Ford previewed the Figo Concept sedan at the 2014 Delhi Auto Expo, and is now prepping the production version of the car for the Indian market. The Figo Aspire will be manufactured at Ford's new plant in Sanand (Gujarat). Earlier in 2014, Ford launched the new Figo sedan (badged as KA+) in Brazil while the Indian launch for the car is slated to be around the second quarter of 2015. The Figo Aspire sedan will be Ford’s debut attempt in the compact sub-4 metre segment in India. When launched, it will be pitted against the likes of Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire, Hyundai Xcent, Honda Amaze and Tata Zest. Expect Ford to price the Aspire in the Rs 5-7 lac bracket.

The Figo sedan is a new design for the automaker and it will be their first venture into the segment. It is less than four metres in length but looks proportionate. The Figo Concept aligns itself with Ford’s “One Ford” philosophy, which means it now looks a lot like the new Mondeo and Taurus.

On the inside, the Aspire will offer generous space for five passengers including a big boot for weekend trips. We have always taken spy shots of how the interiors will look like and the production versions will be no different. A lot of parts are shared with the current Fiesta and EcoSport. In terms of features, the top end Titanium version of the Figo Aspire will come with more than 2 airbags, ABS, mobile dock, Ford SYNC etc.

Gearbox options are expected to include a five-speed manual as well as the six-speed dual clutch gearbox for the petrol engine.

Powering the Figo Aspire will be a choice of two engine options. Ford will use a re-tuned version of the same 1.2-litre petrol engine that currently powers the Figo hatchback. There will also be a 1.5-litre diesel engine option, the one that is seen on the EcoSport and the new Fiesta. Expect this engine to churn out in excess of 25kmpl as per ARAI certification. Both the engines will be mated to a 5-speed gearbox.

The interior of the Figo sedan mimics that of the EcoSport and the Fiesta in terms of both layout and overall design. The quality of the materials used as well as the feature list is just as good as the other Ford models. Equipment on the top-spec diesel and petrol variants is expected to include AC, SYNC music system, auto-folding OVRMs, reversing sensors with camera, rain sensing wipers and auto dimming internal mirror.

It gets a bold new grille and the angular headlamps complement the design nicely. The silhouette is pretty much the same as most of the other compact sedans, but the rear is slightly disappointing and looks a bit unfinished. However, like Honda’s Amaze, has been designed to be a complete car rather than a boot-on-hatch design.

Unlike most other cars from the segment, it doesn’t put the rear number plate on the bootlid, instead it opts for a low mount on the bumper. This leaves the rear with a look that is a little too vertical despite the horizontal creases that try to alleviate the visual height.

At the back, the Figo sedan looks similar to other cars in its segment with a small but nicely integrated boot. We particularly like the horizontal chrome strip on the boot and overall, with its sharp curves and taut design the Figo Aspire looks sporty and does not appear disproportionate or an after-though design like some of its competitors.

The compact-sedan segment largely belongs to cost-conscious customers who look for maximum spaced and comfort for their money. As a result, Ford is expected to price the Figo Aspire competitively since all the cars in this segment are doing fairly well in terms of sale and will continue to give each other tough fight in the market place.