[frequentflyer]

It looks good! However as always, the price of the car is the key! Ford ought not to delay the launch too much as other entrants will corner the market as indeed to an extent the Ertiga has (although in a slightly different category).

[indivic]

EcoSport Titanium 2013


I find the image 21 a bit strange, the center console and the gearshift seem to be a little misaligned. I see on the passenger side some additional plastic from the gear console which seems to protrude and this is not visible on the driver side.
Is it a case of or could it be that the Ecosport was actually designed for RHD markets ?

[AutoIndian]

Check this out. A short video on the rigorous testing of Ecosport suspension & the water wading capabilities also being tested.

Ford EcoSport 2013 - YouTube

[man_and_machine]

Enthusiasts (like us) are waiting for some thing like this, agree. Is the normal market waiting for some thing that is so radical. Take the looks, it so radical to be true. Why is that such a thing has not been done before (there could be a first time, but still) just thinking, we are used to things that are similar to something that we already see, know (as a fan of sci-fi novels and his view on the those who do not read them).

My point is will this look last long or will this be too far ahead of its time? Will this break the stereotype or will be go down and "too odd".

For mass acceptance it needs to have mass appeal, you know what I mean. Common design patterns are always mass sellers, radicals get tough on a mass appeal. Its different for a designer market, point in case how many ramp dresses end up in the mass market?
I could be wrong (like apple had disapproved my above logic), but then is the Indian customer ready for such a disruptive design. (I would love to be proved wrong).

[Sudipto-S-Team]

Originally Posted by vvijay

I don't understand this- the production version of Brazil doesn't come with a spare wheel cover (it is in fact bolted onto the swing gate with only three nuts if you observe closely, cost cutting? ) while the Chinese and Indian markets get the PAINTED ( ) spare wheel cover that so spoils the look of the car, what logic is that?!

Don't know about Brazil but in India the spare externally fitted wheel is routinely stolen from cars like Sumo and Mahindra etc and people go to great lengths to get it locked with chunky Godrej Navtal. I quite see people here in India putting a faux leather cover over that body coloured cover with the name of the dealer written in big capital letters and also perhaps the address !!!

A related information: India is the only country where refrigerators come with a lock !!! Mera Bharat Mahan.

[man_and_machine]

Originally Posted by Sudipto-S-Team

A related information: India is the only country where refrigerators come with a lock !!! Mera Bharat Mahan.

Off topic: Guess we have the naughtiest kids in the world!

[swiftnfurious]

I am bit worried about the boot space in Ecosport! A 12" sub-woofer & the space is gone!

Below is what Hormazd [ACI] tweets about Ecosport

• After dodging the question (even misleading us!) Ford has finally confirmed EcoSport is sub 4 metres. All this and more on Autocar Show
• EcoSport's touch sensitive, electric operated boot release located in tail light cluster. Neat, but hard to first find!

[vvijay]

Thanks a lot swiftnfurious. Now this comes to all our relief as all our debates of Ecosport qualifying for under-4m excise cuts comes to an end. Now one can expect a very competitive pricing from Ford, just can't wait for it . Just curious, what exactly is "touch sensitive" about the boot release?

[AutoIndian]

Originally Posted by swiftnfurious

I am bit worried about the boot space in Ecosport! A 12" sub-woofer & the space is gone!

Below is what Hormazd [ACI] tweets about Ecosport
Attachment 920216

That's wonderful news & if it is coming from Hormazd then it must be true. Now the only question is how much of this excise duty benefit is Ford willing to pass on to the customer. If they want to crush the competition, then they should pass on the full benefit. Duster's of this world should be worried now. Ford have learnd the lesson with the Fiesta pricing & it would have been foolhardy on their part not to avail the under 4m excise duty benefit. The only reason I believe keeping this top secret was not to spill all the beans, especially related to pricing. If the car buying public is aware of this fact then they would obviously expect a very competitive pricing & if Ford misses the expectations by a wide margin then not even God can save the Ecosport.

[poloman]

Originally Posted by AutoIndian

That's wonderful news & if it is coming from Hormazd then it must be true. Now the only question is how much of this excise duty benefit is Ford willing to pass on to the customer. If they want to crush the competition, then they should pass on the full benefit. Duster's of this world should be worried now. Ford have learnd the lesson with the Fiesta pricing & it would have been foolhardy on their part not to avail the under 4m excise duty benefit. The only reason I believe keeping this top secret was not to spill all the beans, especially related to pricing. If the car buying public is aware of this fact then they would obviously expect a very competitive pricing & if Ford misses the expectations by a wide margin then not even God can save the Ecosport.

This can work both ways. If they squeeze it under 4m, interior space is going to suffer. Already people have started to crib over the boot space. A SUV(?) with not much space inside, how Indians are going to perceive this, one has to wait and watch. Lot of expectations are going to come crashing down.

[AutoIndian]

Originally Posted by poloman

This can work both ways. If they squeeze it under 4m, interior space is going to suffer. Already people have started to crib over the boot space. A SUV(?) with not much space inside, how Indians are going to perceive this, one has to wait and watch. Lot of expectations are going to come crashing down.

True, interior space can suffer & the boot is likely to take the most beating. I won't mind if the boot gets reduced even by 100 odd litres if I am going to save a lakh rupees on the on-road price. The full capacity of the boot is going to be utilized for less than 5% (at least in my case).

[swiftnfurious]

Originally Posted by vvijay

...Just curious, what exactly is "touch sensitive" about the boot release?

Probably the user just needs to touch the highlighted space and the door pops open [no pulling / pushing etc]! If you see some of the premium sedans, they have a similar feature where you can just flash your foot under the boot and due to a motion sensor, the lid unlocks and pops up. This is a very handy feature when you carry stuffs in both your hands and no manual effort is required to open the boot lid. The new 3 series will come with this feature!

[DevilsCry]

Wonderful news!
I feel that this news is big enough for us to request the mods to add in the title "Edit: sub 4m length confirmed". From my experience, Hormazd Sorabjee can never be wrong. Now one wish of mine is left- confirmation of a base EcoSport without all this gadget gizmos. I really am not much into all these gizmos like cruise control, voice control, bluetooth calling and all. A base model with airbags + ABS would suffice for me. But looking at keyless door handles and touch sensitive boot door, I think it is unlikely to happen.

[vij]

I am bit disappointed that Ecosport is after all nothing but a humble small car - just like Figo in size. I hate big and dislike small. 4.2m would have been ideal. Guess Yeti is the only vehicle thats the right size for me.


This sub 4m news is good for people interested in small cars or a smallish 2nd car and yes the price can be good now as pointed out earlier by some members. Then again there's going to be zero flaunt value.

[swiftnfurious]

Originally Posted by vij

I am bit disappointed that Ecosport is after all nothing but a humble small car - just like Figo in size. I hate big and dislike small. 4.2m would have been ideal. Guess Yeti is the only vehicle thats the right size for me...

If you are NOT very keen on the brand, wait for Duster. You would NOT be disappointed I guess.