Ford has released an all-new EcoSport Compact SUV,which will debut in New Delhi.
The EcoSport takes Ford's 'Kinetic' design theme a step forward and accentuates key features that have defined the car's lines, the front gets an even more aggressive high-mounted trapezoidal grille between slit-eyed LED headlamps.
The big news is that it’s powered by Ford’s new 1.0-liter turbo three-cylinder engine that’s supposed to eventually replace all 1.6-liter normally aspirated units. This new engine will have 120 hp and will be mated to a five-speed manual in India.
Ford will also offer the EcoSport with a 1.5 litre petrol four-cylinder engine in some markets, producing 80kW and 140Nm of torque and using 5.9 l/100km of fuel, along with a 1.5 litre diesel that delivers 66kW and 204Nm, using 4.3 l/100km of fuel.
Press Release
Ford Previews All-New EcoSport at New Delhi Auto Expo As New Product Momentum in Asia Continues to Build
Ford's global product family grows with a new compact SUV, Ford EcoSport
- New EcoSport will arrive with the most advanced level of design, quality and sustainability in its class to attract new generations of consumers
- Unveiled by Ford Motor Company President and CEO Alan Mulally, the global compact SUV is the second of eight new vehicles that Ford plans to bring to India by mid-decade
- The vehicle will expand Ford's presence in Brazil, India, ASEAN markets and others to be announced at a later time, with world-class technology and quality, sharing the new B-class platform which is expected to sell more than 2 million units by mid-decade
Modern and innovative, the all-new Ford EcoSport was designed to combine best-in-class design, technology, quality and safety aimed at attracting a new generation of consumers in different global markets.
Created as the latest One Ford global product, the EcoSport will be a key model in expanding Ford's presence in major worldwide growth markets, including India, Brazil and the ASEAN markets. It has been developed in South America at one of Ford's eight global product development centres in conjunction with teams from Asia, Europe and North America to meet the needs of markets across the globe.
"The all-new Ford EcoSport reflects our commitment to serve our customers with the cars and trucks they truly want and value," said Alan Mulally, president and CEO, Ford Motor Company. "Our engineering team used their years of EcoSport experience to make every aspect of the next-generation EcoSport even stronger."
The all-new Ford EcoSport exemplifies the DNA of Ford global vehicles and its versatility broadens the horizons of mobility and use. Its genuine SUV confidence starts in the stability of the chassis, reinforced by the body's robust build, high torsional stiffness and high levels of protection for its occupants. Yet, its innovative design reduces the weight and ensures good fuel efficiency.
Contemporary new EcoSport shape
The all-new EcoSport's contemporary shape conveys confidence while combining refinement and an adventurous spirit in an intelligent and modern package. It sports key SUV cues such as the confident stance, command driving position and signature spare wheel mounted on a swing-gate at the rear of the vehicle.
The EcoSport's hardy character and strong stance give it the appearance of a larger vehicle, while retaining the agility and practicality of a compact car. It features high ground clearance and integrated lower body cladding for robustness.
The back of the vehicle is marked by a large rear window which wraps around to the sides and oblique shaped taillights. This characteristic defines the striking personality of the EcoSport family: a sporty and casual car, for consumers who want to stand out and who want more from life, but in an intelligent and sustainable way.
New global products for growth markets
Previewing the vehicle design first at the 11th Annual Auto Expo in New Delhi gives Ford the opportunity to introduce EcoSport to consumers in one of the world's biggest automotive growth markets ahead of its future global rollouts.
The new EcoSport was developed on Ford's new global B-segment platform, which will be the basis for an array of new small-car products from Ford in the coming years. By mid-decade, the new Ford B-platform family of vehicles will represent more than 2 million units of annual production as compact cars continue to drive global growth.
The EcoSport has been a market phenomenon since it was launched in South America in 2003 as the region's first affordable SUV, selling 700,000 vehicles in nine years. It created a new segment and popularized features that many consumers had wanted.
