The much publicized Ford Ecosport compact crossover is taking its own sweet time to come to our market. There have been enough speculations about the car’s India launch and giving weightage to these claims are the repeated sightings of uncamouflaged Ford Ecosport test mules in various parts of the country.
Now,it has emerged that the EcoSport has started reaching Ford India dealerships. Seen here are a couple of pics from Wheelomania.com which show an EcoSport at Ford India’s Delhi dealership.
While many are of the opinion that these images are an indicator that the EcoSport is very near its launch, we feel that the EcoSports cars at the dealerships might be there for training of the service personnel.
Our guess is that the Ford EcoSport India Launch will happen only after April this year.
AUTO-TRANSMISSION WILL BOOST ECOBOOST ENGINE IN ECOSPORT
FORD INDIA , AS USUAL , WILL BE MAKING ANOTHER BLOOMER IF ECOSPORT 1.0 LTR VARIANT IS FIRSTLY, DELAYED AND SECONDLY, LAUNCHED WITHOUT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. LAUNCH OF 1.0 LTR VARIANT WITH AUTO-TRANSMISSION SHOULD PRECEDE OTHER VARIANTS BECAUSE:
1. THE ONGOING, GRADUAL DIESEL DE-CONTROL WILL ATTRACT POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS TOWARDS PETROL ENGINES. IN INDIA, THOSE OPTING FOR DIESEL DO SO PRIMARILY TO SAVE FUEL BILL RATHER THAN OBTAIN BETTER MILEAGE.
2. 1.0 LTR – AUTOMATIC VARIANT WILL BE THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER VEHICLE BY ALL, ESPECIALLY LADIES AND THOSE GRADUATING FROM TWO-WHEELRS (YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, STUDENTS ETC.). IN INDIA 90% OF VEHICLES ARE USED AS LOCAL RUN-ABOUTS. ENTHUSIASM FOR DIESEL WHICH IN ANY CASE IS ECO-UNFRIENDLY, IS ON THE VANE.
3. AND FINALLY, HAVING ALL THE ADVANTAGES OF ADVERTISEMENT FOR 1.0 LTR ENGINE , IT IS FOOLHARDY TO LAUNCH THIS VARIANT LATE AND WITHOUT ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES.
RGDS
MM