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Old 4th September 2011, 04:59   #136
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Re: Ford India's future line up

the ecosport is built on the fusion platform which in turn is built on the fiesta platform. this scoop could be pertaining to the ecosport - maybe a foreshortened versionn which becomes sub 4 metre length.
should be a nice little mini SUV whenever it comes out.
wonder when it will come out though!

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Originally Posted by vb-san View Post
According to Hormazd Sorabjee, Autocar India, Ford's next product for India is not the Focus sedan, but a small SUV based on the Fiesta platform. Interesting move, and the car apparently will be less than 4 meters in length.

Here is the relevant link: The Autocar India Show: Scoop - YouTube
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Old 4th September 2011, 08:35   #137
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Re: Ford India's future line up

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Originally Posted by suhaas307 View Post
The mini-SUV sounds great too. But I wonder how they propose they do that. What car do they have in mind? Will it be a SKD of some existing Ford product sold elsewhere, or would it be a brand-new in-house, India-specific car?
Quote:
Originally Posted by shankar.balan View Post
the ecosport is built on the fusion platform which in turn is built on the fiesta platform. this scoop could be pertaining to the ecosport - maybe a foreshortened versionn which becomes sub 4 metre length.
should be a nice little mini SUV whenever it comes out.
wonder when it will come out though!
I feel this could be an India specific variation (especially after the learning from the global Fiesta). As Shankar mentioned, it could be a derivative of Ecosport. Once the Gujarat plant start rolling, this could soon become a reality. At least we can hope so
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Old 4th September 2011, 09:45   #138
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Re: Ford India's future line up

Ford's learnt it's lesson with the Escort, Mondeo and Fusion. We all know what the costs for upkeep were. That's when it realised that India is a totally different ball game and brought on India specific models like Ikon and Fiesta. It's shameful but a fact that we can't afford a mainstream Ford yet, be it sedan or hatch.
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Old 4th September 2011, 14:27   #139
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Re: Ford India's future line up

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Originally Posted by vb-san View Post
I feel this could be an India specific variation (especially after the learning from the global Fiesta). As Shankar mentioned, it could be a derivative of Ecosport. Once the Gujarat plant start rolling, this could soon become a reality. At least we can hope so
This is how the Ecosport 2012 might look -

Name:  2012FordEcoSportIndia.jpg
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Ford India's future line up-2012fordecosportindia2.jpg


Pretty solid looker. With a detuned engine it might create ripples in the mini SUV market.

SOURCE - Lo que ofrecerá el nuevo Ford EcoSport 2012 [y III]
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Old 4th September 2011, 14:48   #140
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Re: Ford India's future line up

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Originally Posted by RavenAvi View Post
This is how the Ecosport 2012 might look -

Attachment 604163

Attachment 604164


Pretty solid looker. With a detuned engine it might create ripples in the mini SUV market.

SOURCE - Lo que ofrecerá el nuevo Ford EcoSport 2012 [y III]
That is an interesting impression and rendering of the Ecosport.

It's got bits and pieces from various cars in the Ford stable. You can see cues borrowed from the Fiesta, the Kuga, and even the Edge crossover. The rear-three-quarter gives you the impression that it has been inspired by the Mercedes ML, largely due to that wrap-around glass-house and the spare-wheel mounted on the boot-lid.

The spare wheel on the boot-lid might also indicate that the rear hatch opens sideways. That will indicate the car's practicality.

It should be a small car. Maybe a scale smaller than the Yeti. Ford must price this right, and equip it correctly.

What are the engine options it might be available with? I think Ford might plonk the Fiesta's engines into its engine-bay.

Last edited by suhaas307 : 4th September 2011 at 14:50.
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Old 4th September 2011, 15:12   #141
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Durango Dude
Ford's learnt it's lesson with the Escort, Mondeo and Fusion. We all know what the costs for upkeep were. That's when it realised that India is a totally different ball game and brought on India specific models like Ikon and Fiesta. It's shameful but a fact that we can't afford a mainstream Ford yet, be it sedan or hatch.
I guess you mean 'India specific' version of Fiesta, which otherwise is a global model.

Not sure Ford has actually learned any lessons though - 400 new Ford Fiestas in August is a pretty pathetic response to its launch.
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Old 4th September 2011, 17:26   #142
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Re: Ford India's future line up

The good thing being on the Fiesta platform, is that parts would be easily
available. Unlike Fusion, which was really stuck in between this would be a true SUV including design elements.

Fusion did not sell, become it was competing in a wrong category of sedans.
Now this would be in SUV terrain albeit, in a different price band.
Ford will learn from its Fiesta pricing fiasco and hence should have
some thing good in store for this one.
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Old 5th September 2011, 13:01   #143
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Re: Ford India's future line up

Is there any chance of Ford relaunching the Mondeo in India?? Im sure if they launch the top end with the diesel plant it should do well considering they price it right.
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Old 5th September 2011, 13:45   #144
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Re: Ford India's future line up

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Is there any chance of Ford relaunching the Mondeo in India?? Im sure if they launch the top end with the diesel plant it should do well considering they price it right.
The Mondeo, when it was launched here in India, was a total flop. Even though it was a better car than the then Accord in almost every possible way, it lacked reliability. This is where the Honda trumped the Ford.

Also, the Mondeo was way ahead of its time. It had Xenon-projector lights up front, as standard equipment. If I recall correctly, it was the first car to come equipped with that feature, in the price-bracket.

