Ford is starting a one-of-it-kind promotion in the Indian car sector with December Dhamaal “Midnight Sale” concept.

Under this new concept all Ford dealerships will operate from 8:00 AM in the morning  until midnight today and Ford car buyers can experience a unique festive atmosphere when they walk into dealerships. The midnight sale will provide customers an opportunity for savings and win assured gifts up to Rs 1 crore when you book your car. Your surprise gift could be a mobile phone, DVD player, a 180lt fridge or an LCD TV!

Related Posts

• October 17, 2010 -- Ford Figo Becomes The 5th Highest Selling Car In India
• October 6, 2010 -- Ford Figo Discover Smart Drive Kicks Off
• September 14, 2010 -- Ford announces the Ford Figo Smart & Smarter India Tour
• September 14, 2010 -- Ford Launches Endeavour 3.0-litre 4×2 Automatic (AT)
• September 2, 2010 -- Ford August 2010 Sales Jump Three Fold To 7,925 Units
• August 26, 2010 -- Ford To Launch 8 New Models By Mid Decade In India
• July 15, 2010 -- Ford Figo Reaches 25000 Sales Booking In 100 Days

The Ford Figo Discover Smart Drive successfully culminated today in Chennai after completing 2500km in 25 days, passing through 10 cities. The fourth lucky couple – Nischal Ram and Niharika Nischal Ram drove the celebratory Figo into Chennai, completing the fourth and final leg of the drive from the North to the South of India.

Ford dealers also joined the celebrations and with the tour’s culmination, partnered to voluntarily generate Rs. 20 lakhs for the creatively designed Figo by popular television host and artist Harun Robert (a.k.a. Rob). The money generated will be utilized to improve and provide infrastructure improvements into schools in Kizhkaranai and Chitamanur villages as part of its on-going community development projects in and around the Ford plant in Maraimalai Nagar, near
Chennai.

The celebrations at Ford were further amplified with Figo crossing the 50,000 mark, registering a sale of 52,644 units since its launch in India.

In October, Ford recorded its second highest domestic sales of 9,026 units, a 161% year-on-year increase compared to the same month in 2009.

More information after the jump.

”The Discover Smart Drive has helped us connect and thank consumers across India. The Figo has achieved outstanding results. Figo is the second fastest car model in India to have crossed the 50,000 sales milestone and that is a reflection of the confidence our customers have in us and we will boost the morale further as we move forward” said Michael Boneham, president and managing director, Ford India.

To engage other Figo owners, the “Figo four” shared personal road stories, photos, videos and experiences via their Facebook, Twitter and Orkut profiles and blogs. Customers and fans also followed the drive via
Facebook
(http://www.facebook.com/fordfigo),
Orkut
(http://bit.ly/orkutfigo),

Twitter (http://twitter.com/fordfigo) and

a Driving Ford blog

(http://www.drivingford.in) and helped the couples out by posting valuable suggestions, advice
and tips along the way.

Talking about Ford India’s marketing strategy to create an integrated campaign, Nigel E Wark, executive director, Marketing, Sales and Services said, “True to its concept, the Discover Smart Drive enabled the lucky couples to explore smart things about India along with smart features of the Figo. Using an integrated approach involving digital, marketing and our growing dealer network, we were able to take the Figo to consumers’ doorstep and have multiple positive
conversations on new mediums.”

Seen as the success, the drive was successful in driving positive conversations around the brand and resulted in increasing Figo’s fan base on Facebook to over 15,000 people. Over 600 updates posted on the experiential drive and resulted in showcasing key Figo differentiators such as spaciousness, fuel economy and air conditioning from over 5,000 comments across social networking sites.

“The response that we have got from this campaign has taken Figo’s popularity to a different level. We thank our online supporters also in this endeavour. Figo has been the top-selling vehicle in five out of seven months, since its launch and we wish to sustain this phenomenon.” Wark concluded.

Related Posts

• September 14, 2010 -- Ford announces the Ford Figo Smart & Smarter India Tour

Designer and TV Artist Harun Roberts With His Custom Designed Ford Figo

Ford Figo has achieved yet another milestone for the American company in India. The hot selling hatchback is now the 5th highest selling car in India displacing Tata Motor’s Indica which has held this place for almost a decade.

