New Delhi, June 1: American automaker is all set to launch its compact SUV EcoSport in the Indian market on June 11, reports suggest.
The Ford EcoSport is, undoubtedly, the most anticipated new launch of 2013, and after an unduly long 18-month gestation period the India-spec Ford EcoSport is finally here.
The Ford EcoSport will be offered in three engine options and four trim levels – a 1.5-litre petrol, a 1.5-litre diesel and the much-talked-about 1-litre EcoBoost petrol. The 1.5-litre petrol engine will be available with a 6-speed automatic option too, however, that will only be sold in the high-end trims.
The four trim levels include: Ambiente, Trend, Titanium and Titanium Plus. The latest EcoSport is based on Ford's B-platform, on which the company's Fiesta is also built. It is a fairly well specced vehicle, with the top-of-the-line Titanium Plus trim featuring curtain airbags, push-button start, keyless entry and leather upholstery besides the usual set of creature comforts.
The Ford EcoSport is a visually appealing SUV on the outside. The most prominent detail, is the massive grille, which dominates the front fascia and gives it prominence as an off-roader. On the inside, you can instantly tell that the dashboard design resembles the Fiesta's quite closely, with a similar angular dashboard layout and familiar controls.
However, one of the talking points of the new compact SUV is what the carmaker claims to be a “potentially life-saving” Emergency Assistance system. The system, according to Ford, is a vehicle-based, no-cost, non-subscription call-for-help system that delivers a voice message directly to emergency operators, indicating that a vehicle has been involved in an accident in which the airbags have been deployed or fuel pump shut-off triggered and opens the line for hands-free communication.
“Ford's Emergency Assistenace system has already proved itself as a life-saver in other parts of the world and we expect our customers here to appreciate this level of reassuring in-car connectivity,” said Joginder Singh, president and managing director, Ford India.
The Emergency Assistance system works via Ford's Sync system, which is a voice-activated, hands-free communications and entertainment package for mobile phones and digital media players that allows the driver to make and receive calls and play music.
The EcoSport SUV will compete against the likes of Renault Duster, Mahindra Quanto and Premier Rio and is likely to cost in the Rs 5.9 – Rs 6 lakh bracket for the lower-end and in the Rs 9 lakh range in the higher-end section.
Read the complete review of Ford EcoSport here.
