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Powerful and efficient new powertrains deliver enhanced performance, more power, better fuel efficiency and a smoother, more refined driving experience
EcoSport will offer all-wheel drive capability with the 2.0-liter Duratec engine for enhanced performance and capability
Stylish new interior design features 8-inch touchscreen with SYNC 3 connectivity together with completely redesigned instrument panel with soft-touch material
SHANGHAI, April 8, 2017 – The new Ford EcoSport, the small SUV designed to tame the urban jungle, made its Asia Pacific debut today at a special Ford event in the heart of Shanghai.
The new EcoSport has been comprehensively redesigned with a rugged new look, a sleek interior makeover, a raft of ingenious technologies and a new engine lineup that offers both more efficiency and more power.
“With the new EcoSport, we set out to create a smart SUV that is ideal for urban adventures and versatile enough to go beyond the city,” said Nigel Harris, president, Changan Ford Automobile Co. “We think EcoSport will surprise customers with not only its capability, but all the inventive touches that will make it a pleasure to drive.”
Eye-catching and wind-cheating
The new EcoSport builds on the dynamic appeal of its predecessor, starting with a reshaped front, and a large upper trapezoidal grille and lower grille that make it unmistakably a member of the Ford family of SUVs.
The sculpted hood features a wider central dome for a more muscular appearance. At either side, uninterrupted lines flow smoothly from the hood into the A-pillar. Another continuous line running from the beltline along the edge of the hood accentuates sleek new headlamps with LED daytime running lights. Bold fog lamps complete the face of the EcoSport and give it an edgier, more aggressive look.
The design is both bold and functional: Ford’s design and engineering team spent more than a million hours studying computer fluid dynamics, and more than 200 hours in a wind tunnel refining the aerodynamics of the new EcoSport.
User-centric interior design
To design the EcoSport’s new interior, Ford first studied the customer. Designers and psychologists spent thousands of hours watching and evaluating how people interact with their car on a daily basis, using tools including eye-tracking software alongside traditional customer feedback such as identifying which buttons drivers interact with most.
Through this process, Ford was able to establish that while drivers would tolerate the migration of some controls to digital, there was still a desire for physical volume, temperature and fan speed dials. The new EcoSport therefore features large and conveniently placed knobs that mean drivers can easily adjust volume, temperature and fan speed even, for example, if wearing gloves.
A broad range of other controls have been integrated into a visually appealing and intuitive eight-inch touchscreen, featured for the first time in EcoSport. With minimal buttons and controls, the screen has been placed closer to the driver’s line of sight, helping them keep their eyes on the road.
The overall result is a logical, emotive and user-centric interior design, inspired by smart devices and tablets in keeping with today’s modern driver habits. Ergonomic design and soft touch materials – including for the upper instrument panel – contribute to a spacious and premium feel.
A centrally located media bin makes it easy to stow a smartphone while charging. Designed to accommodate a phone as large as an iPhone 7 Plus, the bin comes with two illuminated USB ports.
The media bin is one of 27 compartments throughout the EcoSport’s cabin, offering convenient places for coffee cups, bottled drinks, sunglasses and umbrellas. Fold-flat rear seats maximize rear cargo space for urban shopping sprees.
The cabin of the new EcoSport is designed to be a sanctuary in a noisy city. Engineers worked to reduce unwanted noise and add an acoustic-laminated windshield to reduce noise and achieve class-leading performance for noise, vibration and harshness.
In SYNC with the city
The new EcoSport features Ford’s in-car infotainment system, SYNC 3, which allows drivers to control their entertainment, climate settings and navigation, as well as their connected smartphone, all with conversational voice commands.
SYNC 3 offers much faster performance than previous generations and features simpler voice commands. Simply by pushing a button and saying “I need a coffee,” “I need petrol” or “I need to park,” drivers can locate nearby cafés, petrol stations or car parks, and can also easily find train stations, airports and hotels nearby.
For added convenience, SYNC 3 allows Chinese customers to manually write an address on the navigation screen. The system recognizes thousands of Chinese characters and has an autocomplete function that makes searching for an address quick and convenient.
Customers with iPhones can use SYNC 3 to connect to Apple CarPlay, the smarter, safer way to use your iPhone in the car. This allows drivers to make phone calls, access their music, send and receive messages, get directions and more, all while staying focused on the road.
SYNC 3 also delivers Ford SYNC AppLink, enabling voice activation of a range of smartphone apps, including Qingting FM, Ximalaya, QQ Music, Kaola FM, CNR, Beva Children’s Song, Zuimei Weather Assistant and Dida car pool.
Power optimized for the city
Under the hood, customers can choose from one of three advanced engines: A powerful 2.0-liter Duratec direct injection engine, optimized for the city; the multiple award-winning 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine, providing the efficiency and power; and an all-new 1.5-liter Ti-VCT engine that is smaller, lighter, stronger and more efficient than the previous generation. On higher trim levels, Ford is offering an all-wheel drive system with the 2.0-liter engine for enhanced performance and capability.
A six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission offers smooth, precise shifts across all powertrain options. A new, sportier steering wheel with paddle shifters enhances the new EcoSport’s fun-to-drive feeling.
Improved power is matched with improved fuel efficiency. A new Auto Start-Stop system automatically shuts off the engine when idling at a red light and quickly restarts it when the driver lifts a foot off the brake, helping to save fuel and reduce emissions.
“Four years ago, the EcoSport came to China and became the pioneer of the mini SUV segment, meeting and exceeding customer needs,” said He Chaobin, executive vice president of Changan Ford Automobile Company, “With the new EcoSport, we are offering our customers a redesigned exterior and interior, a new engine lineup with improved efficiency and power, and a host of smart technologies that will help them go further and unlock more of life's possibilities.”
Available in more than 100 markets across the globe, the new Ford EcoSport will launch in China later in 2017. It will join the Kuga, Edge, Explorer and Everest as the newest upgrade to the Ford SUV family, offering Chinese customers a fun and affordable way to unlock even more of life’s possibilities.
Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification; mobility solutions, including self-driving services; and connected services. Ford employs approximately 187,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
