Ford EcoSport Facelift: What To Expect?
The first-gen Ford EcoSport is all set to embark its 2nd innings in India with the upcoming mid-cycle update. Unlike a typical facelift, this updated Ford is touted to come with extensive switches both inwards and out. Here’s what we expect out of the India-spec two thousand eighteen EcoSport.
The first-gen model was launched in India in two thousand thirteen after it was introduced in Brazil. However, a near production concept made its world debut at the two thousand twelve Indian Auto Expo. Tho’ a little late (after almost four years), Ford will launch its mid-cycle update in coming months. Ford’s engineering centres in Brazil, North America, Europe and Asia had worked on this updated model from 2014-2017.
The facelift model made its global premiere in the USA in November 2016. By early 2018, it will go on sale in the North American market for the very first time as a first-gen facelift model and will be exported from India.
Unluckily, the North American version doesn’t have a rear mounted spare wheel. The India-spec model, with the tailgate-mounted spare wheel, made its debut in China in May two thousand seventeen and recently went on sale in Brazil.
What’s fresh to the exterior?
Switches in a go: redesigned front profile, fresh alloys and subtly tweaked rear profile
- Relatively broad headlamps with Bi-xenon lighting and LED daytime running lights
- Fresh single-piece grille
- Redesigned bumper houses fog lamps and turn signals
- Fresh 17-inch alloy wheels
- There are hardly any switches to its rear profile, save for the updated design of the spare wheel cover
- Likely to add more colours to the palette
What’s fresh to the interior?
Switches in a go: entirely overhauled interiors with fresh instrument cluster, steering wheel, switchgear and a floating large touchscreen display (gratefully lesser buttons)
- With a relatively mature design for the instrument cluster, it now features a large Four.2-inch MID (multi-info driver) screen (Two.3-inch for lower variants)
- 8 and 6.5-inch floating SYNC three touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (8-inch system is also available in the Endeavour). If Ford offers an 8-inch screen in the India-spec EcoSport, it will become class-leading
- Soft touch material on the top portion of the dashboard
- Very likely, India will get dual-tone theme (black and beige) like the Brazil and China-spec models (the US-spec version comes with all-black interior with orange highlights)
- It will carry forward most of its features such as dual-tone climate control, leather upholstery among others
- EcoSport always had a strong suite of safety features in India, including six airbags, ESP, TC and others. The facelift model comes with an extra driver knee airbag taking the count to seven airbags. It remains to be seen whether Ford offers here
On the entire, this interior is collective with the all-new Fiesta, and interestingly, the EcoSport facelift was exposed before the Fiesta made its debut!
Engine and Transmission
Switches in a go: The two thousand eighteen Ford EcoSport facelift will pack a spanking fresh, more powerful 1.5-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine with a fresh 6-speed automatic. This fresh motor will substitute the current 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol.
- Petrol: 1.5-litre 3-cylinder (131PS/153Nm; 6-speed AT)/ 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged (125PS/170Nm; 5-speed manual)
- Diesel: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder (100PS/205Nm; 5-speed manual)
Launch and Pricing
Earlier, the EcoSport facelift was expected to be launched towards the end of this year (post-Diwali). However, Ford might advance its launch to cash in from the good market sentiments post-GST. The competition in this sub-4m segment has also enhanced of late and soon the Tata Nexon, which looks pretty competitive, will be launched before this Diwali. The two thousand eighteen Ford EcoSport is expected to be priced in the same range as the outgoing model.