· The all-new Ford EcoSport marries the manoeuvrability and fuel economy of a compact car with the practicality and robustness of an SUV in a contemporary and stylish package
· Ford EcoSport offers a high driving position, superior water-wading capability and an array of smart features such as the segment-first Ford SYNC® connectivity system, making it the perfect vehicle for city driving and out-of-town exploring
· Ford EcoSport will be the first vehicle in India to feature the patented 1.0L EcoBoost engine, whose power and performance rival a traditional 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine
Amid great anticipation, Ford announces the full line-up and specifications for the all-new Ford EcoSport in India. The urban sport utility vehicle combines the agility, affordability and fuel efficiency of a compact car with the versatility and spaciousness of an SUV.
Based on Ford’s global B-segment platform, the Ford EcoSport is an aspirational choice, spacious enough for five adults. The SUV’s blend of practicality and smart connectivity will attract independent lifestyle customers who not only live life to the full but also love exploring the world at large.
EcoSport’s target customer, Sameer, is a young male professional working in a multi-national, married with a child and pursues an active lifestyle that has him driving in all types of city roads and frequent out-of-town breaks. To reflect his youthful and adventurous persona, Sameer aspires for a vehicle that is modern, premium, sporty, and technologically feature-rich. This urban SUV is expected to end his search for a vehicle that matches his kind of urban, modern lifestyle and sets him apart from others.
The Ford EcoSport’s high driving position, rugged capability, superior fuel economy, easy manoeuvrability, and convenient features all make it just the right vehicle for both city streets and mountain roads. The well-rounded EcoSport is just as comfortable wading through flooded areas as it is entertaining the driver through hands-free phone calls and music selection.
“Stylish, robust and dynamic, the all-new Ford EcoSport fuses ample versatility and a ‘can do’ attitude to appeal to a new generation of customers around the world,” said Dave Schoch, president, Ford Asia Pacific.
The Ford EcoSport will be a game changer that will play a major role in solidifying Ford’s volume position in India. It will be produced at Ford’s Maraimalai Nagar plant near Chennai, which will also supply export markets. Ford invested USD 142 million in the plant to enhance its capability to manufacture the urban SUV. Quality control and testing processes have been boosted to ensure customers get reliable vehicles.
Giving customers the power of choice, the Ford EcoSport will be available in seven colours, four trims, three engine options, as well as manual and petrol automatic transmissions.
“We’re bringing the best of Ford to India. The all-new Ford EcoSport is a global product with world-class quality, and we are excited to produce this at our Chennai facility to meet both domestic and international demand,” said Joginder Singh, president and managing director, Ford India.
“The Ford EcoSport will enable our customers in India to experience a right-sized vehicle that has been developed with India’s traffic and road conditions in mind, redefining the segment and creating its own space.”
Introduced in South America in 2003, the ground-breaking first EcoSport model established a new segment there and has gone on to sell more than 700,000 units in the region. The project was led by Ford’s Development Centre in Brazil, one of the most specialised in the development of compact cars. The team leveraged Ford engineering strength and SUV expertise globally to create the all-new Ford EcoSport, which is projected to help drive additional growth for Ford around the world.
Clever capability
The all-new Ford EcoSport makes driving fun and intuitive with an array of smart segment-first features. The urban SUV is the first in its class to offer Ford SYNC®, the voice-activated in-car connectivity system powered by Microsoft. The award-winning system enables drivers to keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel while choosing their favourite music and making phone calls using voice commands.
SYNC also features Emergency Assistance, which helps occupants place a call to the emergency services directly in the event of an accident. The Ford EcoSport is the first ever vehicle in India to offer this extremely advanced and potentially life-saving feature.
With Smart Keyless Entry, customers no longer need their key to unlock the SUV or to start the engine. They can unlock the doors automatically by pulling the door handle; push the Ford Power Start button and go.
