New Ecosport for international markets?

[Sherminator98]

https://www.rushlane.com/new-ford-suv-patent-leaks-is-this-next-gen-ecosport-12489276.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

[Andrew L]

Never cared for the EcoSport it looked kinda silly.  Also you could tell they did a lot of cost cutting on it.  This looks like it could be a more solid effort though.  Doubt we get it in the US even though Ford could use some more value options in their lineup.

[DeluxeStang]

Massive improvement, that's what happens when you hire Pininfarina to style your product. 

[twintornados]

Make it a hybrid and it will be an out-of-the-park hit

[akirby]

1 hour ago, twintornados said:

Make it a hybrid and it will be an out-of-the-park hit

Still too small for the NA market unless they make it slightly larger than the old one.

 

Even the Buick Encore was wider and longer than the last Ecosport.

[twintornados]

41 minutes ago, akirby said:

Still too small for the NA market unless they make it slightly larger than the old one.

 

Even the Buick Encore was wider and longer than the last Ecosport.

 

Assuming any replacement would increase in size of outgoing model

[AM222]

13 hours ago, akirby said:

Still too small for the NA market unless they make it slightly larger than the old one.

 

Even the Buick Encore was wider and longer than the last Ecosport.

The last EcoSport's size was limited in size so it could fit the lower sub-4 meter (sub-157.5 inch) Indian tax bracket (India was a major market for the second generation EcoSport). Export markets got a more substantial rear bumper that added a few more inches in length. Back in 2012 The EcoSport's size was considered average for a B-segment crossover. but each competitor that followed offered larger vehicles meant for the rest of the world. 

The subcompact Ford SUV (believed to be the next gen EcoSport) in the patent drawings looks like the prototype/ clay model leaked in late 2021 before Ford India stopped operations. Will Ford push through with it? It may not be important to the US and Canadian markets but relevant everywhere else around the globe.

-https://gaadiwaadi.com/ 

Edited May 9, 2024 by AM222

[jpd80]

15 hours ago, akirby said:

Still too small for the NA market unless they make it slightly larger than the old one.

 

Even the Buick Encore was wider and longer than the last Ecosport.

2023 Puma shows an improvement in width to 71” like the Encore

but the length is still shorter by 4” at 165”

 

If Ford is contemplating a new Ecosport on the global B Car platform,

I could see it sharing the same width and hopefully, as long as Encore.

Those changes would give it a better chance od success in the US.

[akirby]

Shorter is ok but it needs more width.  Sounds like it will be wider.

[DeluxeStang]

7 hours ago, jpd80 said:

2023 Puma shows an improvement in width to 71” like the Encore

but the length is still shorter by 4” at 165”

 

If Ford is contemplating a new Ecosport on the global B Car platform,

I could see it sharing the same width and hopefully, as long as Encore.

Those changes would give it a better chance od success in the US.

They need to get the quality right as well. The previous ecosport was a shitbox. 

[Andrew L]

1 hour ago, DeluxeStang said:

They need to get the quality right as well. The previous ecosport was a shitbox. 

 

Lots of cost cutting on the EcoSport too.  Like you could see the exterior paint on the doors because the trim around the door panels didn't cover it all the way.  I haven't seen that on a new car since probably the 90s.  

Edited May 9, 2024 by Andrew L

[passis]

Disappointing that the Brazil-born Ecosport will not be made in Bahia.

On the good side, for South America, BYD is bound to make more interesting vehicles there than Ford was planning to.

 

Brazilian media saying the Ecosport is going to be made in Valencia to replace the Fiesta and the Focus in Europe:

 

https://motor1.uol.com.br/news/719136/ford-ecosport-nova-geracao-europa/

 

PS: I wonder if Cuautitlán can still make B2 cars...

Edited May 9, 2024 by passis

[Sherminator98]

3 hours ago, passis said:

Brazilian media saying the Ecosport is going to be made in Valencia to replace the Fiesta and the Focus in Europe:

 

https://motor1.uol.com.br/news/719136/ford-ecosport-nova-geracao-europa/

 

PS: I wonder if Cuautitlán can still make B2 cars...

 

Future seems somewhat interesting-replacing C and a higher end B product with a "poverty" model B product. 

 

C sized EV products are now in the 40-50K range (Mach E and EU Explorer)

 

In North America they are talking about a 25K C sized EV to replace the Escape, I wonder if that will find its way over the EU by the end of the decade to replace the Explorer. 

[blazerdude20]

10 hours ago, Andrew L said:

 

Lots of cost cutting on the EcoSport too.  Like you could see the exterior paint on the doors because the trim around the door panels didn't cover it all the way.  I haven't seen that on a new car since probably the 90s.  

My wife’s 2021 Toyota Sienna is like this… it bothers me every time I’m in it. For a $40k+ vehicle it seems like extreme cost cutting. 

[AM222]

23 hours ago, jpd80 said:

2023 Puma shows an improvement in width to 71” like the Encore

but the length is still shorter by 4” at 165”

 

If Ford is contemplating a new Ecosport on the global B Car platform,

I could see it sharing the same width and hopefully, as long as Encore.

Those changes would give it a better chance od success in the US.

Puma's extra width is from the flared fenders with cladding. The pre-facelift model used the same dashboard as the recently discontinued Fiesta which is essentially a reskin of the older Fiesta sold in the US several years ago.
Fiesta


Puma


Puma's real advantage over the Fiesta and EcoSport is its rear legroom. The Puma uses a stretched version of the Global B-car platform with a wheelbase 3.9 inches longer than the Fiesta and 2.7 inches longer than the last EcoSport. 