“Our object was to go after providing a high value for money product in the marketplace and that has grown Ford’s reputation here. Figo was a big step as it helped Ford Motor Co. to get away from the niche to the mainstream segment. We are not complacent (after getting in to the top five), we will seize this opportunity by continuing to boost dealerships and increase service network,” said Nigel Wark, Executive Director – Marketing and Sales Ford India.

Top 5 cars according to sales in India for the month of September are:

1. Maruti Suzuki Alto – 30,000 Units

2. Hyundai i10 – 14,160 Units

3. Maruti Suzuki Swift – 11,512 Units

4. Maruti Suzuki Wagon-R – 11,200 units.

5. Ford Figo – 6465 Units

Related Posts

• September 14, 2010 -- Ford announces the Ford Figo Smart & Smarter India Tour
• October 6, 2010 -- Ford Figo Discover Smart Drive Kicks Off
• September 14, 2010 -- Ford Launches Endeavour 3.0-litre 4×2 Automatic (AT)
• September 2, 2010 -- Ford August 2010 Sales Jump Three Fold To 7,925 Units
• August 26, 2010 -- Ford To Launch 8 New Models By Mid Decade In India
• August 2, 2010 -- Ford Reports 307 Percent Increase In Year-On-Year Sales For July
• July 15, 2010 -- Ford Figo Reaches 25000 Sales Booking In 100 Days

Custom Designed Ford Figo By Harun Roberts

Ford India has kicked off the Figo Discover smart drive to celebrate Figo’s upcoming 50,000 production milestone.

As a part of the cross country road trip, a customized Figo designed by popular television host and artist Harun Robert will be driven from Chandigarh to Chennai. Four young couples, who were selected a part of the Figo Smart And Smarter India tour announced in Septmber by Ford, will also drive the Figo across India in a trip spanning 25 days and will cover 2500 kilometers.

The road trip will be suppoted by digital media campaign as well as events and activities at Ford dealerships along the way. You can also follow the drive by logging in at www.Drivingford.in or by following the Ford Figo communities on (links embedded) Facebook, Orkut and Twitter and also take part in exciting contests.

Press release and winner of the Ford India tour promotion after the jump.

Press Release

CHANDIGARH, India, October 5, 2010 – To celebrate the production of the 50,000th Ford Figo,
Ford India today launched a Figo road trip campaign in which a customised Figo will be driven from Chandigarh to Chennai.

“Besides celebrating the 50,000 milestone, the objective of the pan-India drive and associated events is to thank Figo customers nationwide for their support in making Figo the most popular car in its segment,” said Ford India President and Managing Director, Michael Boneham.

“Since its launch in March, Figo has captured the imagination of new car buyers across India and the response has been extraordinary. Based on feedback and correspondence, Figo buyers like its best-in-class features and performance as well as the superior sales and service support provided
by our strong dealer network.”

He added, “It’s timely and fitting that we’ll celebrate the production of the 50,000th Figo in October because this is the month of festive celebrations. To make the festive season even more fun we will invite young couples to be a part of the road trip and be part of an integrated campaign via digital, marketing and dealer activities.”

Go to www.media.ford.com for news releases, related materials and high-resolution photos and video

The “Discover Smart” themed Figo will be easy to spot because it sports a cool paint job and accessories designed by Harun Robert (better known as Rob), a popular children’s television host renowned for his artistic, music and dance skills.

Speaking about the design, Rob said, “As the Figo has a distinct personality and style I really enjoyed collaborating with Ford on this one-of-its-kind project. The concept being unique, I concentrated on complementing the Figo’s good looks and vibrant colours with my distinct style of illustration, using a palette and design elements that convey celebration and unity with an
Indian flavour.”

Four young couples will drive the “Discover Smart” Figo during the 25-day, 2500 kilometre drive which starts from Chandigarh and passes through Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Gwalior, Indore, Nagpur, Hyderabad, and Bangalore and many smaller cities and towns before ending in Chennai on October 30th.

The four couples have been selected from a contest calling for entries on
www.fordfigoindiatour.com and invited young couples to participate in the cross country drive. To qualify, couples had to send in their nominations by sharing the most memorable activity that they have done on a vacation and unique destinations they have visited.

There was a big response to the contest with close to 450 entries and after a rigorous judging process involving independent automotive industry bloggers and Ford senior executives, the four couples were selected

The first leg of the tour, Chandigarh –Delhi- Agra-Jaipur, will be driven by Dinesh Singh Slathia & Rekha Slathia from New Delhi.

