Ford Unveils EcoSport Facelift

American auto giant Ford has finally taken the wraps off the highly anticipated facelift of the EcoSport, which is slated to reach dealerships across the US in early 2018. In India, however, the car is likely to arrive sooner, since the compact SUV has done good business for Ford India. While the basic recipe of a small but capable SUV remains the same, Ford is expected to equip the refreshed EcoSport with a host of new features to help it outshine its competition.

The American version of the EcoSport facelift will get a Ford-exclusive Bang & Olufsen 10-speaker, 675-watt music system which will be set up by Harman acoustic engineers for the perfect music experience. The car will feature high-definition radio tech with dual FM radio antenna, which will help boost the range and clarity of FM signals. A range of ten body colours and seven ambient lighting options will be available across four trim level offerings. The second-to-top variant will also feature 4WD with a ‘sporty’ suspension and steering set-up. On the outside, the facelifted EcoSport will have newly designed headlamps, grille, fog lights and bumpers. At the rear, the spare wheel has been taken off from the tailgate and is now bolted underneath, at the back of the car.

Inside the cabin, the dashboard gets a complete overhaul. Just like the Endeavour, the revamped EcoSport will now feature the SYNC 3 system which, the company claims, is faster, more intuitive and easier to use. The voice recognition system will be paired to an eight-inch screen, which will also feature Andriod Auto and Apple CarPlay. The car can be started, locked, unlocked and located using SYNC Connect with FordPass. A lot of vehicle related information, such as fuel level and odometer reading, can be tracked using the FordPass mobile App. Thoughtful touches such as two power outlets (one for front and another for rear passengers) will make it to the feature list.

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In America, customers will get to choose between a 1.0-litre, turbocharged EcoBoost engine or a 2.0-litre, four-pot mill. Customers opting for the latter will get Ford’s 4WD system as standard and both the engines will come mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

While all this is a mouthful and a half, Ford is likely to spec the India-bound EcoSport slightly less generously to keep the costs in check. While we expect the EcoBoost engine to make the final list, the 2.0-litre engine will, in all probability, be axed. The EcoSport’s main rival – the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza – has taken the market by storm in India. The Americans will have to bring in their ‘A’ game, both in terms of price as well as features, in order to maintain a strong presence in the market.