Four years since launch and two Ford Group Philippines (FGP) Managing Directors later, the Philippine market finally has the blue oval’s subcompact SUV with the 1.0 EcoBoost engine.
“The Ford EcoSport is an SUV in a league of its own – combining quality design, rugged capability, best-in-class features, superior fuel economy, and great value for money, all into a single and fun vehicle,” shares Bert Lessard, managing director, Ford Philippines.
Ford was first to market in subcompact SUV segment and took as much as 90% of the market share when it was first launched in 2014. Despite the numerous competitors that have joined the playing field, the EcoSport still maintained an almost 50 percent share in 2017. With almost 39,000 units sold to date, the EcoSport is easily one of FGP’s most successful nameplates.
The Street Smart Squad: (L to R) Janina Manipol, Visual Storyteller; Richard Juan, Adventure Junkie; Melissa Gohing, Volleyball Superstar; and David Guison, Fashion Trendsetter. | Photo by Ford Press
What’s new?
“The new EcoSport retains the strengths of its predecessor while introducing a number of new and exciting features. Its trendier design and sophisticated interior, smart technologies, and the addition of the EcoBoost engine will deliver a more enhanced driving experience. We are excited for Filipino customers to get their hands on the new EcoSport and see for themselves why it’s a street-smart vehicle perfect for urban driving,” said Rodel Gallega, vice president, Marketing and Sales, Ford Philippines.
On the outside, the new EcoSport features a refreshed grille, a new hood design, headlamps with running daylights for the mid- and top-tier variants, and lightweight and extra durable 17-inch alloy wheels. Designed to suit urban traffic conditions, the new Ford EcoSport maintains its compact size and trendy look, perfect for maneuvering in cities.
Inside, the Titanium variant sports a more stylish design and features a leather dashboard, power sunroof, and an 8-inch multicolor touchscreen with a redesigned interface and intuitive smartphone-like actions. The Trend and Ambiente variants are equipped with a 9-inch touchscreen display. Connectivity is via Ford’s proprietary SYNC 3 with Navigation that allows drivers to keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel while staying connected. SYNC 3 features voice control for the entertainment system and the driver’s calls and text messages. The AppLink 3.0 feature on SYNC 3 also allows passengers to use their favorite smartphone applications via the car’s touchscreen.
The new EcoSport is also made more adaptable with the addition of storage spaces. It can handle a load of up to 1,178 liters, with 25 smart storage compartments for drinks, smartphones, tablets, umbrellas, bottles and other accessories. Its trunk is also spacious enough to accommodate luggage and other similar-sized items.
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The new EcoSport comes with two new engines. Powering the top tier Titanium variant is Ford’s award-winning 1.0L EcoBoost engine. It features direct fuel injection technology and variable camshaft timing with turbocharger, and produces 125 HP of power @ 6,000 RPM and 170 NM of torque @ 1,500 – 4,500 RPM. EcoBoost is Ford’s most technologically advanced engine that produces more power while consuming less fuel. The Titanium variant now comes with the auto start/stop technology.
The other engine that powers the entry- and mid-level Ambiente and Trend variants is a new and more powerful 1.5L Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (TiVCT) engine that gives 123 HP @ 6,500 RPM, and 150 NM of torque at 4,500 RPM. The engines are mated to a new 6-speed automatic transmission or a 5-speed manual.
The new EcoSport is equipped with multiple smart driver-assist technologies. These include the Rear-View Camera with Rear Parking Assist, Rain-Sensing Wipers, Automatic Headlights, and Smart Keyless Entry. Other safety features include Hill Start Assist (HSA), Electronic Brake-force Distribution System, (EDB), Electronic Stability Program and Anti-Locking Brake System (ABS). The six airbags feature is standard for the Titanium variant.
Colors
| Ambiente | Trend | Titanium |
| Absolute Black | ||
| Ingot Silver | ||
| Crystal White | ||
| Ruby Red | ||
| Canyon Ridge (new color!) | ||
| Blue Lightning (new color!) | ||
SRP
| 1.0L EcoBoost Titanium AT | PHP 1,168,000 |
| 1.5L Trend AT | PHP 1,028,000 |
| 1.5L Trend MT | PHP 968,000 |
| 1.5L Ambiente MT | PHP 918,000 |
The new Ford EcoSport is now available at all dealerships. Test drives will be available this weekend (August 31, Friday to September 2, Sunday) at the Ford Island Conquest Year 2 event at the Big Bear Oval in Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City.
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