The second Jaipur-Gwalior-Indore leg will be driven by Noida residents, Anshul Sushil and Akriti Bhargava.

Taking the wheel for the third leg from Indore to Nagpur to Hyderabad is Kolkata couple, Ashish Garg and Neha Garg.

The final Hyderabad-Bangaluru-Chennai leg will be driven by Nischal Ram and Niharika Nischal Ram from Bangaluru.

During the road trip, the respective couples will have the chance to explore the scenic wonders and local attractions of the various cities and regions. They will also pop into a number of Ford dealerships along the way to join related parties and celebrations.

They’ll also share their journey stories, photos, videos and experiences online on their Facebook, Twitter, Orkut profiles and blogs. They will also post their experiences for the Ford Figo fans on the Ford Figo communities on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/fordfigo), Orkut (http://bit.ly/orkutfigo), Twitter (http://twitter.com/fordfigo) and a Driving Ford blog (http://www.drivingford.in).

Ford Figo fans can follow the couples on the ford Figo communities and help the couples out by posting valuable suggestions, advise and tips along the way. There are interesting prizes to be won on the Ford Figo communities.

Related Posts

• October 17, 2010 -- Ford Figo Becomes The 5th Highest Selling Car In India
• September 14, 2010 -- Ford announces the Ford Figo Smart & Smarter India Tour
• July 15, 2010 -- Ford Figo Reaches 25000 Sales Booking In 100 Days
• July 6, 2010 -- Ford Celebrates First Figo Export To South Africa
• September 14, 2010 -- Ford Launches Endeavour 3.0-litre 4×2 Automatic (AT)
• September 2, 2010 -- Ford August 2010 Sales Jump Three Fold To 7,925 Units
• August 26, 2010 -- Ford To Launch 8 New Models By Mid Decade In India

Ford has announced the Figo Smart & Smarter India tour to celebrate the achievement of reaching 50,000th Figo within a few months of its launch.

The  Ford Figo Smart & Smarter India Tour, a unique drive for young couples who love road adventure, want to discover India like never before and at the same time do smart and smarter things in the various cities they will drive through. The car that they will drive in will be the 50,000th Ford Figo.

Ford will select four recently married couples who will drive the special 50,000th Ford Figo on a pre-decided route in October 2010. The tour spans across three weeks, will be flagged off in Chandigarh and culminate in Chennai – the hometown of the Ford Figo. The 50,000th Figo will pass through Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Gwalior, Indore, Nagpur, Hyderabad, and Bangalore. Each chosen couple will drive one leg of the route (3-5 days) and hand over the car to the next. In each city, the couples will get a chance to be a part of the promotions that Ford India will conduct and experience some of the Smart and Smarter activities in those cities.

The tour will be an ‘all-expenses-paid’ road trip for the lucky couples. Not just that, they get to tell the world about your journey live and online with photos, videos, anecdotes and special moments. And once the trip ends, the couples will get an ‘all-expenses-paid vacation’ to an interesting destination in India. There is also a ‘Most Popular couple’ cash prize of Rs. 50,000 that will be awarded to the couple who get or generate the maximum number of positive comments on their online updates and blog posts.

You can check out and follow the tour on http://www.fordfigoindiatour.com and http://bit.ly/d2WMtf

Ford Figo fans can also follow the couples, sitting cozy inside your house and help them out by posting your valuable suggestions, advise and tips along the way. They can stay tuned on the Ford Figo communities on the Driving Ford blog, Facebook, Orkut, and Twitter for updates and contests. There are exciting prizes to be won.

Related Posts

• October 17, 2010 -- Ford Figo Becomes The 5th Highest Selling Car In India
• October 6, 2010 -- Ford Figo Discover Smart Drive Kicks Off
• September 14, 2010 -- Ford Launches Endeavour 3.0-litre 4×2 Automatic (AT)
• September 2, 2010 -- Ford August 2010 Sales Jump Three Fold To 7,925 Units
• August 26, 2010 -- Ford To Launch 8 New Models By Mid Decade In India
• August 2, 2010 -- Ford Reports 307 Percent Increase In Year-On-Year Sales For July
• July 15, 2010 -- Ford Figo Reaches 25000 Sales Booking In 100 Days

Ford India have launched the new Endeavour 3.0 liter 4×2 Automatic in the Indian market.

