Three Iconic Ford Cars We Miss Even Today: Ikon 1.6, Fiesta And First-gen Figo!

In a country a bit too obsessed with eking out the last mile from every drop of fuel, Ford is one carmaker that has kept our faith alive with fun-to-drive cars. For a long time, almost all Fords around the globe were known for their razor sharp dynamics and solid build quality. But somewhere down the line, the magic of Fords started going missing, especially with their recent lineup of cars for India. For instance, the new Figo, Aspire and Freestyle don’t have the solid build quality nor do they have the handling chops to make you smile like the Fords of yesteryears.

This made us rewind a bit to share our experience of some exciting Fords from the past. Here’s three of them that really hit the nail.

Ford Ikon 1.6 ROCAM:

Image Credits - Syed Akmal

Ford was initially having a turbulent time in the Indian market thanks to the capable yet undeniably overpriced Mondeo and basic Escort sedans. However, the manufacturer’s fortunes changed when it launched the Ikon, replacing the Escort. It scored high on the fun-to-drive nature thanks to its extremely well tuned chassis. Then there’s the steering which is a lesson on what feel and feedback is!  

Image Credits - Syed Akmal

The icing on the cake is its fabulous 1.6-litre ROCAM petrol engine. Developing around 90PS of power, this engine is known for its immediate throttle response and was the pick of the choice for enthusiasts in the country. However, due to its poor fuel economy, the Ikon 1.6 didn’t find many takers and was eventually axed from the Indian market. 

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 Image Credits - Syed Akmal

Yes, the Ikon continued in India with a 1.3-litre petrol engine and a 1.8-litre diesel engine and even got a midlife update with the 1.4-litre TDCI diesel engine. But none of them made a mark like the Ikon 1.6, the original josh machine.

Fiesta 1.6 Duratec and 1.4 TDCI:

 

Image Credits: Anand

Ford’s successor to the Ikon, the Fiesta, was another car the American manufacturer got right. The Fiesta’s talking point is its well sorted suspension which is capable of smothering the worst roads despite handling like a dream on well paved mountain roads. Complementing it further is the hydraulic steering unit, a peerless work of art that made short work of every road like a knife through the world’s richest butter. 

Image Credits - Adithya Gopal S

Unlike the Ikon, Ford also got the engines right with the Fiesta. Despite the 1.4-litre TDCI engine developing a mediocre 68PS, it never felt out of breath even under full load. Our pick of the lot is the gem of a 101PS 1.6-litre Duratec motor, known for its balanced powerband with right amounts of low, mid and top-end whack. It also responds well at any rpm and pulls hard and clean to the 7000RPM redline if you put your foot down. 

Image Credits - Adithya Gopal S

Enthusiasts were so happy with the Fiesta petrol that Ford took the opportunity to introduce the sportier Fiesta 1.6 S which comes with even stiffer dampers, 15-inch wheels with wider low profile tyres, retuned ECU and sportier looks. Dare we say, this limited edition model is now turning out to be a collectible in the used car scene. 

The Fiesta had a glorious journey in the Indian market. And Ford launched the global-spec Fiesta in 2012 which came with even sharper handling and more features. However, this model had a very poor reception thanks to limited rear seat space and an exorbitant price tag. Ford revised prices and even gave it a mid-life facelift, none of which did justice to revive the MK7 Fiesta. Eventually, the Fiesta was discontinued in early 2018 and the ‘Fiesta’ tag never made a comeback. 

First-gen Ford Figo:

 Image Credits: Swami N

The first-gen Ford Figo is essentially a hatchback version of the Fiesta. It had all the traits of the Fiesta and more thanks to a slightly lower kerb weight. This resulted in the Figo being extremely chuckable around corners. The lighter weight also helped the 1.4-litre TDCI feel more punchier to drive. Buyers in the segment also appreciated the Figo’s solid build quality, a strong selling point back then.  

Despite it being extremely successful, this generation of the Figo had its own share of black marks. It was known for its slightly cramped back seat experience and buyers wanted more power from the 1.2-litre petrol engine and 1.4-litre diesel motor. Ford rectified these two drawbacks in the second generation Figo. However, this version diluted Ford’s DNA of razor sharp handling and solid build quality. In fact, it felt so toned down that even a mass market car buyer could feel the difference. Don’t mistake me, the current Figo is still one of the best driver’s cars on sale right now. But is it as sharp as its predecessor? No chance.  

These are the Fords that’ll make us grin stupidly if we get to drive them even today. Have you had any fun experiences in a Ford? Let us know in the comments below.