All-new Ford EcoSport offers all the practicality and affordability

• All-new Ford EcoSport offers all the practicality and affordability of a small car in a spacious and flexible SUV package
• EcoSport is among the first Ford vehicles in Europe to be equipped with Ford SYNC with AppLink for voice control of smartphone apps including Spotify
• Equipped with the 2014, 2013 and 2012 International Engine of the Year, the EcoSport is the first-ever SUV to be offered with a 1.0-litre engine
• 125PS 1.0-litre EcoSport achieves 53.3mpg and 125g/km CO₂*. EcoSport is also available with 112PS 1.5-litre petrol engine that delivers 44.8mpg and 149g/km CO₂; and a very fuel-efficient 90PS 1.5-litre TDCi diesel that achieves 61.4mpg and 120g/km
• Rugged, practical and agile EcoSport features; wading depth of 550mm; 20 stowage spaces; and boot space that exceeds many medium-sized family cars

Ford’s all-new EcoSport SUV offers the optimum combination of small car agility, affordability and fuel efficiency, with the flexibility and space customers expect from a SUV – in one stylish and connected package.

The stylish and rugged Ford EcoSport is the first SUV in the world to offer a 1.0-litre engine and is among the first Ford vehicles in Europe available with Ford SYNC with AppLink, enabling drivers to voice-control smartphone apps while keeping their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.

“All-new Ford EcoSport delivers a clever and connected small car for our European customers,” said Nick Fitzgerald, EcoSport chief programme engineer. “Ford’s new urban SUV is economical, flexible and stylish, and will line-up alongside the new B-MAX compact multi-activity vehicle, the best-selling Fiesta to complete Ford’s comprehensive small car line-up for the UK.”

EcoSport is the first Ford global model to be developed entirely in South America. First introduced in 2003 the EcoSport created the segment in Brazil and has since sold more than 770,000 in the region. Ford engineers and designers from more than 16 countries worked together to develop the all-new EcoSport that is launched amid increasing demand for SUVs in Europe. Ford projects that between 2013 and 2018, sales of all SUVs in Europe will increase by 22 per cent, and sales of small SUVs – like EcoSport – will increase by 90 per cent.

Ford is leveraging its historic leadership in SUVs in North America and other regions around the world to expand its line-up in Europe.

“It’s in Ford’s DNA to engineer class-leading SUVs,” Fitzgerald said. “EcoSport has already achieved iconic status in South America and now Ford will extend its UK range to introduce this rugged-looking, surprisingly spacious and affordable SUV.” 

Stylish and practical

Ford’s first global SUV, EcoSport, is stylish and practical – with a short bonnet, raked front pillars, and a distinctive five-piece chrome front grille with angular headlamps and signature LED light strips.

The full-sized spare wheel mounted on the tailgate ensures the EcoSport’s load capacity rivals that of many medium-sized family cars with up to 375 litres available when the rear seats are in place, depending on the rake of the seats. The EcoSport also delivers a commanding driving position with the driver’s seat height adjustable and the steering column adjustable for both reach and rake.

There are 20 smart stowage solutions, including room in the door pockets to store a large drinks bottle, a slide-out drawer under the front passenger seat, and a cooled glove box that can store up to six 350ml drink cans. 

Sporty and economical

EcoSport is available with the highly-acclaimed turbocharged 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine – three times winner of International Engine of the Year – to deliver performance to rival a traditional 1.6-litre engine, but with significantly better fuel efficiency and lower CO₂ emissions.

The 125PS 1.0-litre EcoBoost achieves 53.3mpg and 125g/km CO₂*. EcoSport also offers a 112PS 1.5-litre petrol engine that can achieve 44.8mpg and 149g/km CO₂ specified with a five-speed manual gearbox or with a six-speed automatic gearbox. A 90PS 1.5-litre diesel engine achieves 61.4mpg with 120g/km CO₂emissions.

The dynamic and fun-to-drive personality of the all-new EcoSport mirrors that of the acclaimed Fiesta.

“EcoSport’s combination of exciting looks, great performance and advanced technology is made all the more impressive by the fact that it’s all comfortably powered along by a frugal 1.0-litre engine,” Fitzgerald said.

Clever and connected

EcoSport features Hill Start Assist, Cruise Control, automatic wipers and headlights, and rear-parking sensors. The Ford SYNC in-car connectivity system enables voice-activation of phone calls and music selection from devices connected via Bluetooth or USB.

Ford SYNC Emergency Assistance will directly connect the vehicle occupants to local emergency services operators after an accident, and crucially, in the correct language for the region. Ford SYNC with AppLink will enable EcoSport owners to voice-activate apps, including leading music streaming service Spotify.

The urban SUV

In testing, the all-new EcoSport was first subjected to 20,000 virtual test scenarios using software to replicate a multitude of different road conditions from around the world. It was then driven more than one million miles on roads in South America, North America, Asia and Europe, in temperatures ranging from 50deg C to -25deg C, and at altitudes of up to 4,300m.

EcoSport’s agility and ability ensure it can tackle even the most challenging road conditions, whether it’s narrow, twisting, uneven rural roads, or the potholes and high kerbs of an urban environment. The 10.6m turning circle is among the best in its segment, and the EcoSport – which is equipped with front and rear skid plates – also has a 180mm ground clearance, a 22.1deg approach angle, 35deg departure angle and a wading depth of 550mm.

The new Ford EcoSport has been awarded a four-star safety rating from independent vehicle safety organisation Euro NCAP, and is equipped with driver, passenger, curtain and side airbags – as well as a driver’s knee airbag – as standard.

Super-high-strength boron steel has been used in the door frames to provide a high strength safety cell; and further safety systems include: Traction Control, Electronic Stability Program, Anti-Lock Brakes, Electronic Brake-Force Distribution and Emergency Brake Assist; and the EcoSport is also equipped with Tyre Pressure Monitoring System and Passenger Airbag Deactivation Indicator.