The Ford EcoSport’s cabin also has 20 practical storage spaces, including a glove box that can keep up to six beverage cans cool. Its cargo space at the back is just as versatile. The rear seats can be reclined in select models for greater comfort or easily folded down for additional cargo space. With the rear seats tumbled against the front seats, the boot space increases to 705 litres, big enough to fit a washing machine. On the Trend series and above, the rear seats can be split 60:40 to transport long objects such as flat-pack furniture while still carrying passengers at the back.
Revolutionary EcoBoost technology
Ford brings its globally acclaimed EcoBoost technology to India with the patented 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine on the all-new Ford EcoSport. The award-winning three-cylinder delivers power and performance of a traditional 1.6-litre engine but with an improvement in fuel economy by up to 20 percent.
The 2012 International Engine of the Year is tiny enough to fit on a sheet of A4 paper but produces 125 PS of power and peak torque of 170 Nm from 1,400 to 4,500 rpm. In India, the Ford EcoSport with the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine achieves superior 18.9 km/L and emits 126 g/km of carbon dioxide1.
The Ford EcoSport will also be available with the fuel-economical 1.5-litre petrol engine with twin independent variable camshaft timing or a 1.5-litre diesel engine, well-suited to urban driving conditions.
To further improve fuel economy, the aerodynamic Ford EcoSport boasts an outstanding drag coefficient of 0.371.
Quality that speaks to all five senses
With a signature Ford face, dramatic rising beltline and a ready-to-pounce stance, the all-new Ford EcoSport conveys a dynamic spirit of energy in action. The spare tyre, with an exclusively designed wheel, is mounted on the tailgate as a classic SUV cue.
Inside, soft-touch fabrics, tight gaps and the global Ice Blue dashboard illumination all reinforce superior quality and craftsmanship. Controls and knobs are ergonomically placed while seats are designed to be soft enough for comfort and firm enough for longer journeys.
The cabin is also extremely quiet at high speeds, thanks to meticulous efforts to reduce noise, vibration and harshness. Add to this a very effective climate control system, and the customer will be very comfortable in the Ford EcoSport.
The Ford EcoSport’s compact sub-four metre dimensions and the electric power-assisted steering with Pull-Drift Compensation help drivers tackle the stress of city driving, be it parking in small spaces, manoeuvring in heavy traffic, or making tight U-turns.
The Ford EcoSport’s high ground clearance of 200 millimetres also means customers won’t have to worry about driving over speed bumps and potholes. And with its exceptional ability to wade through 550 millimetres of water, drivers can confidently drive through large pools of water, especially during the monsoon season.
Safety and driver assistance
The all-new Ford EcoSport has been designed to provide high levels of protection and driver support through a range of advanced features. About half of the urban SUV’s body structure is made up of high-strength steel and ultra-high-strength steel, such as boron steel, making the Ford EcoSport’s frame especially strong yet lightweight too.
The SUV’s array of airbags provides additional peace of mind. The Ford EcoSport offers airbags for the driver and front passenger, as well as side airbags and curtain airbags.
To take the stress out of driving, the Ford EcoSport comes with an array of driver-assist systems. Hill Launch Assist helps drivers make a perfect hill start whether it’s uphill or downhill, by holding the SUV for up to three seconds. This prevents the vehicle from rolling backwards or forwards while moving off from the slope, increasing driver confidence.
Advanced safety technologies such as Electronic Stability Program (ESP), which is available on models with the automatic transmission, also help customers remain in control of the Ford EcoSport at all times, especially on slippery roads. When it detects that the car is losing control, it automatically reduces engine power and selectively brakes individual wheels to stabilise the vehicle and keep it travelling on track. The Ford EcoSport’s ESP system includes the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) which prevents the wheels from locking up and helps the vehicle to stop quickly on slippery road surfaces.
Editor’s notes:
1. The stated figures are as per ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India) certification. Actual mileage may vary.
2. Specifications may vary by series and market.