What really killed it for the Mondeo was the price of spares. One headlight unit, for instance, would set you back by 40k, almost! That's a huge amount, and back then, it was an even bigger deal because the only cars that could have spare-parts priced like that was a Mercedes.

Ford would do good by introducing the new Mondeo in India. However, they should try and aim at localization and look to price it correctly.
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Old 5th September 2011, 13:57   #145
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Re: Ford India's future line up

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Ford would do good by introducing the new Mondeo in India. However, they should try and aim at localization and look to price it correctly.
As per the last update by @Mustang, Ford was planning to roll only the Focus sedan for 2012, with a slight chance of the Fiesta hatch. But the latest ACI tweet says, the mini-SUV may be on cards. So what I am guessing is that Focus would get launced, but instead of the Fiesta hatch, they may launch this Small SUV.

Ideal for me !
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Old 5th September 2011, 14:07   #146
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Re: Ford India's future line up

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As per the last update by @Mustang, Ford was planning to roll only the Focus sedan for 2012, with a slight chance of the Fiesta hatch. But the latest ACI tweet says, the mini-SUV may be on cards. So what I am guessing is that Focus would get launced, but instead of the Fiesta hatch, they may launch this Small SUV.

Ideal for me !
I remember having a chat with @Mustang on one of the threads on Team BHP. He explicitly mentioned that the Fiesta hatch isn't on the cards. That left me very disappointed. The first car I'd buy when I start earning would be the Fiesta hatch. Of course, I would have to think very hard before I make that decision, since the Polo 1.6 is a very tempting proposition.

I hope the Fiesta hatch makes it to our shores. Otherwise, it would be an utter blunder. Such a wonderful car, left out due to Ford's lack of creative thinking and marketing.

The mini-SUV would be perfect for our roads.

- Small, so you can maneuver it with easy, though congested city-traffic.
- It would have good ground-clearance, so you don't have to worry about bottoming out when you encounter large pot-holes and speed-breakers.
- A diesel engine would make it economical to run.
- Flexible seating would help making this car practical.

It needs to be priced correctly. And if it is, it should be a success. On paper, at least. We know that a lot of cars are success stories on paper, but turn out to be utter failures once they're on sale. Ford themselves have experience on this, so they should be careful.

The Focus sedan, IMO, might never come to India. I've read in several auto-magazines, every year, for the past 6 years, that Ford will be looking to introduce the Focus.

I will believe it only when it actually hits the showrooms.
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Old 5th September 2011, 14:32   #147
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Re: Ford India's future line up

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The mini-SUV would be perfect for our roads.

- Small, so you can maneuver it with easy, though congested city-traffic.
- It would have good ground-clearance, so you don't have to worry about bottoming out when you encounter large pot-holes and speed-breakers.
- A diesel engine would make it economical to run.
- Flexible seating would help making this car practical.
See, we are talking Fusion with more prominent SUV design elements!
Thats the reason, if it comes, I would just lap it up! Ideal for city traffic as you said.
My requirements don't include AWD. So a regular FWD diesel with power on tap
would suffice.

Lets see, if we can see it in show rooms! I would be very happy for this one.
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Old 5th September 2011, 15:04   #148
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Re: Ford India's future line up

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See, we are talking Fusion with more prominent SUV design elements!
Thats the reason, if it comes, I would just lap it up! Ideal for city traffic as you said.
My requirements don't include AWD. So a regular FWD diesel with power on tap
would suffice.

Lets see, if we can see it in show rooms! I would be very happy for this one.
Nail. On. Head. Ampere!

In fact, the Fusion is the perfect car. So those who talk about having a min-corssover, the Fusion is the ultimate definition of the same. Although, it may not have 4WD, it can still handle rough roads with aplomb, and that's what's required.

How many people will actually take it off road? In comparison, how many people will encounter rough roads?

Ford, don't forget to do your homework this time round.
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Old 5th September 2011, 16:06   #149
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Re: Ford India's future line up

Even the same Fusion launched with a better pricing,lower spare prices and diesel power plant would sell IMHO. It was a good car,good looker too. Its high price coupled with high spare prices and late diesel entry spelled doom for it.
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Old 5th September 2011, 19:13   #150
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Re: Ford India's future line up

when I first evaluated the Fusion as a possible vehicle for myself in 2005 I said exactly this to the dealer chaps. give me the Fusion in Diesel, at a fair price with AWD and I will take it like a shot- basically a less expensive option to the Forester and diesel powered. the foolish clods at Ford overpriced the Fusion at first, then brought in the diesel very late and then killed it in the market. what a waste!
Now the EcoSport is based on the Fusion but is slightly higher and has 4WD. what a lovely vehicle that would be to have here in India. Only thing is that they need to load it with features and keep the price fair - say around 10 lacs on road max. this would simply eat up the top end Bolero, the Scorpio in most of its avatars and the Safari too.
They will also need to make the seating very clever and make the vehicle in India with local sourcing of parts etc so that it effectively becomes the value seeker's Yeti for an active outdoor lifestyle.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ampere View Post
See, we are talking Fusion with more prominent SUV design elements!
Thats the reason, if it comes, I would just lap it up! Ideal for city traffic as you said.
My requirements don't include AWD. So a regular FWD diesel with power on tap
would suffice.

Lets see, if we can see it in show rooms! I would be very happy for this one.
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