Ford EcoSport


The Ford EcoSport is a subcompact crossover SUV, originally built in Brazil by Ford Brazil since 2003, at the Camaçari plant. A second generation concept model was launched in 2012, and is also assembled in new factories in India, Thailand, Russia and Romania. The vehicle entered the North American market for the first time in 2018.

First generation (2003–2012)

The first generation EcoSport was designed by Ford Brazil Development Center and was based on the Cologne-built European Fiesta and European Ford Fusion. Because of this, the project used the Ford B3 platform.
The EcoSport became one of Ford's best-seller models in Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, and Mexico. Its main competitors were the Fiat Palio Weekend Adventure and Volkswagen CrossFox. The EcoSport sold well, and in 2011, sales reached 700,000.

Versions and engines

The EcoSport was available with five inline-four engines:
All models have front-wheel drive with manual transmission as standard. The 2.0 L model can also receive a four speed automatic transmission or four-wheel drive. In the latter case, an electronically controlled system automatically engages the rear axle when front wheel spin is detected, and also lets the driver manually engage the rear axle from the dashboard.

Restyling

In the end of 2007, a mid-cycle restyling was introduced, which renewed completely the front to bring it closer to then current Ford pickups, as well as the contemporary Brazilian restyling of the Ford Fiesta, also updated the rear lights, both bumpers, and in the interior showed a new dashboard using better quality materials.

Mexico

The Ford EcoSport arrived in the end of 2003 to Mexico as a model for 2004. The reception by the public was impressive and continued until 2006. For the model year of 2007, sales of the small SUV began slipping and it stopped being a hot seller. Compared to 15,000 units sold in 2004, only 10,000 units of the model year of 2007 were sold. This trend continued to worsen for the refreshed model year of 2008 due in part to a price increase.
Only 6,345 units of the model year 2008 were sold, and the model year 2009 sales through July 2009 were a mere 2,135 units. Due to decreasing sales, and heightened competition from the Ford Escape, Ford announced that a shortened 2010 model year would be the last sold in Mexico. However, a year later, Ford had announced the new EcoSport to launch in 2012 bringing back the EcoSport to Mexico after a two year absence.

Second generation (2012–present)

Initial release

The second generation of the EcoSport was developed under Ford's global product development process in Ford Brazil Development Center. It was based on the 2011 Ford Fiesta B2E platform and it was launched globally. The second generation EcoSport was first showcased as a concept at the 2012 New Delhi Auto Expo, in India on 4 January 2012. The car was launched in Brazil on 14 July 2012 at a starting price of 53,490 Brazilian real.
Ford showed the production variant of the Ford EcoSport in China, planning to begin sales in March 2013. In addition to China, the SUV is also made at Ford India's Chennai plant, for domestic sale and export initially to the European, and by 2018, the North American, markets. Ford's Rayong plant in Thailand makes the EcoSport for Southeast Asian markets. The EcoSport competed with the Renault Duster and Nissan Terrano.
As of August 2015, Ford's Indian plant had already sold 200,000 EcoSports; 112,000 of which were sold in India while the rest were exported to South Africa, Taiwan, Japan, Australia, and Europe. In November 2016, Ford announced plans to supply the Ford India EcoSport to the market in the United States.
In some countries, The EcoSport has a 1.0 litre three cylinder turbocharged EcoBoost petrol engine which has a power output of and of torque. The engine has Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing which contributes to the turbocharged engine's peak torque starting at 1,300 rpm. The EcoSport can tow up to.
There are the specification differences of wipers:

Powertrains

Engines available include the 1.0-litre EcoBoost developed at Ford's Dunton Technical Center in the UK. It is a turbocharged, cast aluminium block three cylinder made in a and version, with the latter delivering a peak torque of from 1,300–4,500 rpm and on overboost. The use of aluminium for the engine block instead of cast-iron improved engine warm-up time by 50 per cent.
The three cylinder engine design causes inherent vibrations, which are countered by a deliberately unbalanced flywheel, which has less friction than balance shafts.
The exhaust manifold is cast into the cylinder head, reducing engine warm up time. The engine block's height and width dimensions are comparable to an A4 size sheet of paper. This EcoSport version is available in China, Europe, India, the United States, but not Brazil. The Brazilian EcoSport has a 1.6 litre petrol engine, which produces and torque.
The Russian EcoSport comes with two different engines: a 1.6L, which produces 122 bhp and 148 Nm, and a 2.0L, which produces 140 bhp and 186 Nm. The 2.0L version of EcoSport comes as AWD with manual transmission, while the 1.6 litre is 2WD only but available with six speed manual or PowerShift automotive transmissions.
Along with the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine, the Chinese and the Indian market also get a 1.5 litre Ti-VCT petrol engine, which produces 108 bhp and 140 Nm. The EcoSport also has a 1.5L TDCi BS6 diesel engine that outputs 98.6 bhp power at 3750 rpm and 215 Nm of torque at 1750-2500 rpm.

Safety

The Ford EcoSport has Ford SYNC driver connect system, a command system codeveloped with Microsoft. It also has airbags, anti-lock brakes, electronic stability program, electric power assisted steering, and Hill Launch Assist, Traction control System and rear parking sensors.

Marketing

India
The Indian market was among the first few to receive EcoSport. The car is being manufactured at Ford India's Chennai plant, available in Six trims with the choice of two engine options, 1.5L Ti-VCT Petrol and 1.5L TDCi Diesel. The engines are available with five speed manual and only Petrol engine available with six speed torque converter transmission. The 1.0 litre EcoBoost Petrol engine has been dropped after the vehicle has been upgraded to meet the BS6 emission compliance norms.
Japan
At its introduction internationally, it is available in Japan, as the smallest companion to the Ford Kuga and the Ford Explorer. All engines, except the diesel are offered in Japan, with a five speed manual or six speed dual clutch transmission, and optional all wheel drive.
The 1.0 and 1.5-litre engines provide the opportunity for Japanese customers to save on the annual Japanese road tax obligation. The Japanese version has the width dimension slightly reduced to so as to comply with Japanese Government dimension regulations to encourage sales.
Europe
Ford launched the EcoSport in Europe during 2014, with a limited first batch of 500 units arriving in the first quarter of the year. The announcement was made in September 2013, at the IFA exhibition in Berlin, and the first limited edition versions could be ordered on a dedicated website. After disappointing sales figures in Europe in 2014, during which the EcoSport only sold 11,000 units against over 100,000 for each of its main competitors, the car was revised in 2015, to make it more suitable to European tastes.
In March 2016, it was announced that the Ford EcoSport will be built in Romania, at Craiova plant starting from the autumn of 2017, moving production for the European market from the current plant in Chennai, India. This happens on the background of the growing market for the SUV segment in Europe, and will bring an investment of €200 million to the factory.

2017

The EcoSport's 2017 mid-cycle updates were announced at 2016 LA Auto Show, including a revised front end design, and a slightly redesigned rear end. The dashboard has an optional 8-inch floating touchscreen infotainment system that supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Sales of the EcoSport in the US market began in 2018. Early models include the 1.0 EcoBoost three cylinder turbo gasoline engine for FWD models and the 2.0 four cylinder petrol naturally aspirated engine for 4WD models. Both engines have a six speed automatic transmission. The Australian, Canadian and US-market EcoSports, made in India, have the rear mounted spare tire as optional on the base model.

Sales