Ford EcoSport SUV unveiled: Here in 2013

[sprint347dave]

i have ford blue blood,,but that thing is BUTT ugly

[Nikked]

I think the looks will go down well with the general public...big, bold fronts are the way to go. Certainly looks better then the Juke...

About the only thing it suffers from is a 'top heavy look', but when you are trying to maximise space inside, yet decrease it on the outside, the car is going to look a bit tall and under tired.

Hopefully it strengthens fords sales and helps produce a profit here!

[ryeman]

Bit heavy on the origami

[AG3]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Maybe the Indian plant isn't so flood prone, the last thing Ford needs at launch time...

Possible I guess, I heard that most of the problems during the 2011 flood were more on the end of their parts suppliers since none of their plants were directly affected.
I wonder if they figured out a solution to this.

[AG3]

Originally Posted by sprint347dave

i have ford blue blood,,but that thing is BUTT ugly

I think its overall styling looks much more cohesive (better) than the current Territory of which it shares its face with.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by AG3

Ford Australia currently offers Thai-made Ford models like the Fiesta, Focus and Ranger, I wonder why they decided to source the EcoSport from India and not from Thailand (production begins 4th Quarter of 2013)?
Is it so they can launch it a few months earlier?

Its not being made in Thailand, just India and China.

I doubt Thailand has the capacity to make any more vehicles.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by AG3

Possible I guess, I heard that most of the problems during the 2011 flood were more on the end of their parts suppliers since none of their plants were directly affected.
I wonder if they figured out a solution to this.

Nope, if suppliers get flooded out supply of Fiesta, Focus and Ranger stop.
Probably why FoA went with India on this one...


First I've heard that Ecosport is being built in Thailand....not sure that's accurate..

[Nikked]

Broadmeadows doesn't suffer from those nasty floods...

[Joe5619]

Credit to Ford where it is due!! How many times have we read "Ford is always reactive & behind the market". Ford is actually being active here & ahead of the market by releasing a car in a segment that only has a few players.

[AG3]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Its not being made in Thailand, just India and China.

I doubt Thailand has the capacity to make any more vehicles.

Ford Thailand has a new plant which opened last year, they currently only build the Focus in this plant.
The EcoSport will be the 2nd model.
Thailand is one of the regional manufacturing hubs of Ford.
Ford also announced during the recent Bangkok International Motor Show that production of the EcoSport will begin in Thailand, 4th Quarter of this year. It will be exported to other ASEAN countries.

The B-segment SUVs will be built at Ford's manufacturing facility in Rayong, Thailand. But the production of units in this factory doesn't begin until the fourth quarter of 2013.

- topgear.com.ph


Ford sees Thai operations as export hub for southeast Asia

Ford Motor Co.'s factories in Thailand are capable of producing eight times more vehicles than it sells. With help from a Thai government program, the automaker plans to make sure the excess capacity doesn't become a liability like at its plants in Europe.

While Thailand is Southeast Asia's biggest car market, producing there benefits automakers beyond one country because they can export tax-free throughout the region. That includes Indonesia, which is set to dethrone Thailand in 2014, according to IHS Automotive.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/2013...L02/130509926#

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by Nikked

Broadmeadows doesn't suffer from those nasty floods...

Just Unions, who are worse...

[AG3]

Originally Posted by jpd80

First I've heard that Ecosport is being built in Thailand....not sure that's accurate..

Yes, Ford announced that Thai production of the EcoSport will begin 4th Quarter of this year. They mentioned this last year during the launch of the Thai-built Focus and they said it again during the ASEAN debut of the EcoSport at this year's Bangkok Internatonal Motor Show.

Thailand is the 4th country to manufacture the EcoSport after Brazil, China and India.


Alan Mulally, president and CEO, Ford Motor Company, Yukontorn ‘Vickie’ Wisadkosin, managing director, Ford Thailand, Dave Schoch, Ford group vice president and president, Asia Pacific, and Matt Bradley, president, Ford ASEAN, with the all-new Ford EcoSport at the 34th Bangkok International Motor Show.
-Ford APA

[IDT]

Absolutely Horrid!!!
But I have come to accept that what I think is horrid is what I see people happily driving everywhere so should sell great!!!!!!

[AG3]

Originally Posted by IDT

Absolutely Horrid!!!

If some people think this is horrid...


I wonder what they think of this....

[csv8]

http://www.carsguide.com.au/news-and...ew?origin=hpc1

[lilmattie]

Ugly as! IMO.

I'll stay in the 70's.

