One of my most memorable drives ever, has been in Ford Ikon. It was the 1.6 petrol SXI. More that the power it was the handling of the car that almost set the benchmark in my sub-conscious for judging all cars I drove in the future.

That was half a decade ago. This time it was a bit different. In a bid to keep the Ikon alive, Ford has bunged in the 1.4 Duratorq engine, developed jointly with PSA Paugeot-Citroe, into the Ikon. This is same engine as in the fiesta and fusion. As you notice, I’m not talking about the design changes, yet. Because on the new Ikon that’s not quite its selling point. The sharp feline eyes have made way foe more Fiesta-like headlamps joined by a grille-less nose. The lower bumper extends all the way down and has plenty of lines and vents. The flat bonnet has bold contours with the lines running outwards. It all looks good in portions, especially if you were to look the car head-on. Else, it’s near identical to the outgoing model and the only thing that setsit apart there is clear lens tailamp.

Inside the familiarity ends with a slightly modern instrument cluster with new-look dials for Speedo and tacho and an electronic odometer. There’s nothing much in terms of pampering you acres of space inside an it really feels like step up from living inside a small car. Power steering and power windows, both front and rear are standard. Interestingly, there’s an axillary output for your ipod but music system isn’t standard!

On the move, thankfully, it still handles like an Ikon. The steering, a bit heavy set, is still precise and it gives you every bit of information from the road. The duratorq engine sounds more crude than Fiesta. However, with power staying at 67bhp and torque at 160Nm for a car that 100-odd kilos lighter you can expect Fiesta-rivaling speeds. Cabin noise is let down. In brooms when the car inches closer to there-digit speeds Suspension has been beefed up to improve ride by few notches.

With serious competition in the segment, Ford has tried to liven up the ageing Ikon. Front end has been made to look a bit different, interiors have been spruced up, again just a bit and there’s the added advantage of diesel option. They are also offering a two year/100,000km warranty, which speaks well of their quality standards. So call the car the 2008 (or 2009) Ikon and small changes are easy to accept. Calling it the new Ikon might just put off those expecting more.