The EcoSport will be produced at ultra-modern, flexible assembly plants in Brazil, India, and other markets to be announced at a later time. The EcoSport as a global vehicle is an example of the technical ability of Ford's global engineering and high level of integration of the design and engineering centres around the world.
The project was led by Ford's Development Center in Camaçari, Brazil, one of the most specialized in the development of compact cars. The team leveraged Ford engineering strength and SUV expertise from around the world to create the all-new EcoSport.
"The new EcoSport is a significant milestone for our global product development process," said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development. "It proves that great small-car models for growth markets can be created in growth markets, using One Ford to leverage our global design and engineering expertise."
EcoSport's development was shaped by market research in all of the regions where it will be sold. This helped create a unique vehicle, focused on the needs and desires of consumers. It will eventually be sold in nearly 100 markets worldwide.
Fuelling expansion in Asia and beyond
The all-new EcoSport is a significant linchpin in Ford's aggressive global plan to achieve its goal of increasing worldwide sales by nearly 50 percent by mid-decade to 8 million vehicles a year. Of that figure, 60 to 70 percent is expected to come from the Asia Pacific and Africa region.
"We've promised to bring more than 50 new vehicles and powertrains to Asia Pacific and Africa by mid-decade and the all-new EcoSport continues to deliver on that pledge," said Joe Hinrichs, president, Ford Asia Pacific and Africa. "Endowed with traits that customers in markets like India will want and value, this exciting compact SUV will define a new segment in the small car market."
The EcoSport is the second of eight products slated to be launched in India by mid-decade and will bring about further momentum in a business transformation that was kick started by the Ford Figo and strengthened by the new Ford Fiesta sedan. Ford India's shift from niche automaker to volume player is supported by several new investments in the country.
Ford recently broke ground in Sanand, Gujarat as part of an investment of approximately USD 1 billion to build new vehicle manufacturing and engine plants. Ford also announced earlier an investment of USD 72 million by this year (2012) to expand its already operating powertrain facility in Chennai. Ford's total investment in India to date is approximately USD 2 billion.
The new EcoSport will be produced in the integrated Chennai manufacturing facility which has been transformed with an annual production capacity of 200,000 units and is now positioned as a Ford regional centre of excellence for compact-car engineering and production. Ford EcoSport models will be also produced at the plant for export to international markets.
"Following the success of the game-changing Ford Figo and ‘tech-tastic' Fiesta sedan, the all-new Ford EcoSport will certainly broaden our showroom offering in India, keeping in step with the aspirations of our customers," said Michael Boneham, president and managing director, Ford India. "With its tremendous value story, we're confident this compact SUV will greatly bolster our presence in the competitive Indian market."
Strengths Under EcoSport's New Shape
Designed to offer balanced performance on paved roads as well as off-road terrain, the all-new Ford EcoSport is ideal for the urban consumer who wants the versatility to escape the city.
Developed to world-class product standards via the Ford global product development system, the next-generation model delivers on key traits customers all around the world demand:
Smart - New technology and features from Ford will be central to the all-new Ford EcoSport ownership experience. It will offer innovative equipment normally not found in this class of vehicle.
Green - Fuel efficiency was a key factor in the development process, as Ford targets the EcoSport to deliver leading fuel economy in its segment.
Safe - The all-new Ford EcoSport has been engineered to meet the most demanding safety standards in the various markets where it will be sold. Its weight-optimized, highly resistant body, developed with advanced software and design tools, combines zones aimed to absorb the forces of impact with an extremely rigid cell to protect its occupants.
Quality - The all-new Ford EcoSport will deliver impressive levels of quality and craftsmanship, reflecting its new world-class design and engineering story, and has endured rigorous developmental testing around the globe. Low maintenance costs and great durability were also key objectives in the development process.
