(Extreme left) Antony Cherian Kurian, General Manager, Centre of Excellence – Sales Production Capacity Planning System – Ford India along with US Consul General Craig Hall (extreme right) at the launch of Ford Freestyle in Kolkata

Ford India has announced the market launch of the much awaited all-new Ford Freestyle in Kolkata with prices starting from Rs 5.09 lakh for the base Ambiente petrol trim and Rs 6.09 lakh for the base Ambiente diesel variant. This global product from Ford combines SUV-like design ques, peppy drive and innovative technologies to target the young brigade who aspire to own a SUV-like vehicle in a compact size and a pocket friendly price.

The designers at Ford deserve a pat on the back to create a car that is both contemporary and dynamic in appearance. The Freestyle uses design elements common to SUVs, albeit in a more compact dimension. The Freestyle grille with three-dimensional mesh gives this car a sportier look. The front bumper has sculpted sections – that add to its SUV-like look and rigidity. While the skid plates on the front and rear, makes the car every bit the off-roader.

The 190 mm ground clearance helps the Freestyle to smoothly sail over the speed-bumps and undulations on the road without the fear of causing any damage to the under-carriage. The 15-inch tyres with stylish alloys wheels add to the masculine look of this cross-hatch.

Step inside, and the Ford Freestyle will welcome you with its dual tone interiors that looks elegant. The seats are well cushioned and provide good lumbar support. The passenger compartment is spacious with adequate leg room for both front and rear passengers. Like all Fords, the Freestyle has several storage compartments, more than 20 of them, to tuck away everything that you may need on your trips – from water bottles and munchies to your umbrellas and change to pay the toll – there is space for everything.

The Ford Freestyle will also feature Ford’s in-car infotainment system, SYNC 3 with a 6.5-inch touchscreen which allows drivers to control their entertainment and their connected smartphone with conversational voice commands. SYNC 3 system is also Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible.

The Freestyle will come with a host of convenience features including, a reverse parking camera, keyless entry and a push start. The automatic climate control on the Freestyle is a chiller and capable of bringing cabin temperature down from upwards of 40-degrees to a comfortable 20-degrees, in less than 15-minutes.

Powering the Freestyle is Ford’s all-new, three-cylinder 1.2L TiVCT petrol engine that is small, light, and aims to combine performance with fuel efficiency. The naturally aspirated engine generates 96 PS of peak power and 120 Nm of torque to deliver a spirited drive and is sure to appeal to the young and the young-at-heart. Customers will continue to have a choice to opt for Ford’s tried and tested 1.5L TDCi diesel powertrain that generates 100 PS of peak power and 215 Nm of torque.

Both engines will be paired with an all-new, five-speed manual transmission that is slicker and more responsive. Ford claims that this new manual transmission is almost 15 per cent lighter and helps improve fuel economy while reducing NVH. According to the company, the new transmission requires 40 per cent lesser gear oil than its predecessor too.

The engineers at Ford has done a commendable job in achieving the right balance between ride quality and handling making the all-new Ford Freestyle a joy to drive. The suspension set up is well tuned for Indian road conditions and absorbs most undulation with relative ease. The all-new Ford Freestyle stays firmly grounded while making sharp turns at corners and has no body roll.

Both engines will be paired with an all-new, five-speed manual transmission that is slicker and more responsive. Ford claims that this new manual transmission is almost 15 per cent lighter and helps improve fuel economy while reducing NVH. According to the company, the new transmission requires 40 per cent lesser gear oil than its predecessor too.

Ford has been championing the cause of safety in their vehicle for some time now and has introduced the Active Rollover Prevention (ARP) with the Freestyle. The system works with Electronic Stability Control and applies brakes on relevant wheels to decrease engine torque and help prevent any potential rollover situations.

The Freestyle also comes equipped with other safety features like TCS, ABS with EBD, hill launch assist and EPAS among others. In addition to this the Freestyle also comes with standard dual airbags across the variant line-up. For those looking for greater safety, Freestyle will offer up to six airbags on top Titanium+ trim.

The Freestyle will be available in six colours, including a new White Gold, Canyon Ridge, Moondust Silver, Oxford White, Smoke Grey and Absolute Black.

