There is no denying that CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) is one alternative fuel which has received traction in several major cities across India. In a bid to cater to a customer base that wants a petrol-powered sedan which already has a factory-fitted CNG kit, Ford India has launched the Aspire CNG. It is available in two trims – Ambiente and Trend Plus. While the former is priced at Rs 6.27 lakh, the latter wears a price tag of Rs 7.12 lakh (both prices are ex-showroom).

The petrol engine to which the CNG kit is fitted to is a 1.2-litre petrol mill that puts out 96PS of power and 120Nm of torque when fuelled with petrol. The Aspire CNG comes with a warranty of 2 years/1,00,000 km. While the standard service intervals are pegged at every 10,000km or one year, whichever comes first, the recommended service interval for the CNG kit is at every 20,000km or two years.

Ford Aspire Titanium+

Ford claims that the cost of maintenance for the Aspire CNG is just 46 paise per km, which is quite impressive. Needless to say, the list of features on the Ford Aspire CNG will be at par with the fossil fuel-powered versions. As standard, the Aspire comes with front power windows, a trip computer, electric boot release, dual airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors and seatbelt reminder for the driver and the front passenger. The Trend Plus trim adds remote keyless entry, rear power windows, automatic climate control, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system mated to a 4-speaker sound system, front fog lamps and rear defogger.

Compared to the non-CNG, petrol-powered versions, the Ambiente and Trend Plus trims of the Aspire CNG are approximately Rs 72,000 and Rs 52,000 dearer, respectively. That added cost will, over time, balance it out against the cost savings in fuel. Unfortunately, Ford has neither mentioned how frugal the petrol engine is when fed with CNG and nor has it given the power and torque figures.

Ford Aspire Titanium+

In India, the Ford Aspire competes with the likes of the Volkswagen Ameo, Hyundai Xcent, Tata Tigor, Honda Amaze and the Maruti Suzuki Dzire. With the added option of a factory-fitted CNG kit, the Ford Aspire is set to draw some more attention.