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Ford today unveiled a compact sport utility vehicle, EcoSport, that will be made at Ford India's plant near Chennai.
The vehicle comes with a new one-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine with turbo charger and direct injection. The company says it will match the performance of a 1.6-litre engine.
The company did not give a launch date nor did it reveal the price. But, Mr Alan Mulally, President and CEO, Ford Motor Company, told journalists that it was likely to be introduced in India towards this year-end. The new engine would give a 30 per cent increase in mileage and a 20 per cent reduction in CO2 emission.
The EcoSport, built on the same platform as the Fiesta sedan, is the second of the eight models that Ford said it would launch in India by the middle of this decade. The first was the new Fiesta that was launched a few months ago.
EcoSport, according to Mr Michael Boneham, President and Managing Director, Ford India, will fit into small car segment. It will also have diesel and other engine options.
The EcoSport, said Mr Joe Hinrichs, President – Asia Pacific and Africa, Ford Motor Co, was the company's solution to the need from small-car customers who were looking for something more. “It will appeal to a new class of customers,” he said.
According to Mr J. Mays, Group Vice-President – Design and Chief Creative Officer, Ford Motor Co, the “size is deceptive.” “We call it right-sized,” he said.
The EcoSport would be sold in nearly 100 markets worldwide and would be produced in India and Brazil, and other markets to be announced at a later date.
The EcoBoost engine would be made available in Ford models in China, Europe, North America and other regions.
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