The Ford EcoSport is surely taking its own sweet time coming to us. While the promotional campaign for the upcoming Compact SUV has already been kick-started by Ford India, the launch of the new car is still a few months away from us.
Ford India is betting big on the new Compact SUV and the EcoSport might be seen giving nightmares to not just the Renault Duster but also to bigger SUVs such as the Tata Safari Storme and Mahindra Scorpio. Ford India also plans to make India an export hub for the EcoSport. It may be noted that Ford India commenced its exports business with the Figo hatchback and the upcoming Ford SUV too will be exported by Ford India to many RHD markets. Ford India plans to export the EcoSport Compact SUV to as many as 38 countries. The EcoSport might also better the export numbers posted by the Figo hatchback.
The India spec Ford EcoSport will come with as many as three engine options. The first of these will be the 1.5 litres normally aspirated petrol engine that currently does duty in the Fiesta sedan. The second petrol engine will be the much publicized 1.0 litre turbocharged EcoBoost petrol engine. The EcoBoost has won several accolades for being high on power and low on fuel consumption. The Ford EcoBoost engine has a peak power output that can match that of many 1.5 litres normally aspirated petrol engines and has a torque output that can even put to shame some of the bigger engines. The diesel variant of the EcoSport, which will most probably bag the maximum sales, will be powered by the same 1.5 litres turbocharged direct injection diesel engine that powers the Fiesta sedan.
The entry level variants in India could be powered by the 1.5 litres NA petrol engine and might come with a sticker price of just INR 6 lakhs.