Ford to showcase EcoSport in malls of Mumbai from January 20th to 29th

The show-stopper of Delhi Auto Expo ‘Ford EcoSport’ will be on display in the city of Mumbai. Mumbai will be the first city to get up close with Ford EcoSport after it won the hearts of  automobile enthusiasts and received rave reviews from experts at its global preview at the Delhi Auto Show earlier this month. The car will also be on display at Infinity mall in Malad starting January 20th till January 25th and then move on to Inorbit mall, Vasi from January 27th onwards. Part of the ever growing Ford story in India, EcoSport - the new compact SUV will further augment Ford’s offering in India, as well as in many other markets across the globe.

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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. "Indian customers have really embraced Ford, particularly since the launch of the hugely successful Ford Figo, and the all-new EcoSport will only further enhance our offerings in India in the near future," said Nigel Wark, Executive Director, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford India. "As we showcase the EcoSport in Mumbai, we are confident that consumers will be excited to witness and appreciate the aspirational look and feel of this compact SUV.  EcoSport will be Ford’s second of the eight new vehicles to be launched by mid-decade in India.” Unveiled by Ford Motor Company President and CEO Alan Mulally during Auto Expo 2012, the global compact SUV is the second of eight new vehicles that Ford plans to bring to India by mid-decade.

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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.Ford is also bringing its global EcoBoost powertrain technology to India for the first time in the form of its newest and smallest-ever EcoBoost engine. With only three cylinders and 1.0 litre of displacement, the latest EcoBoost engine will provide fuel-efficient power for the EcoSport. Despite its small capacity and proportions, the engine delivers power and performance that will rival a traditional 1.6-litre petrol engine while emitting less than 140g/km CO2. Downsized EcoBoost engines feature turbocharging, direct injection and other technologies and replace larger engines with no loss of performance and with lower fuel consumption. Ultimately, this all-new engine will be made available in Ford models in China, Europe, North America and other regions.

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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 swing-gate 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

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. EcoSport’s development was shaped by market research in all of the regions where it will be sold. This helped create a unique vehicle, focused on the needs and desires of consumers. It will eventually be sold in nearly 100 markets worldwide.

Fuelling expansion in Asia and beyond

The all-new EcoSport is a significant linchpin in Ford’s aggressive global plan to achieve its goal of increasing worldwide sales by nearly 50 per cent by mid-decade to 8 million vehicles a year. Of that figure, 60 to 70 per cent is expected to come from the Asia Pacific and Africa region. “We’ve promised to bring more than 50 new vehicles and powertrains to Asia Pacific and Africa by mid-decade and the all-new EcoSport continues to deliver on that pledge,” said Joe Hinrichs, president, Ford Asia Pacific and Africa. “Endowed with traits that customers in markets like India will want and value, this exciting compact SUV will define a new segment in the small car market.” The EcoSport is the second of eight products slated to be launched in India by mid-decade and will bring about further momentum in a business transformation that was kick started by the Ford Figo and strengthened by the new Ford Fiesta sedan.

Ford India’s shift from niche automaker to volume player is supported by several new investments in the country. Ford recently broke ground in Sanand, Gujarat as part of an investment of approximately USD 1 billion to build new vehicle manufacturing and engine plants. Ford also announced earlier an investment of USD 72 million by this year (2012) to expand its already operating powertrain facility in Chennai. Ford’s total investment in India to date is approximately USD 2 billion. The new EcoSport will be produced in the integrated Chennai manufacturing facility which has been transformed with an annual production capacity of 200,000 units and is now positioned as a Ford regional centre of excellence for compact-car engineering and production. Ford EcoSport models will be also produced at the plant for export to international markets.

Strengths Under EcoSport’s New Shape

Designed to offer balanced performance on paved roads as well as off-road terrain, the all-new Ford EcoSport is ideal for the urban consumer who wants the versatility to escape the city. Developed to world-class product standards via the Ford global product development system, the next-generation model delivers on key traits customers all around the world demand:

§  Smart – New technology and features from Ford will be central to the all-new Ford EcoSport ownership experience. It will offer innovative equipment normally not found in this class of vehicle.

§  Green – Fuel efficiency was a key factor in the development process, as Ford targets the EcoSport to deliver leading fuel economy in its segment.

§  Safe – The all-new Ford EcoSport has been engineered to meet the most demanding safety standards in the various markets where it will be sold. Its weight-optimized, highly resistant body, developed with advanced software and design tools, combines zones aimed to absorb the forces of impact with an extremely rigid cell to protect its occupants.

§  Quality – The all-new Ford EcoSport will deliver impressive levels of quality and craftsmanship, reflecting its new world-class design and engineering story, and has endured rigorous developmental testing around the globe. Low maintenance costs and great durability were also key objectives in the development process.

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