Ford is working hard to give the upcoming EcoSport a very aggressive starting price by heavily localising the car to lower costs. The expected price for the base petrol variant will be in the Rs 5 lakh bracket.
In the flesh, the EcoSport manages to be very modern and aggressive at the same time. The open-mouthed grille, high bonnet-line and heavily raked windscreen make it look stunning. Also, the off-roader-style tailgate-mounted spare wheel isn’t counted in the overall length of the car. This will enable the EcoSport to duck under the crucial four-metre mark and avail of the small car excise benefit sub-four-metre cars have here.
India will be one of the first markets in the world to get the new EcoSport. It will come with two engine options – the award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol which puts out approximately 123bhp and the 1.5-litre diesel similar to the one that does duty in the Fiesta. Initially, the cars will be only front-wheel drive, with no seven-seater version of the EcoSport planned.
The carmaker will start bookings for the EcoSport by the end of March, with deliveries starting in May or June.
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
