Ford Figo Aspire automatic updated with seven airbags as the sub-compact sedan now offers segment-first driver knee airbag
Ford has given its Figo Aspire sub-compact sedan a new safety upgrade, standing on course with the recent moves by auto manufacturers in response to the upcoming mandatory safety standards. The American auto giant has added more airbags to the top-spec Titanium automatic variant and as a result it now offers seven airbags over the previous driver and front-passenger standard airbag feature.
Airbags are a primary safety feature especially in a family oriented car and in an attempt to set the standards up further, Ford has included a driver knee airbag that would protect the lower portion of human body upon crash. It is another first-in-class safety feature from the Chennai-based company and also the first for a vehicle in the affordable category of below 10 lakh rupees.
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The Titanium variants with manual gearbox option will continue to provide dual front airbags and ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) as standard fitments. Meanwhile, the Titanium Plus 1.2 Ti-VCT petrol manual and Titanium Plus 1.5 TDCi diesel do not see change in safety equipment as they will be offered with six airbags.
The new update comes on the back of Ford equipping ABS to the mid-spec Trend models and will definitely be a valuable addition for the people seeking petrol automatic compact sedans. The improved safety equipment seems to be only for the Aspire sedan as the hatchback won’t receive driver knee airbag.
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Ford India launched the Figo Aspire sedan in August 2015 after debuting it at the Auto Expo the previous year. It arrived with plenty of segment-first features like leather seats, six-airbags, six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and so on. In the highly competitive and crowded sub-four metre sedan space, the Figo Aspire became the first model to offer standard driver and co-passenger airbags across all trims.
Made available in four trim levels such as Ambiente, Trend, Titanium and Titanium +, the new-gen Figo sedan gets three powertrain options: a 110 bhp 1.5-litre Ti-VCT petrol and 99 bhp 1.5-litre TDCi diesel taken from the EcoSport as well as an 87 bhp 1.2-litre Ti-VCT petrol that is also employed in the Figo hatchback. The transmission options are five-speed manual and six-speed dual-clutch auto on the 1.5L petrol top-end.