Since last Saturday the Ford EcoSport's been a regular feature here on Indian Autos Blog. In today's post we're going to share Dr Faizal Shamsudeen's captures on his journey from work to home.
Dr Faizal has nicely snapped the car's offroad-oriented design elements that include the underbody protectors front and rear and the trunk mounted spare tire. These are visible despite the attempt to camouflage the unreleased car.
India (Maraimalai Nagar, Chennai) and Brazil (Camacari, Bahia) are two confirmed points of manufacturing for the mini SUV this year. Another location confirmed by Ford is Thailand, where the newly opened US$450 million manufacturing plant in Rayong (Rayong Province) will produce the EcoSport.
This plant also makes the third generation Focus sedan this year, unveiled earlier this week for ASEAN region. This information was part of a slideshow presentation to a contingent of Malaysian reporters at the unveiling of the Focus. Ford however did not put a date on the EcoSport's production in Thailand. Ford will sell the EcoSport in over 100 countries.
PaulTan.org writes that the 1-liter EcoBoost engine is not likely to be worn by the mini SUV in many parts of Asia. The 1.5 litre Ti-VCT engine, used on the Fiesta, is expected to turn up. For India Ford will offer the 1-liter Ecoboost petrol engine with 120PS and an economy-minded 1.5-liter diesel engine. The price of the EcoSport is expected to range between 8-10 lakhs.
As for Dr Faizal's catch, one is able to get the feeling the EcoSport needs to lose its camouflage gradually until the launch to keep the Indian audience interested on this product now that many sets of spyshots have made it around the web.
Ford EcoSport testing in Chennai
Can't see the slideshow above? Head over to the Flickr page for the gallery
