[sridhar-v]

Originally Posted by Mustang.101

We are not sure what we will get in india. As of now the car will be launching in manual transmission only followed by the dual clutch 3-6 months after the manual launch and this auto variant is still in the deciding phase as the auto box still requires extensive testing with this ecoboost engine.

Do you have the ear of the top management?. Do emphasise on them not to underestimate the Indian customer, as they did with the Fusion.

About 5 years ago I had a couple of email exchanges with the then head of marketing. (will try to see if I have the backups preserved). I had pointed out how they were loosing prospective customers to the Swift as they were not providing ABS & Airbags period. (even if you were willing to pay a good premium for that!). I had also indicated my willingness to pay a premium of Rs. 1 lakh over and above whatever price they determined if they provided ABS, Airbags & Autotransmission. He agreed with all my points but said they would rather err on the side of caution.

Now they are still erring by not bringing in all the features at one go. Actually the I10 & A-Star sell more that 20-25% in auto variants. An Ecosport with 4WD, all safety like ABS, EBD & Airbags & an Auto gear box will fill a large gap in the market waiting to be exploited.

[shankar.balan]

I really could not agree more.

This will if priced right, in Diesel Avatar, be the perfect little Gypsy Killer.

Even I had contacted someone in Ford in 2005 when they launched the Fusion - asking them when they would give us the Diesel variant with safety features at a fair price! No answer of course, unfortunately! This is how these manufacturers treat the consumer in general. No use ranting and raving beyond a point!

However, if FORD does indeed give us an EcoSport variant with all these features, then by the time the clods at MSIL get their act together with their XA Alpha or whatever, this EcoSport would have eaten dinner and had its post prandial "afters" too, in this market!


OT:
It is about time that the Govt of India makes it mandatory that all passenger cars produced and sold from say 2013 Jan or so, should have ABS, Airbags (atleast in front) and if possible, stuff like ESP etc. About time, we start taking safety seriously, given the higher speeds that we are all hurtling about at, nowadays!

I am certainly glad that w.e.f tomorrow morning it is absolutely mandatory to wear seat belts! I hope this rule gets applied to the back seat heroes also, very soon, as also, to all cities, towns, highways and byways in India. I also hope it gets rigidly enforced as well - with a nice fat 1000-2000 Rupee spot fine or something - because to get our people to follow rules, only the punishment route seems to work!

Originally Posted by sridhar-v

An Ecosport with 4WD, all safety like ABS, EBD & Airbags & an Auto gear box will fill a large gap in the market waiting to be exploited.

[Mustang.101]

Originally Posted by sridhar-v

Do you have the ear of the top management?. Do emphasise on them not to underestimate the Indian customer, as they did with the Fusion.

About 5 years ago I had a couple of email exchanges with the then head of marketing. (will try to see if I have the backups preserved). I had pointed out how they were loosing prospective customers to the Swift as they were not providing ABS & Airbags period. (even if you were willing to pay a good premium for that!). I had also indicated my willingness to pay a premium of Rs. 1 lakh over and above whatever price they determined if they provided ABS, Airbags & Autotransmission. He agreed with all my points but said they would rather err on the side of caution.

Now they are still erring by not bringing in all the features at one go. Actually the I10 & A-Star sell more that 20-25% in auto variants. An Ecosport with 4WD, all safety like ABS, EBD & Airbags & an Auto gear box will fill a large gap in the market waiting to be exploited.

I think your concerns have already been heard with the new fiesta already having ABS, EBD and Airbags as standard in all the variants. And now a dual clutch auto gearbox is going to launch shortly.

I am a sincere believer that the new ecosport will also have these features as standard across all variants.

[vb-saan]

Originally Posted by Mustang.101

We are not sure what we will get in india. As of now the car will be launching in manual transmission only followed by the dual clutch 3-6 months after the manual launch and this auto variant is still in the deciding phase as the auto box still requires extensive testing with this ecoboost engine.

Thanks Mustang for providing some useful details on the car. But I have a question on the quoted line above. Do you mean to say that India (and Ecosport) will be the first markret to get this new ecoboost engine? Because I am quite sure that in developed markets, any of the small Ford which gets this Ecoboost engine will have an auto box as standard.

Edit: Not sure if this was shared before. A video from Ford UK website on the Ecoboost engine
http://www.ford.co.uk/FordInnovation...ology/EcoBoost

[Sutripta]

Originally Posted by Mustang.101

Just got some interesting papers from england on the 1.0 L ecoboost.

Hi,
Pls. do share. Esp. if it is something in addition to what is there on Ford's site.

Regards
Sutripta

[sridhar-v]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

I really could not agree more.


However, if FORD does indeed give us an EcoSport variant with all these features, then by the time the clods at MSIL get their act together with their XA Alpha or whatever, this EcoSport would have eaten dinner and had its post prandial "afters" too, in this market!

