Sportier Ford EcoSport S, EcoSport Signature Launch On May 14

There will be a few owners of the first-gen Ford EcoSport who will remember the 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbocharged ‘Ecoboost’ petrol engine fondly. It added the ‘Sport’ in the EcoSport’s name, developing 125PS of power and 170Nm of torque. While the engine was powerful, its narrow power and torque band needed a heavy foot and quick shifting to be enjoyed to its potential. On the flip side, it also needed to be driven a certain way to extract an efficiency figure close to the manufacturer-claimed 18.88kmpl figure.

Except for a few enthusiasts, most buyers of the older EcoSport Ecoboost were not thrilled with the engine. And hence, Ford decided to replace it with a new 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder naturally-aspirated ‘Dragon’ petrol engine developing 123PS of power and 150Nm of torque to cater to those who demanded more mileage from the EcoSport petrol.

Now, however, Ford is going to launch the EcoSport with the Ecoboost engine again, as we had reported earlier last month, and the company has confirmed the launch date too - May 14, 2018. For those who may have some reservations about the Ecoboost engine’s efficiency, the EcoSport S will also be available with the 1.5-litre, 100PS/205Nm diesel engine.

The EcoSport S, like its stablemates the Figo S and the Aspire S, is expected to feature a stiffer suspension and a quicker steering setup for a more engaging driving characteristic. Unlike the Figo S and the Aspire S though, the sportier EcoSport will also get a more powerful engine and new features. Highlights include new black elements on the headlamps, grille and fog lamps, new 17-inch alloy wheels, HID headlamps and a new Satin Orange paint with a contrast roof. Inside, the changes include orange elements on the dashboard, centre console and doors, a redesigned instrument cluster with a larger screen and, very importantly, a sunroof!

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Ford is also set to launch a new variant to the EcoSport lineup on May 14, the Signature edition. This will get styling updates on the outside including black inserts like the EcoSport S, different looking 17-inch alloy wheels, a new rear spoiler, a special blue paint job and ‘Signature’ badges. Inside, the EcoSport Signature will feature blue inserts on the dashboard, centre console and doors along with blue piping/stitching on the seats. The Signature edition will also get additional safety equipment like an electronic stability program (ESP) and hill-start assist. Engine options will include the 1.5-litre Dragon petrol and the 1.5-litre diesel engine.

Stay tuned to ZigWheels, on Facebook and Twitter, for the prices and details of both the EcoSport S and EcoSport Signature edition.

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