Ford South Africa has responded to the outrage over new car prices by releasing a 1,3-litre derivative of the Ford Ikon into the highly contested entry-level segment for under R90 000.
Ford South Africa has responded to the outrage over new car prices by releasing a 1,3-litre derivative of the Ford Ikon into the highly contested entry-level segment for under R90 000.
Ford Marketing manager Neale Hill said they believed that a strong company presence in that segment of the market was inperative, since it accounted for about 37 per cent of the passenger car industry.
Priced at R88 525, the Ford Ikon features a 1,3 litre Rocam engine that delivers power (55kW) and torque (110 N.m) at low revs. With a five-speed manual gearbox, the injection system should also translate into better fuel consumption.
The independent MacPherson struts with offset coil spring / damper units an anti-roll bar up front and a semi-independent twist beam with strut-type units provide suspension at the rear for superb handling. Ventilated discs at the front and drums at the rear ensure the car stops in time.
Features include an immobiliser, tinted windshield, 14 inch steel wheels and a cup holder with storage bin on the centre console. Safety features include a collapsible telescopic steering column, anti-submarining front seats, height adjustable front seat belt mountings and side impact door beams at the front and rear.
Service intervals for the Ikon are 15 000 km while long-life spark plugs and a maintenance-free camshaft drive help to keep running costs at a minimum. A three-year / 100 000 km warranty is standard and the Ford Protect Scheduled Service Plan (three-years / 60 000 km) is optional. With this plan, all scheduled service items are free of charge.
Ford Protect Roadside Assistance (applicable for three years and unlimited kilometres) is free of charge and Ikon drivers receive free roadside repairs 24 hours a day, throughout the year.
Hill said the Ford Ikon 1,3iL would appeal to both the company and individual car buyer wishing to maximise their buying power while at the same time acquiring a car “which is fun to drive and a representative of a solid brand.”