Ford Freestyle Ex-Showroom Prices: 

Ambiente :  Rs 509,000 (Petrol); Rs 609,000 (Diesel)

Trend:   Rs 599,000 (Petrol); Rs 699,000 (Diesel)

Titanium – Rs 639,000 (Petrol); Rs 735,000 (Diesel)

Titanium+ Rs 694,000 (Petrol); Rs 789,000 (Diesel)

Sean Connery with the Aston Martin DB5 

Aston Martin is today celebrating 70 years of its world-famous DB bloodline, as the luxury British marque unveiled its latest DB family of sportscars for the first time at the 2018 Beijing Motor Show – the V12 and V8-powered DB11 coupe and DB11 Volante.

The famous letters stand for David Brown, referring to the legendary British industrialist David Brown who bought the company in 1947. Over time, the DB brand has become as iconic as the Aston Martin wings themselves and continue to this day with the DB11 model; unveiled today in a striking Volcano Red colour scheme, which would have been the favoured choice of Aston Martin’s previous owner.

Aston Martin DBR9 Le Mans

Brown’s legacy has meant that over the last 70 years, DB-badged Aston Martins have become among the most coveted of all cars, with just under half of all Aston Martin’s produced adorning the famous letters. Driven and adored by thousands of loyal Aston Martin customers worldwide, including the world’s greatest secret agent. DB Aston Martin’s have also won some of motorsport’s greatest prizes, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the World Sports Car Championship.

Aston Martin President & CEO Dr. Andy Palmer said, “For 70 years, DB has remained at the core of Aston Martin’s DNA and continues to represent a mark of quality, performance and above all, Aston Martin’s heritage. The DB11 Coupes and Volante you see here today in Beijing are no different. They carry the same virtues of their predecessors and are the product of the same passion that David Brown gave this great British company during his tenure. DB is and always will be an important cornerstone of this business, as we continue to move forward into our Second Century of crafted world-class sportscars”.

David Brown took over the eponymously titled engineering firm founded by his grandfather in 1860. A petrol-head to his bones, Brown built his first car aged just 17 by fitting an engine and gearbox into a chassis he had welded himself. He called the result the ‘Davbro’.

Continuing into a career of engineering and manufacturing, the announcement that David Brown had bought Aston Martin came on Valentine’s Day in 1947. Paying the princely sum of £20,500 for the company, Brown had the facilities, technical know-how and capital needed to create the all new generation of Aston Martins essential to securing the company’s future. After also obtaining Lagonda for £52,500, Brown acquired the WO Bentley-designed 2.6-litre twin-cam straight six engine, which was vital to the success of his new cars.

Aston Martin DB1

The first car announced on Brown’s watch was already under development when he arrived. Launched as the 2-litre Sports in 1948, the car was retrospectively referred to as ‘DB1’ from 1950.

Aston Martin DB2

However, it was the DB2 of 1949 whose beauty, performance, handling and quality established the Aston Martin character for the post-war generation, realising Brown’s vision for the company; one that exists in scarcely altered form to this day.

Aston Martin DB4

The DB2 survived in continually updated form until it was replaced in 1959 by the faster, even more svelte DB4, the first new production Aston Martin to be built on the Newport Pagnell site the company still occupies to this day.

Aston Martin DB5

Though there were five distinct series, including the DB4 GT, the DB4 was replaced by the DB5 in 1963, the year in which it was also immortalised by its gadget-laden appearance in the third James Bond film Goldfinger. The DB5 in turn lasted two short years before the larger, more spacious and comfortable DB6 took over the reins.

Aston Martin DB6

The William Towns-designed DBS of 1967 was intended to become an additional model to run alongside the DB6, but the V8 engine designed for it would not be ready for another two years and went on sale powered by the DB6’s six-cylinder engine. The DB6 would stay in production until 1970, eventually selling in far larger numbers than either the DB4 or DB5.

Aston Martin DBS

The DBS was a complete departure – larger, wider, equipped with a De Dion rear axle and, after the 1969 launch of the DBS V8, a four-cam V8 engine that would stay in production until the 21st century.

Aston Martin DB7

Sir David Brown – who had been knighted in 1968 – reluctantly sold Aston Martin in 1972 and it would be 23 years before his initials would appear on the marque’s cars again. After chairman Walter Hayes offered Brown the title of Honorary Life President, Brown granted Aston Martin’s use of his initials once more, affording a new Aston Martin the greatest possible start in life. It was called the DB7. Unfortunately, Brown didn’t live to see it after passing in 1993, the year before the model went on sale.