All-New, Fuel-Efficient 1.0-litre Ford EcoBoost Engine for India to Debut in All-New Ford EcoSport
- All-new engine for the Indian market will debut in the all-new Ford EcoSport - offering the performance of a conventional 1.6-litre engine with less than 140g/km CO2 emissions
- Ford is introducing its global EcoBoost powertrain technology for the first time in India with the three-cylinder EcoBoost engine
- This newest and smallest member of the global family of EcoBoost engines features advanced turbocharging technology, direct injection, improved twin variable camshaft design and intelligent ancillaries to deliver performance that belies its small size
Ford is bringing its global EcoBoost powertrain technology to India for the first time in the form of its newest and smallest-ever EcoBoost engine. With only three cylinders and 1.0 litre of displacement, the latest EcoBoost engine will provide fuel-efficient power for the all-new Ford EcoSport.
Despite its small capacity and proportions, the engine delivers power and performance that will rival a traditional 1.6-litre petrol engine while emitting less than 140g/km CO2. It will have 120 PS of power and be mated to a five-speed manual transmission, giving the Ford EcoSport a footprint that is small enough for urban driving yet robust enough for a trip out of the city.
The new 1.0-litre is the latest addition to Ford's global family of EcoBoost engines, which currently range in capacity from 1.6 to 3.5 litres. Downsized EcoBoost engines feature turbocharging, direct injection and other technologies and replace larger engines with no loss of performance and with lower fuel consumption.
Ultimately, this all-new engine will be made available in Ford models in China, Europe, North America and other regions.
"The capable EcoSport is a perfect showcase for the advanced small-displacement petrol engine, demonstrating the strength and breadth of Ford's development and engineering capabilities," said Joe Bakaj, vice president, Global Powertrain Engineering.
"The 1.0-litre EcoBoost delivers great low-speed responsiveness, power, torque and smoothness. To produce an engine with such impressive performance and fuel economy clearly reflects our commitment to be class-leading in fuel economy around the world."
Compact and responsive
Developed at Ford's Dunton Technical Centre in the U.K., this direct-injected EcoBoost engine features a new compact, high performance turbocharger design. The extremely fast response of the turbocharger and its ability to reach nearly 250,000 rpm results in virtually no turbo lag and peak torque of 170 Nm from 1,300-4,500 rpm.
The all-new EcoBoost engine also features an exhaust manifold cast into the cylinder head, which lowers the temperature of the exhaust gases and in turn enables the engine to run with the optimum fuel-to-air ratio across a wider rev band.
An advanced "split cooling" system reduces fuel consumption by warming the engine more quickly and - unique to the 1.0 engine -cast iron has been selected for the block, reducing the amount of energy needed for warm-up by up to 50 percent compared with aluminium.
Intelligent ancillaries such as a variable air-conditioning compressor and oil pump also reduce demand on the engine - improving economy and emissions - while special coatings for engine components and intricate development of engine geometry result in minimal frictional losses.
Like its larger-capacity siblings, the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine will use twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) to further improve performance and economy. Ford has also employed an all-new camshaft actuator to speed up response times without sacrificing durability.
Smooth and refined
In the all-new 1.0-litre Ford EcoBoost engine, the emphasis in development has been on delivering both smooth and refined performance.
Engine refinement is improved thanks to an innovative design that immerses the two main engine drive belts in oil - resulting in quieter and more efficient running but with the durability of a chain. Careful attention has also been paid to mitigating the natural vibrations of the three-cylinder design.
Rather than employ the traditional method of adding energy-draining balancer shafts, Ford engineers have deliberately "unbalanced" the flywheel and pulley to offset the engine configuration. Ford believes these innovations combined with optimised engine mounts will deliver a truly refined performance feel perfected during 720,000 kilometres of tests - including 360,000 kilometres of durability trials and 10,000 kilometres of environmental testing.
"Fitted with a long list of innovative technologies, the 1.0-litre EcoBoost is one of the most technically advanced and efficient engines Ford has ever designed and produced," said Bakaj. "This new engine demonstrates Ford's laser focus on improving fuel economy without compromising performance. It will be an engine that not only surprises and delights our customers but also offers them great value in the lower cost of ownership."
