Ford India launched the Ikon sometime last year and as expected the car has set the sales charts on fire. Ford learnt their lessons fast after the debacle of the Escort.
The Ikon is a brand new car designed specially for India. This car is derieved from Ford’s super successfull Fiesta. The wheel base was extended by 40 mm and from the B-pillar the car was completely redesigned.
EXTERIOR
Ford’s ’’new edge’’ design theme is clearly evident. The cat eyed headlamps look great. However, the chrome moustache on the front grille on the ZXi version spoils the beauty giving the car a stout look. I like the rear design too but a lot of people don’t. I personally feel that the car looks kinda weird from the side maybe because of the ground clearence.
INTERIOR
The Interiors are well designed. The white dials look pretty cool. The dashboard is designed quite well and does’nt intrude into the passenger space. However, the quality of plastics is not all that good and the upholstry could have been of better quality too. The fixed air vent for the back seat passengers is a neat touch. As promised the rear seat is comfortable with the back rest perfectly angled, ample head room and acres of leg room.There is some serious cost cutting done in the Ikon. Minor but vital comforts have been done away with like remote boot release, height adjustable seats, boot light, flip down rear seats. There is just one reverse light on the tail lamp cluster.
ENGINE
The Ikon comes with a 1597 c.c. ROCAM (for roller-bearing camshaft) engine with 4 cylinders and 2 valves per cylinder layout. This ROCAM engine pumps 91 bhp@5500 rpm with a torque of 12.24kgm@2500 rpm. This is where the fun begins. Fire the engine on and engage first, press the accelerator and the josh machine surges ahead. The super responsive and eager nature of the engine surprises at first but soon the fun begins. Tiny blips on the throttle result in the car surging ahead like a cheetah.
I managed a 165 kmph speed on the mumbai-pune expressway and the speedo needle still had some josh in it to go higher. I have no doubt that the car will do 175 kmph with ease.Drive it to believe it!!.Man!! what a car!!
RIDE QUALITY
The Ikon is a driver’s car and the handling compliments the performance of the car. This car will dive into corners with aplomb. The steering has the right amount of power assist and you can dart into corners and make sudden lane changes with confidence. The brakes feel good too.
The suspension however lets you down. It feels thrashy and every bump is felt in the cabin. The front end is stiff and I realised that the stiff front end is to compensate the absence of a anti-roll bar...some serious cost cutting going on here.
FUEL EFFICIENCY
Fuel efficiency is fairly ok. Driven with caution the car will give about 9 to 9.5 kmpl in the city and about 11 to 12 kmpl on the highway. however, the Ikon is a car that is extremely difficult to drive with a light right foot and thus fuel efficiency suffers.
CONCLUSION
The Ikon comes with a attitude and fun to drive factor. In fact the car is fun with a capital F!!. This is a car for those people who like to drive. If you want a car to fullfill your basic transportation needs then look somewhere else. The Ikon will make you drive just for the heck of it, it will make you take the long route to whereever you are going. Definately, a car to have for those who love driving.
BUY IT!!