2017 Ford EcoSport spied in India for 1st time; facelift version to be launched in festive season

While the US-spec EcoSport was unveiled without tailgate-mounted spare wheel, the India spec will retain it in the new avatar.

Ford EcoSport had received a nip and tuck in India earlier this year to remain fresh until the arrival of the new version in the festive season. Ford had unveiled the new EcoSport for western markets in November 2016 and the Asia-spec model in China last month. Now, the model has been caught testing in India for the first time under camouflage.

Also read: India-bound 2017 Ford EcoSport unveiled and it retains tailgate-mounted spare wheel

Two variants were spotted on test by MotorworldIndia.com, draped in metallic Blue paint and a Black paint shade. The Blue coloured one is apparently the fully loaded variant as it came with the projector headlamps and the newly-designed 17-inch grey-coloured alloy wheels. Most importantly, it retains the tailgate-mounted spare wheel.

The spy pictures are in line with the Asia-spec new EcoSport unveiled in China. To give a fresh look at the rear, Ford has added a new cover for the tailgate-mounted spare wheel.

The 2017 model also comes with one-piece hexagonal grille in place of the split grille in the current version. This is inspired by the bigger SUVs of Ford such as Kuga and Edge. The new grille houses two horizontal chrome slats, while the headlamps, fog lamps and the front bumper have been reworked. This gives a matured design to EcoSport.

Though no spy pictures of the interior are available currently, it is safe to assume that the new model will retain a dual-tone dashboard (black and grey). The cabin will also boast of a new dashboard, steering wheel and more advanced SYNC 3 infotainment technology. Vertical AC vents at the centre of the dashboard and a new 8-inch infotainment system will be other additions.

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.