2018 Ford Aspire facelift will come featuring design updates, new equipment and possibly Dragon series petrol engine
Having launched the Freestyle CUV, Ford is preparing to launch the facelifted Figo hatchback and Aspire compact during the later course of this year or in early 2019. Test mules of the facelifted Ford Aspire compact sedan was spotted testing for the first time in Turkey and it had also been spied in India near Ford’s production facility in Sanand a few months ago.
The upcoming Ford Aspire compact sedan gets cosmetic updates and several new features inside the cabin. Also a big change includes the introduction of Dragon series petrol engines that come with improved performance better fuel efficiency alongside being new emission norm compliant. Expect the upcoming 2018 Ford Aspire compact sedan to share several design elements and features with the Ford Figo facelift.
The compact sedan segment in Indian auto market is a pretty tough turf considering the presence of the models like Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Hyundai Xcent, Tata Tigor and Honda Amaze. With the facelift, Ford Aspire, which is already a capable car, could surely ramp up the competition and it will become more attractive to the buyers. Now, before the American auto manufacturer launches this updated compact sedan in the country, let us take a close look at the so far known facts about this model.
2018 Ford Aspire Facelift India Price
Expect the facelifted Ford Aspire compact sedan to come priced slightly higher than the current model. The present Aspire compact sedan is priced between Rs. 5.49 lakh and Rs. 8.16 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi). Expect the upcoming model to be priced between Rs. 6 lakh and Rs. 9 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi). No matter what, it is likely sure that Ford will keep the pricing of its compact sedan competitive against its rivals.
| Ford Aspire Facelift Expected Price | Rs. 6 lakh – Rs. 9 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi) |
2018 Ford Aspire Facelift India Launch
Ford Aspire facelift is likely to launch in the country in the later part of 2018 or early next year along with its sibling. No official information regarding its debut has been made public yet.
| Ford Aspire Facelift Expected Launch | Late 2018 or Early 2019 |
2018 Ford Aspire Facelift Engine and Specification
The facelifted Ford Aspire compact sedan will come incorporating Dragon series petrol engines that will make debut in the country with the Ford EcoSport facelift. In that case, the facelifted version of the Ford Aspire compact sedan will carry a new 1.2-litre petrol engine from the Dragon family. Also the top-end trim will get a 1.5-litre unit from the same family.
The new 1.2-litre and 1.5-litre engines will replace the current Sigma engines available in the present Aspire sedan. As the automaker claims, the new engines will deliver improved and smoother performance along with better fuel efficiency. However, it is not sure if the power and torque output would be increased or not.
The Dragon family engines incorporate several advanced technologies in order to improve the performance. These include an integrated exhaust manifold, a rocker shaft with hydrodynamic bearings, a variable oil pump along with dual-valve independent valve control, individual ignition coils for separate cylinder, centralized spark plugs in the combustion chamber and hydraulic tappets with rotor arms. As the automaker claims, the new engines are 10% lightweight compared to the current motors and they come complying with the new stricter emission norm.
The current model’s 1.2-litre engine is coupled with a 5-speed manual gearbox and it kicks out 87 bhp of peak power at 6,300 rpm and 112 Nm of peak torque at 4,000 rpm. Also, it delivers 18.16 kmpl of fuel efficiency. The top-end trim’s larger 1.5-litre engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission and it churns out 110 bhp of peak power at 6,300 rpm and 136 Nm of peak torque at 4,250 rpm along with 17 kmpl of fuel efficiency.
The diesel model could retain the same 1.5-litre TDCi that does duty under the hood of the current model. This fuel burner is paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox and it is capable of pumping out 99 bhp of peak power at 3,750 rpm and 215 Nm of peak torque from 1,750 rpm. Also, this engine returns 25.83 kmpl of fuel efficiency.
| Engine | 1.2-litre Petrol
1.5-litre Petrol 1.5-litre Diesel |
| Transmission | 5-speed MT
6-speed AT (1.5L Petrol only) |
| Maximum Power | 87 bhp @ 6,300 rpm
110 bhp @ 6,300 rpm 99 bhp @ 3,750 rpm |
| Maximum Torque | 112 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
136 Nm @ 4,250 rpm 215 Nm @ 1,750 rpm |
| Fuel Efficiency | 18.16 kmpl (Petrol MT)
17 kmpl (Petrol AT) 25.83 kmpl (Diesel) |
2018 Ford Aspire Facelift Exterior
In terms of design, the facelifted Ford Aspire compact sedan would carry significant updates. It is expected to receive sharper and sleeker swept back headlamps incorporating projector lamps and integrated LED daytime running lights. The front grille too is likely to get a tweaked appearance and it would sport chrome garnished horizontal slats.
A revised front bumper would enhance the compact sedan’s visual appeal further along with a larger central air intake and neatly positioned fog lamps. Moving to the side profile, it could boast new design alloy wheels with blackened appearance. Apart from that, it will come bearing sharp character lines, turn indicator integrated ORVMs and blackened glass area. Chrome finished door handles could enhance the style further.
Rear profile too will receive some changes. It could get redesigned taillights and an updated chunky muscular looking bumper. Overall, the basic silhouette will remain same, but little design updates will increase the facelifted compact sedan’s visual appeal further making it more attractive to the customers.
2018 Ford Aspire Facelift Dimension
Dimensionally, the facelifted Ford Aspire compact sedan would arrive same as the current model. In that case, it will measure 3,995 mm in length, 1,695 mm in width, 1,525 mm in height and it will have a wheelbase of 2,491 mm. Thanks to the new Dragon series petrol engine, the car will become lighter than the current model as the new engines are made of full aluminium. It will get 42-litre capacity fuel tank as well.
| Length | 3,995 mm |
| Width | 1,695 mm |
| Height | 1,525 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,491 mm |
| Fuel Tank | 42-litre |
2018 Ford Aspire Facelift Ground Clearance
Expect the facelifted version of the Ford Aspire compact sedan to arrive with unchanged ground clearance of 174 mm.
| Ford Aspire Facelift Ground Clearance | 174 mm |
2018 Ford Aspire Facelift Boot Space
The current Ford Aspire compact sedan offers 359-litre of boot storage capacity. Expect the upcoming facelifted model to get the same.
| Ford Aspire Facelift Boot Space | 350-litre |
2018 Ford Aspire Facelift Interior
Like exterior, interior too will receive several changes. In order to make the compact sedan more appealing and upmarket compared to the current version, the 2018 Ford Aspire will receive some exciting features. These could include an all-new touchscreen infotainment system with various modern connectivity features that is sorely missed in the current model.
The multifunction steering wheel, instrument cluster would remain same. Thanks to the new touchscreen infotainment system, its dashboard will come with more attractive design. Expect the seats and upholsteries to wear improved quality materials. However, space inside the cabin of the refreshed compact sedan will remain same considering the unchanged dimensional figures. Overall, with little modifications cabin of the new Aspire sedan will become more attractive.
2018 Ford Aspire Facelift Safety Features
The facelifted Ford Aspire compact sedan will come with several safety features. The top-end trim of this car will have six airbags, ABS with EBD, reverse parking sensor, reverse parking camera, seatbelt warning, speed sensing door lock, engine immobilizer etc.
2018 Ford Aspire Facelift Rivals
Facelifted Ford Aspire compact sedan will lock horns with rivals like Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Hyundai Xcent, Tata Tigor and Honda Amaze. With the facelift, the Aspire compact sedan will become more appealing and attractive to the buyers.
Image Source: Motor1 and AutoAdrenalin