Nxt gen looks, Nxt gen low-end motor... we test the new Ford Ikon 1.3 Nxt.
First it was the sofa. Then it was Dhirubhai Ambani on a sofa. Tata Indigo and Reliance Infocom.
Certainly, the last days of 2002 belonged to the Swadeshi three-box car and India-specific CDMA cellphone technology. Add to that a Metro rail network in Delhi, and even geo-stationary communication satellites started blushing in tri-colour.
The Ford guys may have realised that there is no point in launching a revamped, new Ikon and get lost in the midst of all that noise. So they quietly gave test cars to special interest journalists and went home to celebrate the season.
Good move, because the new 1300 CC SOHC engine from the Rocam family that would soon power the Ikon deserves a lot of attention. But before that, a few of the other changes that will be happening to the Ikon range in India.
From now on, all the ZXi versions will carry the aggressive front-end treatment we first saw on the SXi model some time back. While the 1.6 Rocam engine remains the same, a brand new single overhead cam 1300 CC motor takes the place of the good old 1300 CC push rod unit that was carried over from the Escort days. But the latter engine will continue to be in production for some more time.
Stir Fryed
The Nxt looks fresh and nice, and those snazzy 14-inch wheels with 175/65 rubber give it a better stance. The diamond mesh grille and the white lens lighting fixtures make the Ikon look that much more contemporary. The interior revamps are also classy and subtle, which affords the interior a more crafted feel, and makes it seem bigger than it actually is.
Ford had Christine Fry of Ford Design studio devise a comprehensive plan, and her truffle-based colour and grain scheme gives a very European feel to the interior. While we like the 'star check' finish given to the panels, we are not in agreement with Fry over the chosen seat fabric. It may feel luxurious to the target audience, but we prefer the functional, easy-to-clean material used in the base version.
Nice touches include a chrome ring for the gear and hand brake lever. New 45W speakers, new interior lamp with theatre dimming feature, a timing device introduced into the rear wipers, and a split turn indicator complete the interior make-over. And yes, a tacho meter is now standard across all variants