Aston Martin DB9

By the time a completely new Aston Martin was ready in 2003 – the first built at its Gaydon headquarters – the advance in technology, quality and performance was so great, Aston Martin jumped the DB8 number and called the new car DB9. The DB9 begat the second DBS and Bond’s first Gaydon-built company car, while the V8 Vantage-based DB10 earned the honour of becoming 007’s first ever fully bespoke road car.

Aston Martin DB10

With the new DB11 and soon to-be-launched DBS Superleggera, the DB brand continues to form the backbone of Aston Martin’s Second Century Plan.

Aston Martin DB11

Today, the DB nomenclature is as fundamental a part of Aston Martin as it was 70 years ago. Not just as a core component of the Aston Martin product range, but a key part of its identity too.

Japanese carmaker Toyota has launched the Yaris mid-size sedan in India at an introductory price of Rs 8.75 lakh for the base J trim and going up to Rs 14.07 lakh for the top-of-the-line VX trim with the CVT automatic (prices ex-showroom, India). Bookings have also opened for an amount of Rs 50,000.

The Toyota Yaris has been launched in four variants, with each trim getting the option of a CVT automatic. The Yaris comes with a single petrol engine option – 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder engine – that produces 107hp of maximum power and 140Nm of peak torque. The powertrain is mated to either a six-speed manual gearbox or the optional 7-step CVT automatic gearbox.

The Yaris gets some segment-first features like gesture control for the touchscreen infotainment system, a tyre pressure-monitoring system, 60:40 rear seat split, adjustable three-neck restraints for the rear seat, roof-mounted rear air-conditioner with ambient lighting, a powered driver’s seat and front parking sensors. Paddle shifters are on offer on the higher CVT variants. On the safety front, it gets gets all-wheel disc brakes, front and rear parking sensors, seven airbags (including a driver knee airbag), Hill-Start Assist, ABS, EBD and ESP.

The variant-wise ex-showroom prices of the Toyota Yaris is as follows:

J – Rs 8,75,000 (MT); Rs 9,95,000 (CVT)

G – Rs 10,56,000 (MT); Rs 11,76,000 (CVT)

V – Rs 11,70,000 (MT); Rs 12,90,000 (CVT)

VX – Rs 12,85,000 (MT); Rs 14,07,000 (CVT)

The Toyota Yaris will compete with petrol variants of the Honda City (Rs 8.71- 13.70 lakh), Maruti Suzuki Ciaz (Rs 7.83-10.63 lakh), Hyundai Verna (Rs 7.99-12.56 lakh), Volkswagen Vento (Rs 8.19-12.49 lakh) and Skoda Rapid (Rs 8.36-12.21 lakh) (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi).

At this price point, the Yaris is more expensive than its rivals in the Indian market.

The Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak completed its first laps at the racetrack in Ales. The fully-electric super sports car, developed for the iconic “Race to the Clouds” in Colorado Springs (USA), will attempt to break the record for electric cars at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 24. Between now and then, the spectacular prototype, which generates 500 kW (680 hp) and features a twin-engine powertrain, will undergo a strict programme of testing – initially in Europe, then in the USA. The man in the cockpit for the car’s first outing was Romain Dumas, who will also be at the wheel of the Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak for the record attempt at the end of June.

“It was absolutely fantastic to see the completed I.D. R for the first time, and to take it out for its first spin,” said Romain Dumas, who is a three-time winner of the hill climb on Pikes Peak. “What Volkswagen has managed to put together from scratch over the past few months has my greatest respect. I had obviously seen initial pictures of the car – but it is even more spectacular in the flesh. We now have a packed schedule of testing ahead of us, and I am looking forward to every metre!”

Competing in his 93rd MotoGP race, Marc Marquez rode the RC213V to his sixth straight win of the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas MotoGP, the Spaniard having been unbeatable at COTA since the circuit was added to the calendar in 2013. It was also Marc’s 12th consecutive victory on U.S. asphalt, an amazing statistic.

Also impressive today was Marc’s Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa, who is recovering from the surgery he underwent less than two weeks ago, and who put in an incredible effort to earn seventh place.