The 3.0 liter common rail turbocharged diesel engine develops a healthy 156 ps of maximum power and 380 nm of maximum torque, the highest in its category. The engine is mated to a 5-speed Automatic transmission and has an ARAI rated fuel consumption figure of a very respectable 10.7 kmpl

Other new features include leather upholstered seats, 6-CD/DVD music system, titanium finish instrument panel, sports pedals, dual tone interiors and illuminated red scuff plates. The Endeavour also comes with dual air bags at the front combined with seat belt pre-tensioners and load limiters and ABS + EBD for sure stop braking under any conditions.

The 3.0 liter engine was previously available only in the 4X4 Automatic guise. Priced at Rs. 17,88,760 (Ex-Showroom, Bengaluru) the Endeavour 3.0 4×2 AT is available in five color options – Diamond White, Moondust Silver, Sea Grey, Panther Black and Morello.

Press Release after the jump.

FORD UNVEILS THE FORD ENDEAVOUR 4X2 AUTOMATIC - THE LATEST ADDITION ADDS TO THE POPULAR ENDEAVOUR SUV RANGE

BENGALURU, India, September 14, 2010 – Ford India today unveiled the Ford Endeavour 3.0-litre 4×2 Automatic (AT) – the newest addition to its Endeavour premium Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) range.

At the launch, Michael Boneham, president and managing director, Ford India, said, “We are excited and delighted to introduce our latest Endeavour variant to India. “Building on the strong Endeavour sales so far this year, and the overwhelming response to the
automatic transmission launched last year, we are confident that the Ford Endeavour 4×2 AT will be a popular and well received addition to our product line-up.”

Endeavour’s rugged reputation enhanced by contemporary interior and exterior design elements

o The bold front end design is accentuated with new sleek and stylish side body cladding on the exterior
o Premium and classy appeal bolstered by new interior touches including titanium-finish instrument panel sports pedals and illuminated red scuff plates
o Spacious two tone interiors provide generous leg-room comfort across three rows of seating

New and impressive transmission and powertrain features :

o A 5-speed automatic transmission provides a great driving experience for urban and rural conditions
o The 3.0 L TDCi common-rail turbo-diesel engines with Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT) engine delivers maximum power of – 156 PS at 3200 rpm and class leading torque of 380 NM at 2500 rpm

Extra security peace of mind for Endeavour owners

o Superior breaking performance with ABS and (EBD) Electronic Brake force Distribution
o Equipped with dual stage front driver and passenger air-bags combined with seat belt pre-tensioners and load limiters.

Competitively priced at Rs. 17,88,760 (ex-showroom, Bengaluru) the Endeavour 4×2 AT is powered by a 3.0-litre, 156 PS DuraTorq TDCi (common-rail) powertrain with the Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT) and 5-speed automatic gearbox – with the overdrive switch on the shift lever – to deliver a highly responsive drive that complements its best-in-class torque performance at 380 NM at 2500 rpm.

Compared to other diesel automatic offerings in the 15-20 Lakh premium SUV segment, the DuraTorq engine of the new SUV delivers class-leading fuel efficiency of 10.7 kpl (ARAI). ”Like other variants in the portfolio, the 4X2 variant is robust, good looking, great to drive and versatile. We describe it as a ‘smooth operator’ SUV with the state-of-art 5-speed auto transmission technology that provides a superb and effortless driving experience whether negotiating congested city streets, cruising on the highway or exploring country hills and back roads, ” said Boneham.

While rugged on the outside, the interior of the new Endeavour includes many creature comfort features. For example, the interior design sports a classy two tone finish complemented by a spacious passenger cabin. Inside, it also boasts ergonomically designed leather upholstered seats, a 6-CD changer music system and DVD player and an environmentally-friendly dual air conditioner with personalized air conditioning vents for the second and third rows. Other unique touches which enhance the 4×2 AT’s aesthetic and driving appeal include illuminated scuff plates, a titanium-finished instrument panel, sports pedals and a stylish side body cladding.

The new variant also offers an array of active and passive safety features such as dual-stage front air bags for the driver and passenger. The air bags work in conjunction with three-point safety belts and pre-tensioners and load limiter features unique to Ford vehicles. In addition, the Anti-lock Braking system (ABS) coupled with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) provides extra security peace of mind for drivers.

