Ever wondered why the Figo and the Aspire had the sporty Blu versions but the Freestyle didn’t? Well, you don’t have to anymore! Ford India has introduced a new range-topping trim line for the potent sub-4 metre offering, and it is called the Freestyle Flair. The sporty makeover is available in two variants – one petrol and diesel each. Opting for the former will get you a bill of Rs 7.69 lakh, whereas the latter costs Rs 8.79 lakh. Neither figure includes taxes.

Both Flair variants cost Rs 30,000 more than the Titanium+ derivatives. So, what do you get for the extra money? To justify the premium, Ford has added quite a lot of… flair! Inside and out, the rugged hatchback features a host of red-and-black elements. For instance, the doors boast decals with Flair branding. Also, the ORVMs, roof rails and a section of the front skid plate are red in colour. To add some contrast, Ford has blacked-out the alloys and the roof. Indoors, there’s new black-and-grey upholstery. Grey? Where’s red? The door handles feature red-coloured accents, while the seats adorn the Flair badge.

Unsurprisingly, there are no mechanical differences to report. The 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine pumps out 95bhp/119Nm, whereas the 1.5-litre diesel produces 99bhp/215Nm. Just like with the rest of the Freestyle range, the Flair variants also come with a 5-speed manual transmission. Mileage figures for the petrol- and diesel-fed powertrains stand at 18.5kmpl and 23.8kmpl, respectively.

In the features department, the Freestyle Flair gets everything from the Titanium+ trim. That means everything from six airbags, auto headlamps and wipers and automatic climate control, to a rear wiper with washer, a rear-view camera, front and rear fog lamps and a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with embedded navigation are part of the kit. And yes, the convenience of FordPass is available too.

The obvious question is – should one pay the premium for a Freestyle Flair over a Titanium+ variant? Although the difference seems a bit much, a company-finished sporty derivative will always have its charm.