With his first win of 2018, Marc now stands second in the World Championship Classification with 45 points, just one point down on Andrea Dovizioso. Dani sits in 11th place with 18 points.

Now the MotoGP field will transfer back to Europe for the Continental phase of the season, starting at Jerez, Spain, on May 6.

Marc Marquez said, “This weekend I really gave it my all. Today I was totally focused, as I wanted to remain perfect here at Austin. I don’t think that ever in my career have I had such a race, pushing so hard from the first lap. Today I felt that this was the right way and was able to do it, in part because my bike’s setup helped me a lot, so thanks to everyone in my garage as they’ve worked really well and hard. Yesterday I was a bit ill, and even today I didn’t feel I had perfect energy, but it turned out to be a good race anyway – a lonely one, but sometimes it goes like that. Last night when I was going to sleep, I thought about the strategy, and today I followed it. Even in the warm-up, I tried to simulate the first laps of the race, going out on new tyres and with a full tank. That was in the plan. I told the team that I wanted to try to lead the race from the beginning and pull a gap. So in the first three or four laps, I pushed a bit more than usual, and then I managed the advantage. Today I had special motivation. There was a lot of pressure, but I like the pressure, as it helps to keep focused. I felt a special feeling on the last lap, when I passed in front of Nicky’s flag. So, I’m happy with the result and for recovering ground in the Championship, but now we go back to Europe, where we must be consistent, because look who’s leading the standings: Dovi, the most consistent rider! The feeling with my bike is very good, and the same has been true in Qatar and Argentina, so we’ll try and continue this way.”

Dani Pedrosa commented, “I’m more than satisfied with having been able to finish this race and get some good points, and I’d like to thank everyone who has helped me in these days, as well as all the fans for the support they gave me. Honestly, before coming here I wasn’t even sure I would be able to do the practices. It was a tough weekend, especially at this track; in some other circuits you might handle the situation a little better with a bit less effort, but this one is super-physical. I wasn’t able to enjoy the race like I usually do, even though I took some painkillers that eased the pain a little. That allowed me to focus a bit more, though I don’t have much strength. I had a decent start and tried to stick with the guys in front as much as possible. In the end I struggled to control my bike, but I managed and I’m happy with the outcome. Now we have some more days to try and recover as much as possible before Jerez. It’s a track I like, so we’ll see how much better I’ll feel.”

In line with the vision of enriching people’s lives, Nissan in India has saved 95 million litres of water over the past four years though an innovative cars wash technique called Foam Wash. Introduced in 2014 at most of the service centres across India, the Foam Wash technique uses only 90 litres of water per car compared to the conventional car wash which consumes 162 litres, thereby reducing water consumption by 44 per cent. Car washes at service centres are a major component of after sales and servicing of customers’ vehicles that require a large amount of water.

Commenting about the initiative, Sanjeev Aggarwal, Vice President, After Sales at Nissan Motor India Pvt. said, “Nissan aims to contribute towards sustainable development of society through our product and services. The Foam Wash initiative is quite popular amongst Nissan and Datsun car owners and allows us to collectively save water, time and contribute towards a sustainable eco-system.”

Catering to the growing popularity of the AMT vehicles in India, Tata Motors is all set introduce another product intervention – Nexon with HyprDrive Self-Shift Gears (S-SG). Tata Motors claims that the Nexon HyprDrive Self-SG is the first AMT in India to have Multi-Drive modes (3 modes – ECO, CITY, SPORT) in automatic transmission. The bookings for the car commences today, across all its authorised dealerships, in India, at an amount of Rs 11,000 only.

With the introduction of Nexon Hyprdrive S-SG, Tata Motors has branded all its 2 pedal transmission cars as Hyprdrive while all the AMT variants from the Company will be now termed as Self-Shift Gears (S-SG).Nexon Hyprdrive with S-SG will be available in both petrol and diesel option.

According to Mayank Pareek, President, Passenger Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors, “Since its launch in 2017, the Tata NEXON has set new benchmarks in India’s fastest growing SUV segment and has been one of the most appreciated products from the house of Tata Motors. With the AMT market in India thriving, we are all set to leverage this opportunity by introducing our LEVEL NEX star player on the pitch – the NEXON with HyprDrive Self-Shift Gears. This car has been one of the most awaited products in the AMT segment and we are confident that this product will not only be high on convenience but will also thrill the customers with its sporty drive performance. We look forward to introducing many more such path breaking products in the near future.”

