Ford Ikon gets the Duratorq advantage

Despite the global financial crisis, its own parnet's financial woes and a slowdown in car sales in India, Ford India, the Indian subsidiary of US-based Ford Motor Co. is going ahead with its plan to invest $500 million and introduce a small car in India by 2010.

Ford India  yesterday announced a diesel variant of its flagship model the Ford Ikon. The diesel variant of the new Ikon would come with a 1.4 litre Duratorq TDCi engine, while the petrol variant would be available with a 1.3-litre RoCam engine.

Earlier the both the Ford Fiesta and Fusion were powered by the 1.4-litre Duratorq engine with its matching five-speed gearbox. 

While the diesel variant has been priced at Rs5.19 lakh, the spruced up 1.3-litre petrol variant will now come priced at Rs-4.59 lakh.

By 2010 Ford India plans to begin rolling out petrol engines from its power train unit in Chennai. The plant, with an installed capacity of 240, 000 units, became operational in April this year and currently manufactures 60,000 units of diesel engines a year.  The company is currently sourcing petrol engines from its power train unit in South Africa.

Nigel E Wark, executive director (sales and marketing), Ford India, said, ''We have started with diesel engines but once our Chennai plant goes full steam in 2010, we may look at manufacturing petrol engines as well,'' he said.