- 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 middecade
NEW DELHI, Jan. 4, 2012 – Expanding its relentless push into the heart of Asia’s car market, Ford introduces the all-new Ford EcoSport at Auto Expo 2012 this week. The new compact SUV will further augment Ford’s offering in India, as well as in many other markets across the globe. 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 swinggate 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 smallcar models for growth markets can be created in growth markets, using One Ford to leverage our global design and engineering expertise.”
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