Highlighting the importance of the Chinese automotive market, Infiniti Motor Company have announced, ahead of the Beijing International Motor Show, that they will build five new vehicles in China over the next five years, beginning with the all new QX50 SUV.

Roland Krueger, Chairman and Global President, Infiniti Motor Company, Ltd. said “Over the next five years INFINITI is planning to localize five new vehicles in China, tripling our sales here in our fastest growth market, globally. As part of our roadmap to electrify our portfolio, we anticipate that by 2025, more than 50% of new INFINITI vehicles sold globally and in China will be electrified. Together with our partner Dongfeng Motor Company Ltd., INFINITI is pursuing localization in China for China, expanding our network footprint and introducing new technologies, such as our world’s first variable compression engine (VC-Turbo), and vehicle electrification, such as e-POWER. We will continue to strive to make INFINITI the top premium challenger brand in the market.”

The Beijing motor show will be the first time for Infiniti to show off its all-new Infiniti QX50 premium SUV in Asia, with local production of the vehicle expected to begin ramping up shortly at the company’s manufacturing facility in Dalian. These will be sold exclusively to the Chinese market and will be available for sale later this year.

Also making its Asian debut will be the stylish and innovative Infiniti Q Inspiration concept car which represents the next step in Infiniti design. It is the first manifestation of Infiniti’s new form language for saloons and the start an era of electrified powertrains.

In 2017, Infiniti sold a record 48,408 vehicles in China, a 16 percent increase from the prior year.

Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India at the launch of the all-new BMW X3

German luxury carmaker BMW has launched the all-new BMW X3 in India with prices starting from Rs 49.99 lakhs (ex-showroom) for the Expedition variant and going up to Rs 56.70 lakhs for the Luxury Line trim. Available in a locally-produced diesel variant, the all-new BMW X3 is now available at BMW dealerships effective immediately. The petrol variant will be launched later in 2018.

Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “BMW X3 established the premium mid-size sports activity vehicle segment in India and became a trailblazer with its modern character. The all-new BMW X3 is set to write the next chapter in its success story with an even more striking, dynamic design language, powerful yet efficient drive systems and luxurious equipment. Practical both on and off road, the all-new BMW X3 is fully equipped for the most diverse driving demands, combining everything you need for wherever your day takes you.”

The all-new BMW X3 features a compelling front with a boldly enhanced distinctive double kidney grille. Fully Adaptive LED headlights and LED fog lamps featuring the new hexagonal design ensure a prominent stance on any road. At the rear, LED expressive taillights combined with a low-slung roof spoiler and exhaust tail pipes on both sides in chrome make for a powerful conclusion. Automatic tailgate operation allows convenient opening and closing of the tailgate.

Luxury Line additionally features the chrome radiator grille bars, two-tone underbody protection in frozen grey matt with chrome trim, air-breather in chrome and classically designed 19-inch light-alloy wheels that adds to the elegance of the exterior design.

The interior impresses with an accomplished balance of dynamic driver-orientation and luxurious comfort. The exquisitely embossed X logo in the elegant chrome located on the doors and the centre console is a true eye-catcher. The interior is well thought out with more space than ever before. A clever concept provides numerous easily accessible storage compartments. A relaxed and harmonious lounge atmosphere is created thanks to optimised cabin noise insulation, adjustable rear seat backrest, rear window sunblind and enlarged panoramic roof.

The range of fine upholstery combinations in the all-new BMW X3 Expedition includes Leatherette Beige and Leatherette Black and in the all-new BMW X3 Luxury Line include Leather Vernasca Beige and Leather Vernasca Mocha.

Ambient Lighting with six dimmable light designs creates an atmosphere for every mood. The luggage compartment has a capacity of 550 litres extendable to 1,600 litres thanks to a 40/20/40 split including through-loading system. Interior details in Luxury Line such as leather upholstery in Vernasca, a Sensatec-covered instrument panel with contrast stitching and Fine-wood trim in poplar gain grey all catch the eye.

