All-new compact utility vehicle was introduced on Wednesday by Ford Motor Company in Delhi. It is dubbed as “Freestyle”, which is based on Ford’s hatchback ‘Figo’, made its world debut in Delhi. The company said another unveiling is lined up in South America.
An official launch of the Freestyle is expected in April, this year, which is when the prices will be revealed and bookings will open.
Apart from the cosmetic changes from the Figo, the new car gets some mild off-roading characteristics as well. The car appears sturdy with the use of conflicting lower cladding and some other tweaks like a hexagonal mesh grille and sculpted bumpers. The Freestyle received a slanted windshield for better aerodynamics. The side looks sporty with sculpted sweeping lines and the slanted rear.
The interior has also been renewed and it appears more premium than the regular Figo. A 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the centre console is included in the car. It supports Ford’s Sync3 with connectivity features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The car will be released in both petrol and diesel variants. The petrol version will be powered by a new 1.2-litre, 96PS Dragon engine as the diesel variant proceeds with the 1.5-litre engine, delivering 100PS of power. The car will also come with a new 5-speed manual transmission.
The company has developed track-width and enhanced ground clearance, which is anticipated to enhance the multi-terrain handling capacities of the car. It will have the class-leading safety of six airbags, the Freestyle gets features like TCS (traction control system), ABS (anti-lock braking system) with EBD (electronic brake force distribution) and uniquely tuned EPAS (electric power assisted steering).
The car will compete with the likes of the Hyundai i20 Active, the Volkswagen Polo Cross and the Toyota Etios Cross. Prices are expected to range between Rs 6-8 lakh.