This year at Beijing Auto show we witnessed unveiling of a superb new SUV from Lamborghini. Now, this one comes from the opposite end of where the Lambo came from. This is the Ford EcoSport, a cheap and economical crossover designed as a global fuel-efficient car for markets like China, India, Thailand and South America. It’s an interesting car though.
The EcoSport has funky looks, plenty of room, high driving position, and a modern cabin full of toys. It even gets the Ford SYNC driver connect system with voice control and many other innovative features such as Smart Keyless Entry, Ford Power Start, and a cooled bin in the glovebox (all standard on Titanium grade, which also gets 16-inch aluminium alloy wheels and a chrome grille.).
Ford EcoSport can be had a range of engines, including an all-new 1.0-litre, three-cylinder EcoBoost unit. The 1.0 liter will probably become the most popular powertrain for this car, since it’s hugely fuel efficient, and o be honest people who buy an economy crossover aren’t after performance or off road capabilities. They want something cheap that is also cheap to run.
The EcoSport might suffer from the lack of enough power, but it sure gets a fair dose of safety features, such as dual front airbags and side curtain airbags, as well as Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Program. To take the stress out of driving, the EcoSport comes with an array of driver-assist features including Hill Launch Assist and rear parking sensors. What’s more, it gets power-assisted steering (EPAS) as well.