The all-new BMW X3 comes with technologies such as the BMW Display Key that allows drivers to keep in contact with their car round the clock. Welcome Light Carpet, which is projected from the side sill, welcomes passengers in glamorous style. Rear-view camera with Park Assist assists in parking or maneuvering into parallel or lateral space. The smartphone holder integrated into the centre console allows inductive, Wireless Charging for mobile phones and the BMW Display key.

The all-new BMW X3 is equipped with an extensive range of BMW ConnectedDrive systems like the 12.3-inch Multifunction Instrument Display, BMW iDrive, including touch controller, BMW Navigation Professional (with 10.25-inch touch screen), 600 Watts high-end Surround Sound system from Harman Kardon, Apple Car Play, BMW Apps and Connectivity through Bluetooth and USB.

The innovative diesel engines from the BMW EfficientDynamics family offer considerably more spirited power delivery as well as spontaneous responsiveness even at low engine speeds. Thanks to the BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, they blend power with efficiency. The two-litre four-cylinder diesel engine of BMW X3 xDrive 20d produces an output of 140 kW / 190 hp and a maximum torque of 400 Nm at 1,750 – 2,500 rpm. The car accelerates from 0-100 kmph in just 8 seconds.

The eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission performs smooth gear shifts. At any time, in any gear, the transmission collaborates perfectly with the engine, enabling it to develop its full power and efficiency. For even greater driving pleasure, the eight-speed Steptronic transmission is available with steering wheel paddle shifters.

BMW xDrive, an intelligent all-wheel-drive system, in the all-new BMW X3 monitors the driving situation constantly and is quick to respond. The compact, low-weight and efficient all-wheel-drive system distributes the engine’s power between the front and rear axle exactly to suit the driving situation and the surface. Adaptive suspensions, electronically controlled ‘Automatic Differential Brakes/locks (ADB-X)’, extended ‘Dynamic Traction control (DTC)’, Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control helps to conquer every terrain.

BMW EfficientDynamics increases the Sheer Driving Pleasure with features such as Auto Start-Stop, Eco Pro mode, Brake-Energy Regeneration, Electronic Power Steering, 50:50 Weight Distribution and many other innovative technologies. Using the Driving Experience Control switch, the driver is able to choose between different driving modes (Eco Pro, Comfort and Sport) to suit diverse driving conditions.

The all-new BMW X3 features cutting-edge safety technologies. It provides optimal support in any situation with six airbags, Attentiveness Assistance, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) including Cornering Brake Control (CBC), electric parking brake with auto hold, side-impact protection, electronic vehicle immobilizer and crash sensor, ISOFIX child seat mounting and integrated emergency spare wheel under the load floor.

BMW Service Inclusive and BMW Service Inclusive Plus are optionally available with the all-new BMW X3. These service packages cover all routine service and maintenance work with a choice of plans from 3 years / 40,000 kilometres to 10 years / 2,00,000 kilometres. These include original BMW parts required for routine service work irrespective of how many times the service is done. The all-new BMW X3 also comes with optional BMW Repair Inclusive that covers the car additionally from third year of operation to maximum sixth year, after the completion of the standard two-year warranty period. Thus, the car is covered for warrantable repairs for up to six years without any mileage limitations.

The all-new BMW X3 is available in the following metallic paintworks: Mineral White, Sophisto Grey, Black Sapphire and Phytonic Blue.

Ford India is gearing up for the market launch of the much awaited all-new Ford Freestyle. This global product from Ford combines SUV-like design ques, peppy drive and innovative technologies to target the young brigade who aspire to own a SUV-like vehicle in a compact size and a pocket friendly price.

The Freestyle will be produced at Ford India’s Sanand factory in Gujarat, for consumers in India and all around the world, including parts of Europe and Africa. India will be the lead market for Ford Freestyle sales to commence, with bookings having already begun from April 7. With all the excitement surrounding the latest offering from Ford’s stable, we travelled all the way to The Pink City of Jaipur for an exclusive date with the all-new Ford Freestyle. Read on to discover how she fared.

Design and Engineering

The designers at Ford deserve a pat on the back to create a car that is both contemporary and dynamic in appearance. The Freestyle uses design elements common to SUVs, albeit in a more compact dimension. The Freestyle grille with three-dimensional mesh gives this car a sportier look. The front bumper has sculpted sections – that add to its SUV-like look and rigidity. While the skid plates on the front and rear, makes the car every bit the off-roader.