And the irony of it is that Maruti have a ready made Mini SUV in the SX4 hatch with 4wd. Even with a 2L Petrol engine(though the existing 1.6L engine will be adequate!) & CVT Gearbox they should be able to bring it in for around 12L on road - a steal as the next price point is 20L - the GV.

Originally Posted by Mustang.101

I think your concerns have already been heard with the new fiesta already having ABS, EBD and Airbags as standard in all the variants. And now a dual clutch auto gearbox is going to launch shortly.

I am a sincere believer that the new ecosport will also have these features as standard across all variants.

There is a wide market segment open for taking. Even if they have to borrow the transfer case & GB adaptor hsg. from the Kuga it will be creating a good product at the 12-13L price band. And I know, with my experience of components fixtures & tooling,that it will take only 7-10 days max. to design an adaptor hsg. Tooling design & manufacture can be done in 45-60 days. Only issue will be the statutory testing & validation timelines. Purely a matter of assigning manpower resources.

Frankly I am waiting till end of this year - for the Ecosport with all the required features or go in for a Second hand CRV.

[Mustang.101]

Originally Posted by vb-san

Thanks Mustang for providing some useful details on the car. But I have a question on the quoted line above. Do you mean to say that India (and Ecosport) will be the first markret to get this new ecoboost engine? Because I am quite sure that in developed markets, any of the small Ford which gets this Ecoboost engine will have an auto box as standard.

Edit: Not sure if this was shared before. A video from Ford UK website on the Ecoboost engine
http://www.ford.co.uk/FordInnovation...ology/EcoBoost

India will be the first country to get the Ecosport. It will also be the first country to get the Ecosport with the Ecoboost engine.

You are right that in the west this engine will come with an auto box but as of now the west will get only manual 5 speed and 6 speed transmission.

Ford has revealed the focus 1.0 ecoboost in UK and the price is some where around the 16000£ mark and comes with only a manual transmission 5 speed or 6 speed.

[amit_2025]

Saw this outside the NCR Ford Showroom at Defence Colony. Wonder how soon is it coming? Considering the website updates and the hoardings, shouldn't be too far away.

[Animesh]

I just posted about Testing being done by Renault Duster in Chennai some time back on the thread http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/auto-e...-2012-a-8.html

Seems like Renault and Ford are going head to head. So much better for us consumers.

[Fusion2006]

Originally Posted by amit_2025

Saw this outside the NCR Ford Showroom at Defence Colony. Wonder how soon is it coming? Considering the website updates and the hoardings, shouldn't be too far away.

Attachment 881439

Mods - Request you to please re align the picture.

Ummm....what's it supposed to be in the picture?

[netarchie]

^^
The banner and the ecosport standing besides Endy.

[Rehaan]

Originally Posted by netarchie

^^
The banner and the ecosport standing besides Endy.

Just the banner.

Thats a new Fiesta next to the Endy.

cya
R

[vnabhi]

Originally Posted by Mustang.101

India will be the first country to get the Ecosport. It will also be the first country to get the Ecosport with the Ecoboost engine.

You are right that in the west this engine will come with an auto box but as of now the west will get only manual 5 speed and 6 speed transmission.

.

Is the Ford B-Max the same as the Ecosport? They do look similar, going by the link below. If so, this is getting released in the UK in September.

5FWD - New Ford B-Max unveiled by Fifth Gear

Edit: They do look different on second inspection, but the large air dam in the front confused me. They do share the same engine however

[DevilsCry]

Originally Posted by vnabhi

Is the Ford B-Max the same as the Ecosport?

No. B-Max is an MPV while EcoSport is an SUV. Yes, they do share 1.0L EcoBoost engine, so also will the new Focus (after one month).

[Mustang.101]

Originally Posted by vnabhi

Is the Ford B-Max the same as the Ecosport? They do look similar, going by the link below. If so, this is getting released in the UK in September.

5FWD - New Ford B-Max unveiled by Fifth Gear

Edit: They do look different on second inspection, but the large air dam in the front confused me. They do share the same engine however

Same platform ie. same assembly line as the new fiesta and ecosport but the B-Max is more of a small MUV rather than a small SUV.

The body styles of these 3 cars is different even though the assembly line is the same.

Fiesta - small sedan (premium sedan in india but small in US)
Fiesta hatch - premium hatch
Ecosport - small SUV
B-Max - small MUV

The B-max has rear sliding doors for easy entry/exit and will have the same engine as the ecosport. However, there are no plans as of now to bring it in india.

The ecoboost line of engines is the future of all new ford vehicle launches.

So expect to see an ecoboost in almost every new ford car launched in the world.

*ecoboost engines are available in a variety of displacements. <- to avoid confusion amongst new readers.