The Ford Endeavour 3.0- litre 4×2 Automatic (AT) is available in five colour options – Diamond White, Moondust Silver, Sea Grey, Panther Black and Morello. Since it was launched in India in 2003, the Ford Endeavour has been a perennial favourite among Indian premium SUV buyers and is consistently ranked as the number one or two top-selling vehicle in the segment.”

Boneham said demand for the Endeavour remains strong in India. “Our January to August 2010 Endeavour sales numbers are up 68 percent compared to January – August 2009. In addition, the market segment for SUVs priced between Rs. 15 – 20 lakh has nearly quadrupled, year-on-year, for the same period, and offers tremendous growth opportunities.” Since 2007, Ford Endeavour has also topped the J.D. Power Dependability Survey three times in a row.

Related Posts

• October 17, 2010 -- Ford Figo Becomes The 5th Highest Selling Car In India
• October 6, 2010 -- Ford Figo Discover Smart Drive Kicks Off
• September 14, 2010 -- Ford announces the Ford Figo Smart & Smarter India Tour
• September 2, 2010 -- Ford August 2010 Sales Jump Three Fold To 7,925 Units
• August 26, 2010 -- Ford To Launch 8 New Models By Mid Decade In India
• July 15, 2010 -- Ford Figo Reaches 25000 Sales Booking In 100 Days
• July 6, 2010 -- Ford Celebrates First Figo Export To South Africa

Ford India have reported a three fold jump in August 2010 sales at 7,925 units when compared to the same month last year.

Ford’s Figo continues its strong run and has garnered over 34,000 booking ever since its launch in the last 25 weeks. The company has already started to export the Figo to the South African market starting May 2010. Ford has already announced that it will export the Figo to 50 more markets worldwide including Mexico, North Africa and middle east starting next year and will launch 8 new models by the year 2015 starting with the all new Fiesta.

“The Figo phenomenon continues, and in addition to strong sales in India, we are excited about the opportunity to export this success to other markets around the world,”  Ford India President and Managing Director Michael Boneham said in the release.

Related Posts

• October 17, 2010 -- Ford Figo Becomes The 5th Highest Selling Car In India
• October 6, 2010 -- Ford Figo Discover Smart Drive Kicks Off
• September 14, 2010 -- Ford announces the Ford Figo Smart & Smarter India Tour
• September 14, 2010 -- Ford Launches Endeavour 3.0-litre 4×2 Automatic (AT)
• August 26, 2010 -- Ford To Launch 8 New Models By Mid Decade In India
• July 15, 2010 -- Ford Figo Reaches 25000 Sales Booking In 100 Days
• July 6, 2010 -- Ford Celebrates First Figo Export To South Africa

Ford have announced that they will launch eight new vehicles in the Indian market in appropriate segments by the middle of this decade.

The announcement was made by Joe Hinrichs, president of Ford Asia Pacific and Africa (APA), on the sidelines of a keynote speech titled “Managing Growth – Evolving Market Dynamics” at the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) Conference in New Delhi today.

“We have big plans for India and for this region,” Hinrichs said. “As we have seen from the spectacular early success of the Ford Figo, more and more Indian consumers appreciate the fuel efficient, economical, high quality, safe, and fun-to-drive vehicles that Ford offers. By the middle of this decade we will introduce eight new vehicles to India from our global platforms, in segments appropriate for this market. This is part of our „better plan‟ to bring more and more vehicles from our vast global portfolio to India and other markets in Asia Pacific and Africa.”

2010 Ford Fiesta

The first model will come out early next year in the form of the all new Fiesta, which will be based on the Fiesta hatchback from Europe which was designed as a global platform capable of being sold across markets worldwide with minimal modifications. The car is expected to come with a 1.6 liter 120 bhp petrol engine and a 1.6 liter diesel engine having more than 100 bhp of power output.

The company also announced that it will start exporting the locally built Figo hatchback to 50 more countries worldwide including Mexico, North Africa and middle east starting next year. Ford already exports the Figo to the South African market as well as diesel powertrains to South Africa and 1.4 liter and 1.6 liter petrol engines to Thailand.

Detailed press release after the jump.

Press Release

FORD TO LAUNCH EIGHT NEW VEHICLES IN INDIA BY MID DECADE

• Ford will launch eight new vehicles in segments appropriate in India by the middle of the decade to meet increasing consumer demand.
• Ford India to export Ford Figo to 50 new markets including Mexico, North African countries and the United Arab Emirates
• Ford’s growth in Asia Pacific and Africa is expected to account for 70 percent of the company’s global growth in the next decade

NEW DELHI, India, August 26, 2010 – Ford Motor Company will launch eight new vehicles in India by the middle of the decade as it moves to rapidly expand its presence in the fast growing market.