The Puma is basically a LWB Fiesta with a slightly lifted suspension. Overall height of the Puma is 1550mm (60 inches). According to Ford this includes the shark fin antenna. 

There's room for a taller EcoSport in the Asian and South American markets that don't get the Puma.

I'd love to have a Puma, particularly the ST version with its slightly lower sports suspension, it's really a hot hatch and not much of a crossover.

Edited May 10, 2024 by AM222

[passis]

6 hours ago, silvrsvt said:

 

Future seems somewhat interesting-replacing C and a higher end B product with a "poverty" model B product. 

 

C sized EV products are now in the 40-50K range (Mach E and EU Explorer)

 

In North America they are talking about a 25K C sized EV to replace the Escape, I wonder if that will find its way over the EU by the end of the decade to replace the Explorer. 

 

I guess they want volume in Europe with an accessible entry vehicle.

[fuzzymoomoo]

18 hours ago, Andrew L said:

 

Lots of cost cutting on the EcoSport too.  Like you could see the exterior paint on the doors because the trim around the door panels didn't cover it all the way.  I haven't seen that on a new car since probably the 90s.  

2008 Focus

[Andrew L]

10 minutes ago, fuzzymoomoo said:

2008 Focus

 

That's true! 

[AM222]

15 hours ago, silvrsvt said:

 

Future seems somewhat interesting-replacing C and a higher end B product with a "poverty" model B product. 

A B-segment vehicle priced like a B-segment vehicle will always be welcome, but I doubt it would replace the Focus which costs more than an equivalent Puma.

*With a starting price of €28,900 ($31,127), the Puma is quite expensive for a B-segment vehicle. There's definitely room for another model below it. 

PS: Puma is called a "crossover" but at 60.6 inches tall at the tip of the shark fin antenna, it's really just a hatchback car.

Edited May 10, 2024 by AM222

[jpd80]

2 hours ago, AM222 said:

A B-segment vehicle priced like a B-segment vehicle will always be welcome, but I doubt it would replace the Focus which costs more than an equivalent Puma.

*With a starting price of €28,900 ($31,127), the Puma is quite expensive for a B-segment vehicle. There's definitely room for another model below it. 

PS: Puma is called a "crossover" but at 60.6 inches tall at the tip of the shark fin antenna, it's really just a hatchback car.

Agree

It’s close to the older North American ST170 Focus but the front and rear shoulder room 

at 53”/51”  is still 1” less than the earlier Focus, something that was pointed out earlier.

 

For North American buyers to embrace a small car, it would need more width which in

turn makes it then a small C, not a B car. It’s the same old problem.

 

A locally produced C2 Focus would be a good fit for Asia region even as lifted Active version.

Now that Europe is moving away from Focus, it could be produced elsewhere like Thailand 

in RHD and LHD ….pipe dream?

Edited May 10, 2024 by jpd80

[atomcat68]

4 hours ago, AM222 said:

A B-segment vehicle priced like a B-segment vehicle will always be welcome, but I doubt it would replace the Focus which costs more than an equivalent Puma.

*With a starting price of €28,900 ($31,127), the Puma is quite expensive for a B-segment vehicle. There's definitely room for another model below it. 

PS: Puma is called a "crossover" but at 60.6 inches tall at the tip of the shark fin antenna, it's really just a hatchback car.

That's pretty much sums up the Buick Envista and the Chevy Trax (a wagon).

[jpd80]

18 minutes ago, atomcat68 said:

That's pretty much sums up the Buick Envista and the Chevy Trax (a wagon).

Correct, auto companies doing just enough change and using word games to avoid

their vehicles being called cars and falling under tighter CAFE regs.

Honestly, it’s the governments fault for making car fuel economy standards too tough 

and encouraging buyers and manufacturers into bigger and less efficient vehicles.

[AM222]

5 hours ago, atomcat68 said:

That's pretty much sums up the Buick Envista and the Chevy Trax (a wagon).

True. The new Trax (now c-segment-based) is basically what a Cruze crossover would look like. Ford needs something like the new Trax. A compact big enough for North America and small enough for global markets.

 

The new Trax crossover is more of a hatchback than a full length wagon though.

Edited May 11, 2024 by AM222

[rmc523]

13 hours ago, AM222 said:

True. The new Trax (now c-segment-based) is basically what a Cruze crossover would look like. Ford needs something like the new Trax. A compact big enough for North America and small enough for global markets.

 

The new Trax crossover is more of a hatchback than a full length wagon though.

 

The Trax is actually a great looking product for the segment.  I'm impressed with it.

[Sherminator98]

20 hours ago, AM222 said:

True. The new Trax (now c-segment-based) is basically what a Cruze crossover would look like. Ford needs something like the new Trax. A compact big enough for North America and small enough for global markets.

 

 

Trailblazer-174″ L x 71″ W x 64-66″ H

Trax-179″ L x 72″ W x 61-62″ H

Equinox-183″ L x 73″ W x 65″ H

 

Puma: 164.8"L x 71.1 in W x60.5" H

Bronco Sport:173″ L x 74″ W x 70-71″ H
Escape:181″ L x 74″ W x 66″ H

 

Ford might be better off coming out with a more car like Bronco Sport to slot under the the BS and Escape in NA and just sell it with the 1.5L or 2L hybrid engine in it for NA, going by size. Make options really limited and equip the interior like the Maverick. 

 

Out of the small Chevy Products, I like the Trailblazer the best with its optional two tone roof. I also think it looks the best out of the three too. 

Edited May 12, 2024 by silvrsvt