Ford EcoSport facelift was first showcased at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, back in March 2015. Already on sale in some European countries as the EcoSport S, the facelift will be launched in India later this year.
First showcased as a concept at the 2012 Delhi Auto expo and launched in 2013, EcoSport spread the Ford nameplate in India unlike no other car. Even before the car was launched, it had created a huge buzz among car buyers in the country.
Offered in a choice of two petrol and one diesel engine, Ford EcoSport not only competes with entry level SUVs, but also with premium hatchbacks in its price range.
Speaking about the changes on board the new EcoSport, it will feature revised headlamp design with LED DRL (as seen in the teaser), it will get larger 17 inch alloys with new design, and skid plate design has also been revised. On the inside, you will see a new 4 inch colour display powered by SYNC, and a new phone dock station (as seen in the new Figo and Aspire). It also gets satellite navigation and reverse parking camera.
Spied on test in India, the EcoSport facelift will continue to feature rear tailgate mounted spare wheel. The reason it has been offered as option in some countries, is because research revealed many customers did not want the spare wheel as it added to the overall cost. In India, the research revealed customers actually liked the spare wheel mounted on the tail gate, as it gave the EcoSport an SUVish stance.
Under the hood, new EcoSport continues with same engine options as currently on offer – 1.0 liter EcoBoost generating 125 PS and 170 Nm torque; 1.5 liter TiVCT generating 110 PS and 140 Nm torque; and 1.5 liter TDCi generating 90 PS and 204 Nm torque. It is the latter which will be tuned slightly to deliver more power – 100 PS and 215 Nm.
More details will be revealed once the car is officially launched later this year.