Ford is reportedly preparing itself for the launch of Focus hatchback and its sports version the Focus ST in India. The Focus ST is expected to be on sale as a limited edition model.
Ford Focus currently in its 4th generation is powered by two engine options; a 1.0-litre, 3 cylinder EcoBoost turbocharged petrol engine producing 123 BHP and the second engine is a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol motor pumping 158 BHP. In the American market, the Focus is placed above the Fiesta and its chief rival is the Volkswagen Golf.
Under the bonnet of the Focus ST lies a 2.3-litre EcoBoost turbocharged gasoline engine with 276 BHP of power on tap and makes 420 Nm of torque. The performance variant of the Focus can sprint from 0-100 kmph under 6.0 seconds making it one of the faster cars in its segment. This car will be targeted towards a specific genre of audience and Ford is expected to price it at a premium.
Currently in India Ford has Figo, Aspire, Freestyle, EcoSport and Endeavour in its lineup. Ford has also officially announced their new alliance with Mahindra to sustain in the Indian market. Both brands will jointly develop cars here in India, which will also be exported to key markets. Ford needs a new mass-market vehicle to generate incremental footfall in the showrooms. While the sub-4 metre compact-SUV is an exciting segment at the moment, the EcoSport is a rather old product still on sale; even though it still has a lot of positive attributes. Ford sold about 4,000 units for the month of November 2020 whereas it sold around 5,400 units at the same time last year.
Ford is also likely to launch the Ranger Raptor in India sometime next year. The all-new Figo is expected to be launched towards the end of 2021 although the new EcoSport is expected to be updated in 2022. The Figo is likely to be powered by the new mStallion motor which will a 1.2-litre direct injection. Ford’s version of the XUV500 was recently caught in a spy shot, yet the launch date is not yet confirmed.
