The 2018 Ford EcoSport has been spotted on test in India ahead of its debut sometime next year. This will be the first major update for the compact SUV in the Indian market since it was launched here in 2013.
The photos indicate that the overall shape of the SUV will stay the same but it will get a new face and rear end. We already know what these changes are because this updated EcoSport was showcased at the beginning of the year as a preview to the model that will go to the American market next year. In the photos, we can also see that the blue coloured car is a top-of-the-line model with projector headlamps and grey alloy wheels. Other external features will likely include LED DRLs as well as LED inserts for the tail lamps.
The cabin is not expected to get too many changes apart from an updated feature list. The engine options too will remain the same with a 1.5 litre unit for petrol and diesel unit and an added petrol trim that comes with a 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost mill. The diesel and the EcoBoost can be had only with a five-speed stick-shift while the 1.5-litre petrol motor can also be had with a six-speed DCT.
The growth in demand for SUVs over the last two years has seen the sales of the EcoSport hover between the 2000-4000 unit mark for a long time. If the launch is timed correctly, then this update could be just the thing to push the EcoSport into the big league in terms of volumes. When launched, it will take on the likes of the Mahindra TUV300, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and the Mahindra NuvoSport.