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0 of 0 In the motoring journalism game they're called long-lead launches - media events designed to introduce a brand-new vehicle well before they actually arrive on local markets.
The vehicle is being sold in South America and China now. Soon it will be launched in India and Thailand, and Australia will receive it well before the end of this year. But New Zealand is going to have to wait until April next year - maybe even later - before supplies arrive here. The reason for the delay is that Ford New Zealand initially hesitated over deciding whether the EcoSport should be imported to our country. By the time the decision was made, other right-hand-drive markets had got first-dibs on supplies of models now being produced at Ford's Maraimalai Nagar plant near Chennai in India. So New Zealand has to wait. Meanwhile however, Ford has been busy introducing the EcoSport to media from throughout Asia-Pacific at a series of events in the Indian coastal province of Goa. New Zealand is part of Asia-Pacific, so last week a small group of Kiwi writers attended one of the functions in what must rate as one of the longest long-lead launch events around. And in a classic case of having to drive what is made available, we were unable to get behind the wheel of what is coming to New Zealand anyway. The EcoSport that Ford New Zealand has chosen to import will be the model powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine, and not the version powered by Ford's sensational new 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost engine that was recently named the 2012 International Engine of the Year. The reason why we aren't getting that engine is because it only comes with a five-speed manual transmission in the EcoSport, and the small-vehicle market in New Zealand is almost exclusively an automatic transmission one. So, in what is entirely a marketing decision, we're taking the 1.5-litre model that comes with Ford's six-speed PowerShift auto. Ironically however, we will be getting the diminutive EcoBoost engine in a facelifted Fiesta hatch later this year - and it will be mated to an automatic transmission - so at least we will have the opportunity locally to experience the delights of this impressive little engine. But not in the EcoSport, unfortunately. At last week's media event, Trevor Worthington, Ford's vehicle programme director for passenger vehicles and SUVs, confirmed there are no current plans for an auto for that engine in that vehicle. This is because the EcoSport has been designed in South America where manual transmissions are still king. Worthington, an Australian, said the EcoSport has been created for the urban consumer and the urban environment. "We believe that for such a vehicle to succeed it has to offer three things - its design must be contemporary and fit into the lives customers live, it has to offer the technology to allow owners to navigate their way through a busy world, and it has to offer the SUV-style command driving position. "And all of that has to be wrapped into a compact and efficient vehicle. We believe EcoSport achieves all of that. That's why we call it the urban SUV." With that as background, India was perhaps the ideal location for the Asia-Pacific launch of the EcoSport - not the least because it is built there. Although it is very much a small vehicle built on the same B-segment platform as the Fiesta hatch, it has a ground clearance of 200mm and a wading depth of 550mm - enough, journalists were told, to allow owners in India to drive confidently through large pools of water during the monsoon season. In New Zealand, it's more probable that the toughest assignment for a front-drive vehicle with a 200mm ground clearance might be not much more than wading through a few puddles during a Christchurch rain storm. More significant is the fact that the ground clearance does contribute to an increased ride height, which is one of the primary reasons why SUV-style vehicles are becoming increasingly popular.
The little Ford does look rakishly smart though. At last week's media event, Ford Asia-Pacific's small-car chief engineer Juan De Pena spoke the obvious when he said the exterior design of the EcoSport is so the top of the vehicle looks to be sitting on the bottom, but it was easy to see what he meant. This vehicle has a very sure-footed stance thanks to muscular edges and a high beltline. Something that is especially nice is at the rear where the tailgate's handle has been built into the tail lamp in an effort to keep the vehicle's profile sculpted. The interior is fairly snug and some of the fit and finish looks a little lacking, but specification looks good and includes the Sync connectivity system, and the seats do feel good. The rear seats slide forward and aft for more leg room if required, and cargo space can be increased from 362 litres to as much as 705 litres when the back seats are folded down, which Ford says is sufficient room to store a washing machine. A couple of interesting interior features are the vehicle's 20 storage spaces including a glove box able to keep up to six cans of beverage cool, and an air-conditioning system capable of cooling the cabin from 65C to under 30C in just 10 minutes. Both of these proved invaluable last week in sweltering heat as India headed towards the traditional June 1 start to its monsoon season. Also impressive is how quiet the cabin is. Doors are double sealed, and new technologies have been used to help improve glass sealing. The little SUV also has an acoustic headliner. Powering the EcoSport for New Zealand will be Ford's new global 1.5-litre normally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine, which delivers 82 kilowatts of power and 140 Newton metres of torque - which is less than the 92 kW/170 Nm developed by the turbocharged three-cylinder 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine that will power the new vehicle in other markets, including Australia. This 1.5-litre engine is not in any other Ford product currently available in New Zealand, and it was not available to experience at last week's media event. However we do know that it features twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT), which allows precise and variable control of what is known as valve overlap, which is the window of time in which an engine's intake and exhaust valves are open at the same time. By continuously adjusting this overlap, the Ti-VCT can operate at optimum settings for best fuel economy or power output as conditions demand. It also broadens the engine's torque curve. Last week's drive programme was along roads in such bad condition and so clogged with everything from motorcyclists to sacred cows, that it took several hours to cover 140 km in what was best described as a chaotic drive. The good news about that was that the EcoSport's electric power-assisted steering proved perfect for the job - apart from offering more assistance at the lower speeds, it also has the same software-based features as those aboard the newly-launched Kuga SUV, such as pull-drift compensation which detects and helps overcome lumpy road conditions, and active nibble control which reduces vibrations often felt through the steering wheel at higher speeds. EcoSport also has a turning circle of 10.65m which helps make navigating urban traffic easier. In some respects, it is a pity that Ford New Zealand hesitated in deciding whether or not to bring in the EcoSport, because if it had been introduced here this year instead of 2014, the company would have been able to grab the high marketing ground in a sales segment that is rapidly growing in popularity all over the world and which is not currently well served here. And it is also unfortunate that when it does arrive in New Zealand, the EcoSport will not feature that excellent little three-cylinder EcoBoost engine. Maybe the future will see the Ford hierarchy decide to install such a transmission - which would probably result in the Ford people here reacting a lot quicker next time around. - © Fairfax NZ News  via Technology - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEz2P2aDIsosqPp_B0ncN6gdhW2Dw&url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/lifestyle-vehicles/8697905/Ford-NZ-stalls-on-EcoSport-uptake | ||||||||
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Ford NZ stalls on EcoSport uptake - Stuff.co.nz
Although the EcoSport isn't all-wheel drive, it certainly looks like an offroad-capable vehicle, particularly thanks to the classic styling cue of mounting the spare wheel on the outside of the rear door, which because of that has to swing open rather than up.
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Ford Ecosport is a sub-4 meter sedan which makes it duty-free and affordable according to the Indian customers.Its close rivals are Renault Duster and Xuv500.
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