IAB Report - Ford India plans new Figo, Figo sedan and Endeavour in 2015

Indian Autos Blog learns that Ford has three completely new products in its 2015 business plan.

The Figo and the Figo sedan (Code - Ford B562) will be launched from the car maker's new USD 1 billion factory in Sanand, Gujarat, while the new Endeavour would roll out of the Chennai plant from knocked-down kits.

The Figo sedan, the successor to the Ford Classic, would become the first car to be manufactured at the Sanand plant. The sedan and the hatchback would use the company's new 1-liter petrol engine which is a derivative of the Ecoboost unit Ford imports and fits on the EcoSport.

The 1L 'ECOnetic' three-cylinder motor develops 85 hp at 6,500 rpm and 105 Nm at 4,500 rpm in the Brazilian Figo. The engine has TiVCT technology, which varies the intake and exhaust valve timings independently. The Indian version of this engine would provide more or less similar outputs, with intense component localization planned.

Ford would have to modify the 1.5L TDCI engine serving on the Fiesta and EcoSport to make diesel-powered competitors to the Grand i10 and Celerio, and the Amaze and Dzire. This engine is currently made at the flexible engine facility at Ford's Chennai plant.

The next generation Endeavour would be phased-in starting early next year in Asian markets. The new Endeavour is likely to retain the same engines with subtle improvements (displacing 2.5L and 3.0L), but come with 6-speed manual and automatic gearboxes. Spyshots show that Ford has retained much of the Everest Concept's exterior thrills. According to some reports, the interior is a step up from the Ranger pickup (which it is based on), getting its design leads from the more upmarket Explorer and F-150.

Also new on the Endeavour would be a one-touch Terrain management program on the top-end variant. Expect the new Endeavour soon after the launch of the new Figo twins.