Is there a market for premium hatchbacks in India?

abhi_qpotsiavs wrote:

Crazy cat wrote:

abhi_qpotsiavs wrote:My family is against a hatchback. But my dream hatch is like
>2.0, 120ps Diesel,
>Lenght: appx 4 metres
>Ground Clearence of 180mm+
>Decent Approach angle and departure angle
>Good handling
>4wd option
>ABS, Alloys, Foglamps as standard
>Additional optional features like Panaromic Sunroof
Ford or Maruti can bring over updated Fusion / SX4 hatch at price of about 10 lacs and I'll go for it. This one I feel will be better and more practical yet sporty alternative to the likes of Mini Cooper/ BMW 1 series/ Merc A-Class, etc.

That's a big list. But i guess, we won't be getting a hatch with such impressive specs.

If you see closely, This list can become a reality with Fusion or SX4 Hatch which already satisfies many criterias.
Fusion is 4 metres, 180mm Ground Clearence, Good Approach angle and departure angle, Good Handling & Standard ABS/ Airbags/ Foglamps/ Alloys. Leaving aside Panaromic sunroof, What is missing is a powerful Diesel and 4wd.

absolutely abhi but ford already tasted bitterness with its fusion not selling in our market and non acceptance by buyers, though being a good car except for good engine, not many buyers for that as for which ford discontinued is from our market.

I have driven the Chevy SRV. 1.6
It was really bad.
I felt that the Fiat Palio was much better than it.
Of course it was comfortable but then not worth it.

abhinavgupta wrote:I have driven the Chevy SRV. 1.6
It was really bad.
I felt that the Fiat Palio was much better than it.
Of course it was comfortable but then not worth it.

Can you please explain a bit more?
Its bad in what terms?


VT

As far as i've heard, SRV is an un-impressive package. Buzzy engine, notchy gear shifts, etc...

I've too heard some -ves about SRV + its high cost which makes it sell in very few units.
Looks like GM isn't serious at all about it.


RoadRocket

thackervijay wrote:

abhi_qpotsiavs wrote:

Crazy cat wrote:

abhi_qpotsiavs wrote:My family is against a hatchback. But my dream hatch is like
>2.0, 120ps Diesel,
>Lenght: appx 4 metres
>Ground Clearence of 180mm+
>Decent Approach angle and departure angle
>Good handling
>4wd option
>ABS, Alloys, Foglamps as standard
>Additional optional features like Panaromic Sunroof
Ford or Maruti can bring over updated Fusion / SX4 hatch at price of about 10 lacs and I'll go for it. This one I feel will be better and more practical yet sporty alternative to the likes of Mini Cooper/ BMW 1 series/ Merc A-Class, etc.

That's a big list. But i guess, we won't be getting a hatch with such impressive specs.

If you see closely, This list can become a reality with Fusion or SX4 Hatch which already satisfies many criterias.
Fusion is 4 metres, 180mm Ground Clearence, Good Approach angle and departure angle, Good Handling & Standard ABS/ Airbags/ Foglamps/ Alloys. Leaving aside Panaromic sunroof, What is missing is a powerful Diesel and 4wd.

absolutely abhi but ford already tasted bitterness with its fusion not selling in our market and non acceptance by buyers, though being a good car except for good engine, not many buyers for that as for which ford discontinued is from our market.

Fusion is still in the market and recently I saw a demo car of it running about on the streets.

Yes, Fusion is very much in the market. Just that it finds very few takers.

But wasent there news of Ford discontinuing their Fusion model out of market with its failure of least takers.

I don't know the source of news. But my meternal uncle is going for Fusion TDCI and he is about to book one.

I just love Fusion. Infact, I love all vehicles whose name starts with "F". For eg: Fusion, Forester, Fabia and Fortuner.

thackervijay wrote:But wasent there news of Ford discontinuing their Fusion model out of market with its failure of least takers.

Yes vijay, There was news sometime back of ford to discontinue the Fusion but they haven't did it yet and I don't think they are going to any soon.

VT

abhi_qpotsiavs wrote:I don't know the source of news. But my meternal uncle is going for Fusion TDCI and he is about to book one.

I just love Fusion. Infact, I love all vehicles whose name starts with "F". For eg: Fusion, Forester, Fabia and Fortuner.

well abhi how many models are available for diesel tdci engine, and can you quote its price on road which your uncle is going to book.

thackervijay wrote:

abhi_qpotsiavs wrote:I don't know the source of news. But my meternal uncle is going for Fusion TDCI and he is about to book one.

I just love Fusion. Infact, I love all vehicles whose name starts with "F". For eg: Fusion, Forester, Fabia and Fortuner.

well abhi how many models are available for diesel tdci engine, and can you quote its price on road which your uncle is going to book.

There are 2 models: 1 is TDCi and another is TDCi+. Price is 6.93 and 7.40 respectively (on-road, Nasik)

I searched but couldn't find an official site of Fusion, Anyways all I found was this -
http://www.akshayaford.com/ford-fusion.asp

RoadRocket

Here is the official site of Ford Fusion

http://www.india.ford.com/servlet/ContentServer?cid=1178851583485&pagename=FIPL%2FDFYPage%2FFord-Default&site=FIPL&c=DFYPage

Just as we see one customer of Fusion here only, there will be many others across the country. I am sure that Fusion diesel is very popular in South India, where only Fords run the most.

Not in Tamilnadu for sure. Here Fiesta and Ikon sold well from the Ford stable but Fusion is a very hard sight.

same here in A.P too, i can hardly see any fusions around, fiesta and ikon did well in the market, even the new ikon is doing well, i've seen few ikons on the roads these days

even i dont find many fusions here in ms. why doesnt ford facelift the fusion. it really looks dated.

Face lift alone won't work. There are many things which Ford needs to concentrate. Staring from price to services costs, everything needs change.

the key factor was its higher pricing for which fusion though being a good vehicle didnt sold, another was its higher maintenance, now which ford has worked upon, but still needs to do lot of job to get this vehicle sell here.

Fusion isn't dated. Other day came across interview of a Ford official in some business newpaper. Major issue with Fusion is less %age of localisation. It is just about 57% compared to 80% plus of Fiesta and Ikon. Higher the localisation, lesser the price, Spares are more affordable and higher the sales. I think Ford is not serious about Fusion and not taking efforts in marketing it well. Now that it is not selling well, even if Ford wakes up and starts marketing it well, still Fusion won't sell because, the Brand Image is already spoilt. Now it is trapped in viscious circle Less Demand - less Localisation - Higher price & Costlier spares - Less Demand.

I think we are moving to Ford Fusion topic keeping aside main topic, Please start a new thread for fusion.

RoadRocket