Joe Hinrichs, president of Ford Asia Pacific and Africa (APA), made the announcement today during a keynote speech titled “Managing Growth – Evolving Market Dynamics” at the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) Conference in New Delhi.

“We have big plans for India and for this region,” Hinrichs said. “As we have seen from the spectacular early success of the Ford Figo, more and more Indian consumers appreciate the fuel efficient, economical, high quality, safe, and fun-to-drive vehicles that Ford offers. By the middle of this decade we will introduce eight new vehicles to India from our global platforms, in segments appropriate for this market. This is part of our ‘better plan’ to bring more and more vehicles from our vast global portfolio to India and other markets in Asia Pacific and Africa.”

Ford India launched the Ford Figo subcompact in the first quarter of this year, selling more than 30,000 units in 25 weeks.

“Although the vast majority of vehicles we produce in India will help satisfy growing local demand, we also continue to pursue export opportunities,” said Michael Boneham, president and managing director, Ford India. “We are pleased to announce that Ford India will export our locally-produced, hot-selling Ford Figo to 50 new markets, including Mexico, North Africa and the Middle East starting next year.”

Ford has been exporting the Figo to South Africa since May 2010. Ford India also exports the Ford Fiesta (branded as the “Ikon”) and diesel powertrains to South Africa, as well as 1.4- and 1.6-litre petrol engines to Thailand. Ford sells the Endeavor, Ikon, Fiesta and Figo in India, all locally-produced.

The launch and export of both Figo and the engines are the result of a USD 500-million investment in India to expand manufacturing and set up an engine plant there.

Ford’s APA region encompasses markets on three continents, including Australia, China, India, Thailand and South Africa. Industry sales in the region will increase from 16 million units in 2009, to an estimated 35 million units by 2018. The region is expected to account for nearly 70 percent of Ford’s worldwide growth in the next decade.

Sales of vehicles in India have grown at an average annual rate of 17 percent over the past five years, and an estimated 10 million to 11 million people will migrate from two-wheeled forms of transport to small cars in the next few years.

Hinrichs’ remarks at the SIAM conference focused on strategies for managing change, specifically the impact of rising demand and increasing capacity on the value chain.

“Introducing eight new vehicles by the middle of the decade is an ambitious plan that will have tremendous impact on our manufacturing operations, supply chain, dealers and employees. As part of our better plan for India, we are working today to make sure the value chain is ready for the demands we will place on it in the years to come,” Hinrichs said.

Expanding capacity creates particular challenges for suppliers, which are responsible for a large part of a vehicle, and requires new approaches.

“In India and in the rest of the world, we are simplifying the way we work with suppliers by reducing complexity and expanding part commonality,” Hinrichs said. “By 2012, more than 70 percent of the vehicles sold under the Ford brand globally will be built off 15 core platforms. By bringing suppliers into the development process earlier we can ultimately generate more profit for the supply chain.”

This leads to lower development cost and greater economies of scale for our suppliers, and ultimately a higher quality and more economical vehicle for consumers, he said.

“To succeed in a place as unique and fascinating as India, we have learned to listen more closely to our customers, dealers and suppliers,” Hinrichs said. “Our ONE Ford plan says to adapt and to localise. It has made us a better company here in India and around the world.”

Related Posts

• July 6, 2010 -- Ford Celebrates First Figo Export To South Africa
• October 17, 2010 -- Ford Figo Becomes The 5th Highest Selling Car In India
• October 6, 2010 -- Ford Figo Discover Smart Drive Kicks Off
• September 14, 2010 -- Ford announces the Ford Figo Smart & Smarter India Tour
• September 14, 2010 -- Ford Launches Endeavour 3.0-litre 4×2 Automatic (AT)
• September 2, 2010 -- Ford August 2010 Sales Jump Three Fold To 7,925 Units
• July 15, 2010 -- Ford Figo Reaches 25000 Sales Booking In 100 Days

You are looking at the pictures of the all new next gen Ford Mondeo which is aiming to go upmarket and will pack enough technology to scare the Germans.

Following Ford’s new kinetic design language mastered already on the new Fiesta hatchback and the new Focus, the next gen Mondeo will feature a bold new front end styling with a new larger grille placed further down, swept back headlights, angular bumper with a huge air dam that looks like Aston Martin’s grille and ridged bonnet.

