AutoCar has always loved the Ikon, especially in its 1.6 ROCAM avatar, which was a bomb to drive. Unfortunately it was a bomb to run as well. That’s a reputation Ford wants to change and in a bid to make it easier on the wallet, Ford has transplanted the Fiesta’s frugal diesel motor in the aging Ikon. A facelift has also been served up, AutoCar (Dec. ’08) takes a quick dekko…
The Ikon gets an all-new nose which follows Ford’s modern Kinetic design theme but it looks more like a mid-90’s Ford. The headlights are new as are the bumper, the fog lamps and the wheel cap design. That apart, the sides, flanks and rear are indistinguishable from the earlier model. The interiors feel dated and the brown and black colour combination doesn’t work too well too. The biggest discernible change is the instrument cluster, which now has a silver outline, and a digital odometer/tripmeter. The stereo has a Bluetooth connection which is complicated, the gear lever seisn is same and the gear knob fits well in the hand says AutoCar(Dec. ’08). The design and quality of plastics is below par and the narrow cabin is a squeeze for three adults at the back but the seats are comfy with good legroom in the front and rear.
The talking point of the Ikon is what lies under the bonnet – the 1399cc Duratorq motor is one of the best small diesel motors around, but in the Ikon the refinement levels are not as good as the Fiesta’s. This is largely because of the way the engine is mounted. For reasons of cost, this engine uses cheaper rubber mounts instead of the more expensive hydraulic mounts found on the Fiesta. The Ikon uses the same gearbox with identical ratios to the Fiesta TDCi but with a longer final drive to compensate for the Ikon’s smaller 13-inch wheels. Most importantly, the Ikon has a massive 144kg weight advantage over the Fiesta and that translates into much better acceleration. The Duratorq is the most responsive compact diesel motors around and is well suited to the car’s weight. The Ikon’s weight advantage over its rivals translates into good fuel efficiency as well. AutoCar (Dec. ’08) achieved a class-topping 14.1kpl in the city and on the highway, despite the taller gearing, the car was not as impressive returning only 17.9kpl, a figure that is a touch below its rivals.
The big question on everybody’s mind is just how good is it to drive now? In a nutshell, it’s very good and the Ikon still impresses with its level of grip, front-end bite, steering feel and response. From the driver’s seat, the car is a gem, as always. The pedals are well-placed, the chunky steering wheel feels nice to hold, the gears shift quickly and precisely and the ergonomics are well optimized.
On the flip side the interior quality is a letdown, the levels of refinement are not that great, the Ikon also lacks safety features and the light body, which pays dividends in performance, leads us to believe it is not as crashworthy as its newer rivals.
But…it has an impressive fuel economy and is a substantial Rs.30, 000 chaeper than the cheapest Dzire and a massive Rs.70, 000 less than the base Logan. At Rs. 6.16 lakh, OTR Mumbai, the Ikon TDCi comes fully loaded with power windows, central locking, for lamps and stereo, which makes it seriously worth considering. All Ford has to do is ensure that it is as cheap to maintain as it is to run.
The Ikon gets an all-new nose which follows Ford’s modern Kinetic design theme but it looks more like a mid-90’s Ford. The headlights are new as are the bumper, the fog lamps and the wheel cap design. That apart, the sides, flanks and rear are indistinguishable from the earlier model. The interiors feel dated and the brown and black colour combination doesn’t work too well too. The biggest discernible change is the instrument cluster, which now has a silver outline, and a digital odometer/tripmeter. The stereo has a Bluetooth connection which is complicated, the gear lever seisn is same and the gear knob fits well in the hand says AutoCar(Dec. ’08). The design and quality of plastics is below par and the narrow cabin is a squeeze for three adults at the back but the seats are comfy with good legroom in the front and rear.
The talking point of the Ikon is what lies under the bonnet – the 1399cc Duratorq motor is one of the best small diesel motors around, but in the Ikon the refinement levels are not as good as the Fiesta’s. This is largely because of the way the engine is mounted. For reasons of cost, this engine uses cheaper rubber mounts instead of the more expensive hydraulic mounts found on the Fiesta. The Ikon uses the same gearbox with identical ratios to the Fiesta TDCi but with a longer final drive to compensate for the Ikon’s smaller 13-inch wheels. Most importantly, the Ikon has a massive 144kg weight advantage over the Fiesta and that translates into much better acceleration. The Duratorq is the most responsive compact diesel motors around and is well suited to the car’s weight. The Ikon’s weight advantage over its rivals translates into good fuel efficiency as well. AutoCar (Dec. ’08) achieved a class-topping 14.1kpl in the city and on the highway, despite the taller gearing, the car was not as impressive returning only 17.9kpl, a figure that is a touch below its rivals.
The big question on everybody’s mind is just how good is it to drive now? In a nutshell, it’s very good and the Ikon still impresses with its level of grip, front-end bite, steering feel and response. From the driver’s seat, the car is a gem, as always. The pedals are well-placed, the chunky steering wheel feels nice to hold, the gears shift quickly and precisely and the ergonomics are well optimized.
On the flip side the interior quality is a letdown, the levels of refinement are not that great, the Ikon also lacks safety features and the light body, which pays dividends in performance, leads us to believe it is not as crashworthy as its newer rivals.
But…it has an impressive fuel economy and is a substantial Rs.30, 000 chaeper than the cheapest Dzire and a massive Rs.70, 000 less than the base Logan. At Rs. 6.16 lakh, OTR Mumbai, the Ikon TDCi comes fully loaded with power windows, central locking, for lamps and stereo, which makes it seriously worth considering. All Ford has to do is ensure that it is as cheap to maintain as it is to run.
Source: http://www.indiacar.com/infobank/articles/indiacar_articles/ikon_Jan09/index.asp
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