Ford has just released their new Fiesta-based crossover, the EcoSport, at the Delhi Auto Expo. According to the press release, the new crossover "has a contemporary shape that conveys confidence while combining refinement and an adventurous spirit in an intelligent and modern package." It also "sports key SUV cues such as a confident stance, command driving position and signature spare wheel mounted on a swing-gate at the rear of the vehicle." Of course. Without that tire I'd have never known.
"EcoSport has a tough, robust attitude that says 'I can play with the big boys.' But it also makes you want to play. It's friendly and sociable, and this unique mix is its secret formula." said Ford's J Mays.
The EcoSport is powered by Ford's new 1.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost three-cylinder that makes 118bhp and 125 pound-feet of torque. To offset the natural crappiness of a three-cylinder, Ford has intentionally unbalanced the flywheel and pulley instead of adding additional mass and drag in the form of balance shafts.
The EcoSport will be sold in 100 markets worldwide including South America, China, Brazil and Europe. The U.S. will not be one of them.
elgac says:
09:25 AM, 01/ 4/12
They're wise not to bring it here. A vehicle like that with a 1.0L three cylinder would never sell in the US.
I somewhat like the looks of it though.
cr_driver says:
09:38 AM, 01/ 4/12
That has to be the worst front-end I`ve seen in a long time.
Wow, so overwrought and just hideous.
Like a monster.
juan_mx says:
09:46 AM, 01/ 4/12
The original EcoSport (2003) looked like a baby Explorer at the time.
This new generation looks again like a baby Explorer.
"...The U.S. will not be one of them"
Why not?, just make it slightly longer (8" more rear overhang to put the spare inside), drop in a 180hp 1.6L EcoBoost engine, and sell it as a Lincoln to compete with the Buick Encore.
greenpony says:
09:56 AM, 01/ 4/12
I'd buy one...
No, wait, I wouldn't.
duck87 says:
10:46 AM, 01/ 4/12
@juan_mx: The innocent use of the words "just" and "drop" somewhat hides the fact that you're basically asking Ford to engineer an entirely new vehicle!
And no, of course it won't be brought to the US!
bankerdanny says:
11:23 AM, 01/ 4/12
I would have guessed that was a Kia.
juan_mx says:
12:21 PM, 01/ 4/12
@duck87
Not entirely, the largest engine in the current EcoSport is a 145hp version of the 2.0L Duratec used in the old Focus, so going up to 180hp is not very difficult considering that the 1.6L ecoboost is going to be the engine for the Fiesta ST (same platform).
agentorange says:
12:26 PM, 01/ 4/12
Three cylinder engines are not crappy, just full of character.
duck87 says:
12:54 PM, 01/ 4/12
@juan_mx:
So what you're suggesting is that Ford tool a platform that is nearly a foot longer, which takes a lot of resources by itself. Then you want to re-engineer the underhood department in order to accept a powertrain combination it didn't have originally (i.e. a really small 3-banger). Then, because it's the US, the car would need to pass safety and emissions. Because it's America, the extremely (inevitably) cheap interior would need to be redone. Then, because the car is heavier and rides on a different platform, the rest of the car would need to be retuned, and possibly everything from steering arms to wheel bearings would need to be respecced.
Okay, so I guess that's not really making a new car.
bombonyou says:
03:36 PM, 01/ 4/12
That is one mean looking mug. I love it.
brn says:
03:55 PM, 01/ 4/12
That front end is fugly. If they were to bring it here, they'd need to fix the face and put a 4-cyl (2.0?) in it. As duck87 suggests, they'd probably have to do a few more things too.
juan_mx says:
04:19 PM, 01/ 4/12
@duck87
I think you are impressed with the fact that it uses a 3-cylinder engine, but that is the engine for India and other markets where gas is very expensive. For the Latin American market the choice of engines has to include bigger ones that can use cheap gas and alcohol (probably non-turbo), and I am sure most of them will be 4-bangers.
Let me give you another example, the new Nissan March/Micra.
The March for Japan and Europe uses two versions of a 1.2L three cylinder engine (80hp N/A and 98hp with turbo), on this side of the pond, the March for Mexico and Latin America uses the same 1.6L four cilinder engine used in the new Versa Sedan.
This is no different than the base Mustang using a 300hp V6 while the top of the line GT500 has a V8 with more than twice the power, it needs some reinforcements and other changes, but it remains the same vehicle.
With respect to adding some length, that is a common practice with many vehicles to create variants, but I was just trying to point out this EcoSport is slightly shorter than a Buick Encore, and considering that both are developed on B-segment platforms, a luxury EcoSport could be, in theory, a competitor to the Encore.
bombonyou says:
05:31 PM, 01/ 4/12
@juan_mx adding 8 inches of rear overhang would also, I'm afraid, ruin all of it's charm. The thing looks like a pug, short and squat. Muss with the proportions and - poof - it's gonna come off as a nerd wagon. (which it would actually be) instead of an urban micro ute.
northsparrow says:
07:54 AM, 01/ 5/12
juan_mx you raise some worthy points. The original Suzuki Sidekicks from the 1980s would have been about this size. It seems to me just about any CUV sells well in this market. Somebody will eventually return to North America with something in this size range, why not Ford? Another one that comes to me in the Toyota Terios which is sold all over the world.