American auto major Ford is planning to introduce the automatic variant of its much-awaited EcoSport SUV in India to lure women buyers in the country.
The car which is due for launch next week is also expected to come in an automatic variant which would free women from the gear changing hassles. With the launch of the new variant, Ford India hopes to expand its EcoSport reach in the country.
Talking about company's plan to launch EcoSport Automatic variant Ford India president Joginder Singh said, "We have been working long on the EcoSport automatic variant that will be a special package for our Indian customers. While the sales of automatic vehicles are gradually increasing, we are expecting good initial response for this variant," adding that "We have added many new smart features like rear park assist and a complimentary emergency assistance service for all new owners, which will be a boon for women drivers."
EcoSport will make its much anticipated Indian debut in four trims - Ambiente, Trend, Titanium and Titanium Optional. It will be offered in both Manual and Automatic Transmission System. According to Ford engineers the automatic version of EcoSport has only two pedals (brake and accelerator) unlike manual transmission which come with five to six.
"It reduces driving effort by almost 60% over manual cars as it allows complete rest for the left leg and a single shift to move the car. Women drivers increasingly prefer these models for convenient driving," The Economic Times quoted a Ford executive as saying.
The car, which is expected be priced between ₹5.9 and ₹9 lakh, will be pitted against Renault Duster, Mahindra Quanto and Premier Rio. Ford dealers have bgun accepting bookings for EcoSport with an advance of ₹50,000.