[Alan D Segal]

Looks¶better¶than¶Territory¶

[fgpsi]

Looks like a toy

Would be very uncomfortable for a 6foot + person to drive

[Alan D Segal]

Originally Posted by fgpsi

Looks like a toy

Would be very uncomfortable for a 6foot + person to drive

A cute modern toy. Not some boring freaky traditional toy that looks like it was engineered by soviet weapons designers during the cold war like the territory.

I'm 6'1" and can drive a fiesta no worries. I have plenty of room. As long as it is no smaller than that it should be fine for people up to - I'm estimating - at least 4" taller than me. Provided they arent porkers or on the horse growth hormones.

EDIT: the rear seat passenger's won't have much room though, but if you care about that save up and buy the TS/TZ Terashnikov like what I'm looking at.

[BleedBlue]

This would be a perfect around town car for my wife. Would love to get her one. She insists on driving our Territory round town cause she likes being high up. However all she needs to do is drop the kids off at school and drive to the bus stop. If we got one of these for that purpose then we could get a "real" 4wd for the long drives, camping etc to park next to it....yeah I like that idea....now I need to go and draw up the business case

[barra240t]

If you don't like it move on guys, it isn't the car for you. We don't need negative comments from people who aren't even interested in this sort of car in the first place.

This will sell, this is Ford moving in the right direction.

Be happy for god sake!

[TheSneakiness]

I'm not gonna jump on the "not for me" bandwagon but severely question what market a "mini/micro" SUV is gonna fill.

[JG34JA]

Combined with the new Kuga and the still impressive Territory, aren't Ford kicking SUV goals at the moment? I can see the EcoSport working really well - small to drive around town, practical, fuel miser.

[barra240t]

Originally Posted by Rapid_Axe

I'm not gonna jump on the "not for me" bandwagon but severely question what market a "mini/micro" SUV is gonna fill.

- higher seating position
- a car that is easy to get in and out of
- better visibility
- cheap 3 cylinder rego
- amazing fuel comsumption
- easy to park
- looks cool
- affordable to buy
- affortable to service
- enough room for 4 people
- has all the gadgets a Fiesta does

There is a market.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by JG34JA

Combined with the new Kuga and the still impressive Territory, aren't Ford kicking SUV goals at the moment? I can see the EcoSport working really well - small to drive around town, practical, fuel miser.

You could say...



Ford have suved up a good menu...

[Archilino]

Is the Ecoboost P plate friendly being a turbo?

[In Focus]

Originally Posted by Rapid_Axe

I'm not gonna jump on the "not for me" bandwagon but severely question what market a "mini/micro" SUV is gonna fill.

Probably the same market something like a Subaru XV fills: the SUV look for driving around the 'burbs.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Archilino

Is the Ecoboost P plate friendly being a turbo?

In Victoria, Ford will have to approach VicRoads to get automatic exemption status like they did with the Falcon and like VW did with their turbo engines a while back.

Its an outright ban on any V8 and gasoline forced induction here.

[Agile]

Originally Posted by Alan D Segal

A cute modern toy. Not some boring freaky traditional toy that looks like it was engineered by soviet weapons designers during the cold war like the territory.

I'm 6'1" and can drive a fiesta no worries. I have plenty of room. As long as it is no smaller than that it should be fine for people up to - I'm estimating - at least 4" taller than me. Provided they arent porkers or on the horse growth hormones.

EDIT: the rear seat passenger's won't have much room though, but if you care about that save up and buy the TS/TZ Terashnikov like what I'm looking at.

This vehicle could well be our next purchase. Current car [ wifes] is a Renault RX4 which is VERY similar in profile and size as the Ecosport. She loves it for its practicality size and elevated drive position.
I can tell you that at six foot, me driving, we can comfortably fit four adults in it for extended road trips.[ 200km]. If this Ecosport can do the same it will be a winner, no problems. Hopefully the power will be a bit more than the Renault.
And for me, I'll wait and see what the next Terror looks like. Am still happy with my current Terror but will be needing a replacement in 18 months or so.

[TheSneakiness]

Originally Posted by barra240t

- higher seating position
- a car that is easy to get in and out of
- better visibility
- cheap 3 cylinder rego
- amazing fuel comsumption
- easy to park
- looks cool
- affordable to buy
- affortable to service
- enough room for 4 people
- has all the gadgets a Fiesta does

There is a market.

Hmmm. I guess I'll reserve further judgment until I see them on the road. I did manage to see its bigger brother Kuga and wasn't impressed.