The 190 mm ground clearance helps the Freestyle to smoothly sail over the speed-bumps and undulations on the road without the fear of causing any damage to the under-carriage. The 15-inch tyres with stylish alloys wheels add to the masculine look of this cross-hatch.

The Freestyle will be available in six colours, including a new White Gold, Canyon Ridge, Moondust Silver, Oxford White, Smoke Grey and Absolute Black.

Interior and Comfort

Step inside, and the Ford Freestyle will welcome you with its dual tone interiors that looks elegant. The seats are well cushioned and provide good lumbar support. The passenger compartment is spacious with adequate leg room for both front and rear passengers. Like all Fords, the Freestyle has several storage compartments, more than 20 of them, to tuck away everything that you may need on your trips – from water bottles and munchies to your umbrellas and change to pay the toll – there is space for everything.

The Ford Freestyle will also feature Ford’s in-car infotainment system, SYNC 3 with a 6.5-inch touchscreen which allows drivers to control their entertainment and their connected smartphone with conversational voice commands. SYNC 3 system is also Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible.

The Freestyle will come with a host of convenience features including, a reverse parking camera, keyless entry and a push start. The automatic climate control on the Freestyle is a chiller and capable of bringing cabin temperature down from upwards of 40-degrees to a comfortable 20-degrees, in less than 15-minutes, something that we have experienced in Jaipur this month.

Performance and Handling

Powering the Freestyle is Ford’s all-new, three-cylinder 1.2L TiVCT petrol engine that is small, light, and aims to combine performance with fuel efficiency. The naturally aspirated engine generates 96 PS of peak power and 120 Nm of torque to deliver a spirited drive and is sure to appeal to the young and the young-at-heart. Customers will continue to have a choice to opt for Ford’s tried and tested 1.5L TDCi diesel powertrain that generates 100 PS of peak power and 215 Nm of torque.

Both engines will be paired with an all-new, five-speed manual transmission that is slicker and more responsive. Ford claims that this new manual transmission is almost 15 per cent lighter and helps improve fuel economy while reducing NVH. According to the company, the new transmission requires 40 per cent lesser gear oil than its predecessor too.

The engineers at Ford has done a commendable job in achieving the right balance between ride quality and handling making the all-new Ford Freestyle a joy to drive. The suspension set up is well tuned for Indian road conditions and absorbs most undulation with relative ease. The all-new Ford Freestyle stays firmly grounded while making  sharp turns at corners and has no body roll.

Safety 

Ford has been championing the cause of safety in their vehicle for some time now and has introduced the Active Rollover Prevention (ARP) with the Freestyle. The system works with Electronic Stability Control and applies brakes on relevant wheels to decrease engine torque and help prevent any potential rollover situations.

The Freestyle also comes equipped with other safety features like TCS, ABS with EBD, hill launch assist and EPAS among others. In addition to this the Freestyle also comes with standard dual airbags across the variant line-up. For those looking for greater safety, Freestyle will offer up to six airbags on top Titanium+ trim.

Verdict

Over the years, the image of brand Ford has evolved in the Indian market. There is a sense of reliability and peace of ownership that Ford India has been able to successfully instill in the minds of the Indian consumer. Unlike yesteryears, when a first-time car buyer would inevitably opt for either a Maruti Suzuki or Hyundai, today many of them are opting for a Ford. The EcoSport is a great success story and a leading flag-bearer for Ford in India. So today, any new product offering from Ford is awaited with great enthusiasm in the Indian market.

The all-new Freestyle has been positioned to appeal to the consumers who aspire to own a compact-SUV at the price of a premium hatch. Its boasts of good ride quality and handling. It comes equipped with technology that help you stay connected. Ford has been championing the cause of safety for many years and ensure that every product that they put on the road are safe to drive. The Freestyle is no different with a host of safety features and some of them first-in-segment. Overall, it is a great product which combines style, practicality, comfort, performance and safety. Ford also offers a reasonably solid service back-up and low cost of ownership which would further augment Freestyle’s bid to consolidate its position in the segment.

Ford India has always been aggressive about pricing their products competitively and we expect nothing different in case of the all-new Ford Freestyle. With the right price tag, this product has the potential to be the giant killer when it is launched in end-April in India.