Ford India is gearing up for what could easily be the biggest product launch in India.
Yes, we refer to the Ford EcoSport which is probably the most eagerly awaited car in recent history. Ford India has been progressively releasing details about the important sub-four metre SUV on its official website and here is some more from a recent update.
The Ford EcoSport is a compact crossover SUV which is based on the Fiesta platform and was designed to tackle the urban jungle with ease, but the mini SUV could manage some mild off-roading, according the stats provided by Ford.
The EcoSport has a ground clearance of 200 mm to survive the omnipresent potholes on our roads. The approach, breakover and departure angles are 25, 25 and 35 degrees respectively.
The crossover has a water wading capability of up to 550 mm which may not enable you to cross a river or a stream but will certainly be a boon during monsoon season flooding.
On the safety front, the EcoSport scores one up against the Renault Duster with side curtain airbags and traction control.
The car will have a cooled glove box, a 60:40 split rear seats and around 20 storage spaces, making the cabin flexible and practical.
The powertrain options include the 1.0-litre Ecoboost turbo petrol motor, 1.5 litre petrol and 1.5 litre diesel engines. Transmission duty will be handled by a 5-speed manual or 6-speed Powershift Dual Clutch automatic transmission. The latter is likely to be offered only with the 1.5 litre petrol engine.
Ford India's outgoing Managing Director, Mr. Michael Boneham told Indian Autos Blog that the company will launch the EcoSport with aggressive pricing. The car will have the Renault Duster and the Mahindra Scorpio clearly in its sights.
[Source: India.ford.com]
