2017 Ford EcoSport facelift unveiled; 4WD system on offer, rear-mounted spare wheel dropped

American carmaker Ford unveiled the new EcoSport ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show in USA. The model is India bound and, as expected, it features a design in line with Ford's bigger SUVs — the Kuga and the Edge.

The face of the compact SUV sports one-piece hexagonal grille in place of the split grille in the current version. The new grille houses two horizontal chrome slats. The headlamps, fog lamps and the front bumper have been reworked at front. The side profile remains untouched barring new alloy wheels. The rear door mounted spare wheel, one of the highlights in the design of the current EcoSport, has been dropped in the US version. However, the Asia-bound version is expected to continue with rear-mounted wheels as it is a popular feature in the region.

A lot of work has gone in preparing the new interiors. The 2017 EcoSport gets a new dashboard and steering wheel. Vertical AC vents at the centre of the dashboard have been replaced with a conventional horizontal unit. The SYNC 2 infotainment system has been updated with a more advanced SYNC3 infotainment technology. At the centre of the new dashboard, a new 8-inch screen working in tandem with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto commands, and B&O Play audio settings have been added. The 675-watt B&O Play audio system with 10 speakers is limited to the top spec Titanium trim. The SYNC 2 infotainment system has also been updated with a more advanced Sync3 infotainment technology.

Ford EcoSport will also be sold in SES series that will feature Intelligent 4WD, sport-tuned suspension and steering, copper accents for the interior and sport seats. In the US, the new EcoSport will go on sale with 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbocharged EcoBoost engine or 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, both with six-speed automatic transmissions.

For India, the current powertrains are expected to continue. EcoSport in India is sold with a 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine, which is tuned to dish out 99bhp of power. The petrol mills are a 1.5-litre Ti-VCT and the 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine. The launch in India can be expected in mid-2017.