Made-in-India Ford Figo launched as Ka+ in UK

Ford has launched the Ka+, which is the Ford Figo in India, in the U.K. market. Priced at £8,995 (Rs. 8.85 lakh), the Ka+ for the U.K. market will be manufactured in Ford India's Sanand plant. It will replace the three-door Ka in the U.K. and deliveries will commence from October this year.

Even though the hatchback will be produced in India, the Ka+ comes with heavy changes to adapt to European standards. The Ka+ will feature six airbags, air conditioning, Ford's Sync voice-activated phone and audio system, a smartphone docking station, a speed limiter and hill start assist as standard. The Ka+ is offered on five-door hatchback body style only and in two trim levels- Style and Zetec.

The Zetec series adds 15in alloy wheels, manual air-conditioning, DAB digital radio/CD with Ford's SYNC voice-activated communications, leather steering wheel and cruise control. The small car in the U.K. also sits a little lower than the Indian and South American versions.

The Ka+ features a new 1.2-litre Duratec petrol engine available with a choice of 69bhp and 84bhp power outputs. This engine is derived from the same family of the 1.25-litre engine in the Fiesta. The engine of Ka+ is coupled with five-speed manual transmission.

Ford India also exports the EcoSport SUV from the Chennai plant. The subcompact SUV is currently exported to South Africa, Taiwan, Australia and several European countries. In March, Ford Motor Company has informed that the company will shift the manufacturing of EcoSport SUV's European-spec batches from its Chennai plant to Romania by the end of 2017.