Ford EcoSport's USPs: It's cheap and has emergency assistance

By Pranbihanga Borpuzari

In a segment which is growing rapidly, Ford India has launched its highly anticipated compact SUV for prices ranging between Rs 5.59 lakh and Rs 8.44 lakh.

The car features three engine and two gearbox options. This includes the 1-litre EcoBoost engine, the 1.5 litre petrol engine and the 1.5 litre diesel engine. While the 1.5 litre engines are the same as that in the Fiesta, the frugal and highly acclaimed three-cylinder 1,000cc petrol engine called the EcoBoost is completely new and a trendsetter.

Although the engine is comparable to the ones on a hatchback in terms of cubic capacity of the engine, it produces a healthy 120bhp and 170Nm of torque with the help of turbocharging. Ford says this makes the engine environment friendly and provides good mileage.

[caption id=“attachment_906991” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Although the engine is comparable to the ones on a hatchback in terms of cubic capacity of the engine, it produces a healthy 120bhp and 170Nm of torque with the help of turbocharging.[/caption]

The 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged diesel unit on the other hand is the familiar engine developing 90bhp and 204Nm of torque. The Ford Duratorq engine has been in the country for some time now and produces a good fuel efficiency of about 20kpl on the highways.

Ford India is also the first auto manufacturer and EcoSport is the only vehicle in its segment to offer a potentially life-saving Emergency Assistance system. Emergency Assistance is a vehicle-based, no-cost, non-subscription call-for-help system that is already available in more than 5 million Ford vehicles globally.

Emergency Assistance works by delivering a critical voice message directly to emergency operators, indicating that a vehicle has been involved in an accident in which the airbags have been deployed or fuel pump shut off triggered and opens the line for hands-free communication.

The sub-four meter compact SUV was first unveiled in the concept form at the 2012 Auto Expo and is already on sale in Brazil and China.

The EcoSport is being built at Ford’s plant in Chennai, from where it will also be exported to few other markets in Africa and Middle East.

Price list:

1.5 litre (Petrol) - Rs 5.59 lakh

1.5 TDCI (Diesel) - Rs 6.69 lakh

1 Litre (Petrol with Ecoboost engine ) - Rs 7.89 lakh

1.5 (AT Petrol) - Rs 8. 44 lakh

(Pranbihanga Borpuzari works for Entrepreneur magazine)