Farhan Akhtar Talks to Us About the New Ford Figo Aspire and More
Ameya Naik
1 min read
May 02, 2015, 08:53 PM
When we talk about versatility in the Indian Film Industry, there are a bunch of names that crop up; but there are few who have donned as many hats as the person we are about to talk to. If you look at his career chronologically, it will read director, producer, writer, lyricist, actor, singer, TV host and brand ambassador. Yes, it's Farhan Akhtar and he is now the brand ambassador of Figo Aspire. We got a chance to talk to him about this new sub-4 metre car from Ford.
Farhan is not new to cars and started driving at the age of 20. He said, "I loved being driven around, but at some point in time I had to get behind the wheel of the car and that's what happened." His first car was a hand-me-down Fiat, which his father - Javed Akhtar gifted him. Was he gutted then about the fact that his father got himself a Mercedes? "Not at all" he says "I was fortunate to have something to drive and get around and the Fiat was my perfect companion. I still enjoy driving and love taking the odd unplanned road trip."
The Figo Aspire is Ford's next car to make an entry into the market and he's been shooting with the car for a few days in Mumbai itself. So, we asked him what he liked about this new offering. "I love the way it looks, I mean look at it, it's fabulously contemporary and it is great driving it around in city conditions. It's also got some nice features like the SYNC technology with the Ford Applink and Emergency assistance and then there are the airbags, which just make it a safe car."
Farhan himself is an SUV fan and drives a Mercedes ML, so we asked him how he felt driving a sub-compact sedan. "It was genuinely fun, I was behind the wheel and absolutely enjoyed myself. It manoeuvres well and is to me a great city car."
We further asked him the kind of driver he was and he said, "I enjoy driving around corners, just enjoy them, but I choose my time to have fun with the car and I am extremely responsible." So, does Farhan watch any TV shows related to automobiles? "I love Top Gear and was just sad that I won't be able to see the trio back on the show. It was a funny, knowledgeable and extremely well packaged. I will miss those guys."
All that said, Farhan loves to keep up-to-date with new cars that are available in the market. He is a tech guy and reads about new cars, which come with some great technology and even reads reviews of cars that are of interest to him - fast cars. He says he's quite eager to see how people react to the Figo Aspire, in fact so are we.
Farhan is not new to cars and started driving at the age of 20. He said, "I loved being driven around, but at some point in time I had to get behind the wheel of the car and that's what happened." His first car was a hand-me-down Fiat, which his father - Javed Akhtar gifted him. Was he gutted then about the fact that his father got himself a Mercedes? "Not at all" he says "I was fortunate to have something to drive and get around and the Fiat was my perfect companion. I still enjoy driving and love taking the odd unplanned road trip."
The Figo Aspire is Ford's next car to make an entry into the market and he's been shooting with the car for a few days in Mumbai itself. So, we asked him what he liked about this new offering. "I love the way it looks, I mean look at it, it's fabulously contemporary and it is great driving it around in city conditions. It's also got some nice features like the SYNC technology with the Ford Applink and Emergency assistance and then there are the airbags, which just make it a safe car."
Farhan himself is an SUV fan and drives a Mercedes ML, so we asked him how he felt driving a sub-compact sedan. "It was genuinely fun, I was behind the wheel and absolutely enjoyed myself. It manoeuvres well and is to me a great city car."
We further asked him the kind of driver he was and he said, "I enjoy driving around corners, just enjoy them, but I choose my time to have fun with the car and I am extremely responsible." So, does Farhan watch any TV shows related to automobiles? "I love Top Gear and was just sad that I won't be able to see the trio back on the show. It was a funny, knowledgeable and extremely well packaged. I will miss those guys."
All that said, Farhan loves to keep up-to-date with new cars that are available in the market. He is a tech guy and reads about new cars, which come with some great technology and even reads reviews of cars that are of interest to him - fast cars. He says he's quite eager to see how people react to the Figo Aspire, in fact so are we.
Related News
Latest Cars
Upcoming Cars
Latest News
car&bike Team | Aug 6, 2026SIAM Downplays Letter To Govt Citing Chloride-Related Concerns In E20 PetrolThe original letter cited increased cases for part replacements in cars and SUVs due to high chloride-related wear or corrosion while a second letter shared with the public said that the data still required to be authenticated.1 min read
Abhishek Nigam | Aug 6, 2026Exclusive: Royal Enfield Himalayan 440 Launch Soon | Celebrating 10 Years Of The HimalayanRoyal Enfield is all set to celebrate 10 years of the Himalayan with the launch of the new Himalayan 4404 mins read
Sarthak Mahajan | Aug 5, 2026River Mobility Raises $120 Million, Plots Manufacturing ExpansionThe funding round saw participation from existing investors, including Yamaha Motor Corporation, among others.2 mins read
car&bike Team | Aug 5, 2026KTM 390 Duke Prices Hiked By Up To Rs 7,000390 Duke R is dearer by Rs 6,000; standard 390 Duke up by Rs 7,000.1 min read
Seshan Vijayraghvan | Aug 5, 2026BMW X1 Long Wheelbase Teased; India Launch On August 21The BMW X1 LWB will be launched in India on August 21, 20261 min read
Amaan Ahmed | Aug 5, 2026Ather Konarc Is The Name Of Production-Spec EL01 E-ScooterThe Konarc will be the most affordable Ather model yet, and also the first Ather to feature a 14-inch front wheel.1 min read
Bilal Firfiray | Aug 1, 2026Toyota Hilux Review: The InvincibleMarking it as the ninth generation, the Hilux comes with a major cosmetic overhaul. But is it still relevant enough for the current times or is it getting too long in the tooth?5 mins read
Bilal Firfiray | Jul 30, 2026Kia Syros EV Review: Best EV To Buy Under Rs 20 Lakh?The Kia Syros EV comes into the game with a modern design, spacious cabin, strong performance, decent range and an aggressive pricing. But could it become the new benchmark under Rs 20 lakh?5 mins read
Jaiveer Mehra | Jul 27, 20262026 Maruti Suzuki Brezza Facelift Review: Bestseller Joins The Turbo ClubWhile Maruti’s facelifts have always tended to bring subtle updates over the outgoing models, the latest Brezza brings some heavy updates under the skin, including a new 6-speed manual gearbox and, for the first time, a turbocharged petrol engine option.1 min read
Bilal Firfiray | Jul 24, 2026Honda ZR-V Review: Who Is It For?Honda has brought the new ZR-V to India as their current flagship offering. It’s a CBU, it’s a hybrid, and it’s here for a limited few. Who is it for though?1 min read
Girish Karkera | Jul 29, 2026Mercedes-AMG E53 4MATIC+ PHEV First Drive Review: Just What The Doctor OrderedThere are luxury cars and there are high-performance cars. But what if you want both for the price of one? Mercedes-Benz has a recommendation that promises to tread a fine line between the two – the second generation E53 with a twist.7 mins read