Ford to tweak EcoSport to make it a better buyers choice - about time too, it is awful.

Ford Motor will offer the EcoSport SUV in Europe without the spare wheel on the outside of the rear tailgate after the SUV's sales got off to a slow start.

The EcoSport has failed to make a big impact in the region’s booming subcompact SUV/crossover segment against sleeker-looking rivals such as the Renault Captur, Peugeot 2008 and Opel/Vauxhall Mokka.

When the India-built EcoSport launched in Europe last year, Ford said the vehicle’s rear design could not be changed.

Ford now says the EcoSport will be sold in Europe without the exterior spare wheel starting in May. It will be an option offered at no extra cost, a Ford spokesman said. The EcoSport’s rear door will remain side-hinged.

The SUV’s redesign will also include new interior plastics and changes to the suspension. “We want to give it a bit more Fiesta personality,” the spokesman said. The Fiesta subcompact hatchback is Ford’s No. 1 seller in Europe.

IHS Automotive analyst Ian Fletcher said Ford appears to have made a “big misstep” with the EcoSport in Europe, given the potential growth in the segment in the next couple of years.

Ford sold 11,257 EcoSports in Europe through November after launching the model in April, according to figures from JATO Dynamics.

The segment leader, the Renault Captur, had sales of 149,701 during the same period. The Peugeot 2008, the No. 2 seller, had sales of 125,002 while Opel sold 114,658 Mokkas.

IHS forecasts that European sales of subcompact SUVs will grow to more than 900,000 by 2017 from 500,000 last year, boosted by new arrivals such as the Fiat 500X, which IHS predicts will sell over 70,000 units to put it fifth behind the Captur, 2008, Nissan Juke and Mokka.

IHS forecasts that Ford will sell 20,239 EcoSports in Europe this year, instead of its original prediction of 36,000 sales.

Ford designed the EcoSport to suit customers’ tastes in its main markets of India and Brazil where buyers prefer rugged-looking vehicles. Late last year Ford started production of the EcoSport in Russia to take advantage of the country’s growing SUV market.

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Nick Gibbs

USA - Ford announces sales for year end and December, Still the #1 brand

• Ford brand 2013 retail sales up 14 percent, with cars up 12 percent, utilities up 13 percent, trucks up 17 percent; Ford is best-selling brand for fourth consecutive year
• Ford Motor Company total December sales up 2 percent, with retail sales up 3 percent for best December since 2005
• Ford Fusion sales up 27 percent for a record December; both Ford Fusion and Ford Fiesta hit annual sales records in 2013
•  Ford Escape sales up 22 percent, helping the vehicle to an annual sales record in 2013
•  Ford F-Series tops 70,000 sales following eight straight months of sales above 60,000 vehicles; F-Series now best-selling truck for 37 years and best-selling vehicle for 32 years

Ford reigns as America’s best-selling vehicle brand in 2013 for a fourth consecutive year, with annual sales records set for Ford Fiesta, Fusion and Escape, and F-Series continuing as the country’s best-selling truck and vehicle for another straight year.

Ford Motor Company 2013 U.S. sales totaled 2,493,918 vehicles. For December, total sales are 218,058 vehicles up 2 percent – with retail up 3 percent.

Ford brand U.S. retail sales are up 14 percent for the year. Overall, the Ford brand closes out 2013 with 2,412,224 vehicles sold. Ford produced double-digit annual retail gains across its lineup – cars up 12, utilities up 13 percent, and trucks are up 17 percent – with higher average transaction prices. Retail sales gains for the Ford brand are strongest in the West, where sales are up 21 percent, and the Southeast, with sales up 17 percent for the year.

“December was a strong close to an even better year for Ford Motor Company,” said John Felice, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service. “We saw strong growth across the entire Ford lineup and made significant gains in the import-dominated coastal markets.

“Strong demand for our new cars, utilities, hybrids and trucks provided Ford with the largest share point gain of any full-line automaker in 2013,” Felice continued.

Ford Fusion December performance is up 27 percent with 24,408 sales, setting a record for the month. Fusion sales of 295,280 vehicles in 2013 represent a 22 percent increase, setting an annual record.

Fusion continues to be a significant driver to the company’s growth in the U.S. western and southeastern regions, where retail sales are up 61 percent and 29 percent, respectively in 2013.

Ford Fiesta sales of 71,073 vehicles for the year mark a record, as well – and up 25 percent over 2012.

Ford Escape sales are up 22 percent for the month, with 24,462 vehicles sold. For the year, Escape sales of 295,993 vehicles represent a 13 percent gain, setting an annual record.

December sales of 74,592 Ford F-Series vehicles extend the truck’s string of selling more than 60,000 units a month to eight. Sales of 763,402 F-Series vehicles in 2013 represent the truck’s highest level since 2006. F-Series remains America’s best-selling truck for 37 straight years and the country’s best-selling vehicle for 32 consecutive years.

Lincoln MKZ December sales increase 73 percent, with 2,823 cars sold, providing the Lincoln brand with an overall increase of 8 percent.