Ford Figo Wins 2011 Indian Car Of The Year
December 16 2010
* More than 60,000 Figos have been sold in India since March
* Figo engineered specifically to cater for the Indian market
* 48 international markets to start selling hatch in 2011
The phenomenal Ford Figo has won the coveted India Car of the Year (ICOTY) 2011.
The president and managing director, Ford India, Michael Boneham, accepted the award from the vice chairman and managing director, JK Tyre & Industries, Dr R P Singhania at a ceremony in Mumbai.
"The Indian Car of the Year award caps off a terrific year for the phenomenal Figo," Boneham said.
"Recognition from some of India’s most respected and influential automotive reporters further reinforce Figo’s reputation as a well-designed, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive vehicle that delivers exceptional value-for-money for thousands of new car buyers across India.
"On behalf of all the dedicated men and women at Ford India, we are extremely grateful to the jury members and to our customers for choosing the Figo."
Now in its sixth year, the ICOTY is awarded to a new vehicle after comprehensive testing by a jury of leading Indian automobile journalists.
The Figo competes in India’s small car segment, which accounts for more than 70 per cent of the new vehicle market.
It leverages Ford’s small-car platform architecture, sharing underlying technology with the previous-generation Ford Fiesta, already familiar to Indian drivers.
The ICOTY winner is determined by a multi-point voting system modeled on the selection process used by the European Car of the Year jury.
The 11-person 2011 ICOTY jury included: Yogendra Pratap and Vikrant Singh (Auto Bild); Gautam Sen and Bob Rupani (Auto India); Girish Karkera and Sriram Narayanan (BBC TopGear); Srinivas Krishnan and Pablo Chaterji (Business Standard Motoring); Aspi Bhathena (Car India); and Sirish Chandran and Bertrand D’Souza (Overdrive).
"We knew Ford had a potential winner on its hands even as we lined up the contenders," according to the editor, Business Standard Motoring and chairman, ICOTY 2011, Srinivas Krishnan.
"The Figo’s crisp driving dynamics, two fuel-efficient engine options, cheerful styling and interiors and, of course, its terrific pricing, simply propelled it to the top of the honours list.
"It’s only appropriate that the Figo has won the Indian Car of the Year 2011 award, because Ford engineered the car specifically to cater to the needs of the Indian market."
The prestigious ICOTY award is the latest of many accolades the Figo has received since its introduction 10 months ago.
More than 60,000 Figos have been sold since March, setting a sales record for a single nameplate in India.
Figo has become one of India’s best-selling vehicles, consolidating Ford’s position in the Indian automotive sector.
From January to November 2010, Ford India sold 79,586 units across its lineup, an increase of 185 per cent compared to the same period last year.
The Figo is being exported to South Africa, and is a finalist for the South African Car of the Year award, which will be announced in early 2011.
The Figo is also exported to Nepal and in 2011 an additional 48 international markets will start selling the popular small car.
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