This is the new Ford Freestyle, a “compact utility vehicle (CUV)” that will be sold in Indian and South American markets later this year. It is essentially a crossover version of the Figo hatchback that recycles a name previously used for the discontinued Taurus X.
As you’d expect, there’s plenty of design revisions to mark the Freestyle from a Figo. For starters, there’s a diamond-patterned mesh for the front grille rather than horizontal slats seen on the Figo. The bumpers have also been swapped out for new ones, which together with the faux silver skid plates, black plastic body cladding and roof rails, provide a rugged look for the Freestyle.
Inside, the Freestyle is largely similar to the Figo, except there’s a new centre stack for a 6.5-inch touchscreen. The display is linked to the car’s SYNC 3 infotainment system, which comes with media playback, navigation as well as compatibility for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Under the bonnet, the Freestyle is powered by a new 1.2 litre naturally-aspirated three-cylinder Ti-CVT petrol engine from its Dragon range. The mill produces 96 PS and 120 Nm of torque, with drive being sent through a five-speed manual transmission. A report by IndianAutosBlog states a diesel option – the Figo’s 1.5 litre TDCi unit – will also be offered with 100 PS and 215 Nm.
An official launch with pricing will only take place in the second quarter of 2018, with the Freestyle being positioned below the B-segment EcoSport. The model, which is produced in India, will also be exported to Europe, Africa and Middle Eastern markets.
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BRV competitor. Will this oso have tisu paper body?