[MummyChunk]

Ford has officially unveiled the Figo Concept at the 2014 Auto Expo in
New Delhi.


From AB




FORD REDEFINES EXPECTATIONS FOR B SEGMENT WITH UNVEILING OF FORD FIGO
CONCEPT
Ford Figo Concept is Ford's vision for an all-new global compact car,
offering advanced technology and clever design to India and other
emerging markets

Sub-four-metre design makes the Ford Figo Concept a perfect fit to
meet the needs of the competitive B segment in India while
surpassing customer expectations with a host of innovative features

Ford Figo Concept brings a new look and spirit to the important B
segment, and offers more quality and technology than customers would
ever expect, together with outstanding fuel efficiency and value

Continues Ford's compact-car design leadership in India and emerging
export markets, with the goal of meeting surging demand for
high-quality, fuel efficient and safe compact vehicles

NEW DELHI, India, February 3, 2014 Ford today revealed its vision
for a global B-segment compact car featuring premium design and
segment-redefining smart and safety features ahead of the 12th 2014
Auto Expo in New Delhi.

With the global unveiling of the Ford Figo Concept, Ford aims to set
new standards for quality and craftsmanship in the B-segment, aiming
to exceed the expectations of consumers in India and other emerging
markets. While created for India at less than four metres long, the
concept displays a purposeful presence and a no-compromise aesthetic
that continues Ford's design leadership in the compact car market
globally.

"With the Figo Concept, we are showing that choosing a compact
sedan does not mean compromising on premium design or smart
solutions," said Kumar Galhotra, vice president of Engineering,
Global Product Development, Ford Motor Company. "The Figo Concept
stands out and surprises, offering a more premium and refined feel
than you would expect in such a package."

The Ford Figo Concept builds on the automaker's compact car offerings
in India and shows how Ford plans to face rapidly growing global
demand for compact vehicles. The compact car segment is India's most
competitive, outpacing the industry for the past decade and comprising
almost a third of total sales in 2013. Ford expects compact car sales
in India to grow from about 1 million units last year to roughly 2
million units in 2018, reflecting the continuing significance of the
segment to Indian consumers.

Despite its rapid growth, the compact car segment will remain highly
competitive as increasingly savvy buyers look for ways to make their
money go further.

"Consumers are more demanding than ever, wanting and expecting
more from their cars, even if they are first time buyers," said
Ford India President Nigel Harris. "They expect and demand great
fuel efficiency and low cost-of-ownership from the initial price
throughout the life of the vehicle. The Ford Figo Concept offers all
of this, and more, with sophistication, fresh design, world-class
quality, a roomy interior, and innovative smart and safe
technology."

With the goal of bringing unexpected levels of refinement to the
compact car segment, designers created the Ford Figo Concept using
design elements common to more expensive vehicles.

The front trapezoidal grille strongly communicates Ford's design DNA
and shapes the vehicle's hood, giving it a powerful look. Moving
rearward, designers inclined the windshield as much as possible to
give the vehicle a sleek, fast profile that communicates a high-end
image. Bold, elongated and blacked-out headlamps accentuate the Figo
Concept's sporty appearance. In an example of the close attention
designers paid to the smallest detail, a slight grain in the headlamp
plastic enhances the parabolic shape inside. Sweeping, curved lines
moving from the front to the rear of the vehicle create a sense of
movement. Designers used light-catchers along the sides of the
vehicle, giving the Figo Concept a robust and muscular presence.

"The Figo Concept represents our vision of a refined,
no-compromise approach to designing a compact car," said Ehab
Kaoud, chief designer, Ford North America, who led design for the Ford
Figo Concept. "So often in this segment you see designs based on
current trends and fashions that quickly look dated. We wanted instead
to create a premium, long-lasting design that is clean and elegant,
and which conveys a sense of precision, efficiency and
sophistication."

The shape of the Ford Figo Concept is more than a design exercise: It
was fine-tuned through hundreds of hours of wind-tunnel testing to
improve aerodynamics and reduce wind noise, ensuring a quiet ride that
will match the vehicle's refined exterior. Aerodynamic tweaking has
also resulted in a shape that maximises fuel efficiency, helping the
Ford Figo Concept to slip smoothly through the air.

Smart design features like electrically adjustable power-fold mirrors
are practical, helping to remove the stress of driving through a busy
and congested environment. The mirrors' flexible architecture prevents
them from being broken off if bumped by another car or motorbike. And
Ford designed the Ford Figo Concept to feature unprecedented levels of
safety for its class, further enhancing the driver's peace of mind.

Moving inside a spacious cabin filled with innovative stowage spaces,
the Ford Figo Concept delivers surprising features that bring the
promise of tomorrow's technologies to drivers of compact vehicles.
With an innovative device dock, the Figo Concept introduces a new way
to store, mount and charge devices such as mobile phones, MP3 players
and satellite navigation systems, seamlessly integrating them into the
in-car entertainment system.

"In design, connectivity and safety, the features in the Figo
Concept are at the forefront of smart technology," said Galhotra.
"The Figo concept was envisioned with the Indian market in mind,
and created with global standards of design, quality and performance.
It is the perfect symbol of how we continue to build on the One Ford
plan to go further for all of our customers."

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