The rear features dual triangular exhausts integrated into the bumper on the either side and subtle boot spoiler. The side profile is dominated by muscular wheel arches and a high set shoulder line that gives it the all important hunkered down aggressive look.

source: autoexpress.co.uk

More details and images after the jump.

The interiors will be the most luxurious ever on a Ford and more closer to the likes of Audi, BMW and Mercedes and will have enough technology to satisfy even the most hardened techno freaks. First up is the Ford’s SYNC system which will let the driver control any portable media device via button on the steering wheel or by voice commands. Other tech bits include a lane departure system, blind spot warning system, a rear view camera and a driver alert system on the lines of Mercedes’s Drive Assist, which monitors the driver using instrument console mounted cameras and sounds a warning when it senses the owner is falling asleep.

The new Mondeo is being developed at Ford’s headquarters in US on a brand new platform that can be modified easily to suit the individual market needs throughout the world. The new platform is still front wheel drive but will use the torque vectoring system  from the Focus to improve driving dynamics apart from an electric power steering setup and dynamic cornering control.

Power will come from the latest range of Ford’s highly economical and powerful EcoBoost turbocharged petrol engines with cubic capacities ranging from 1.6 liter to 2.0 liter developing power output between 150 to over 200 bhp. A 2.0 liter TDCi diesel will also be available in different states of tune having either 112, 137 or 167 bhp.

The new Mondeo will also have environmentally friendly technologies like stop/start system, regenerative braking and an active grille system which will regulate the air flow through the radiator and engine compartment to reduce drag thereby increasing economy.

The new Mondeo will be unveiled as a concept next year after the all new Focus is launched early next year.

Related Posts

• October 17, 2010 -- Ford Figo Becomes The 5th Highest Selling Car In India
• October 6, 2010 -- Ford Figo Discover Smart Drive Kicks Off
• September 14, 2010 -- Ford announces the Ford Figo Smart & Smarter India Tour
• September 14, 2010 -- Ford Launches Endeavour 3.0-litre 4×2 Automatic (AT)
• September 2, 2010 -- Ford August 2010 Sales Jump Three Fold To 7,925 Units
• August 26, 2010 -- Ford To Launch 8 New Models By Mid Decade In India
• August 2, 2010 -- Ford Reports 307 Percent Increase In Year-On-Year Sales For July

Just goes on to show what a competent small car in your portfolio can do to your sales in India. Ford is continuing its record sales run in 2010, the catalyst for which has been the Figo.

The company has sold 8,739 units in the month of July 2010, a whopping four times the 2,146 sales made in July 2009. The sale have jumped 20% month on month. Cumulative sales for the January to July period stand at 46,751 units, already the best ever single year performance by Ford by far.

Commenting on the robust and consistent sales growth, Michael Boneham, president and managing director, Ford India said, “We are delighted with our results to date. Sales from January to July 2010 were greater than any annual sales figures reported by Ford India during the past five years.

“This success is driven by a number of factors including an improved economic environment as well as new releases and the opening of new dealerships and service centres across the country.”

Boneham added, “The Ford Figo is one of the major catalysts behind these terrific total sales numbers. Figo has transformed our business and presence in India and we recently introduced a second production shift to keep up with demand.”

Since its launch in March, the Figo has been truly embraced by Indian consumers with more than 29,000 sales bookings registered so far.

Ford India is expanding its service and dealer network to provide world-class support to its fast growing customer base. The recently launched 3S Brand@Retail* dealership in Meerut (Uttar Pradesh province) is the 167th outlet. With this, Ford India now has a presence in 97 cities nationwide.

Related Posts

• October 17, 2010 -- Ford Figo Becomes The 5th Highest Selling Car In India
• September 14, 2010 -- Ford announces the Ford Figo Smart & Smarter India Tour
• July 15, 2010 -- Ford Figo Reaches 25000 Sales Booking In 100 Days
• October 6, 2010 -- Ford Figo Discover Smart Drive Kicks Off
• September 14, 2010 -- Ford Launches Endeavour 3.0-litre 4×2 Automatic (AT)
• September 2, 2010 -- Ford August 2010 Sales Jump Three Fold To 7,925 Units
• August 26, 2010 -- Ford To Launch 8 New Models By Mid Decade In India