Tag: ecoboost

Ford Fiesta EcoBoost wins Women’s World Car of the Year 2013 award

The Ford Fiesta EcoBoost has bagged the 2013 Women’s World Car of the Year award. The Fiesta won the economy car category, and edged out other finalists Mazda CX5 and the Range Rover in the final round, to be announced as the Supreme winner.

Women pack powerful purchasing power, representing a huge market opportunity. The fact that a respected panel of published and specialist women motoring writers selected the Ford Fiesta 1.0-litre EcoBoost is a significant accolade as we work to design, develop and market our vehicles, technologies and services in a way that captures the attention of this very influential buying group.

– Craig Von Essen, product and communications manager, Ford, Asia-Pacific and Africa

Judges were also asked to nominate their ‘Dream Car’. This was won by the Aston Martin Vanquish, ahead of the Jaguar F-type.

According to Chief Judge, Sandy Myhre of New Zealand, the judging categories changed for 2013 and the three-tier voting system makes it hard for any car to be selected as a category finalist, let alone winning. Judges supply their own shortlist from 2013 model year cars they’ve tested. From there a shortlist is formed to determine the finalists and from the finalist list judges choose their supreme winner and the podium finishers.

The official results in each category are:

Family Car: 1st – Audi Allroad, 2nd – Volkswagen Golf, 3rd – BMW 3 Series

Luxury Car: 1st – Range Rover, 2nd – Mercedes Benz SL550, 3rd – BMW 6 Series

Sports Car: 1st – Porsche Boxster S, 2nd – Audi RS5, 3rd – Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ

SUV: 1st – Mazda CX5, 2nd – Hyundai Sante Fe, 3rd – Nissan Pathfinder

Economy Car: 1st – Ford Fiesta 1.0-litre EcoBoost, 2nd – Kia Forte, 3rd – Toyota Prius

July 21, 2013
Ford EcoSport diesel recalled over glow plug issue

Well, this is slightly awkward. Launched just over 2 weeks, ago, the diesel Ford EcoSport is being recalled to relocate the glow plug module in the car.

The American manufacturer has released a statement saying that a potential concern with the diesel variants of the compact SUV was found during routine checks. This suspected issue can be fixed by relocating the glow plug module, and Ford is contacting customers to take their vehicle to their dealership to have the work carried out.

The highly anticipated EcoSport was launched on the 26th of June with an offer of 3 engines, one of which is a 1.5-litre diesel. According to reports, public response has been great with more than 20,000 cars already booked. However, Ford would’ve definitely wanted to avoid a product recall so early in the car’s life cycle. Could this affect the EcoSport’s future in the market? Let us know what you think, in the comments section below.

July 12, 2013
Ford EcoSport Launched, Starts At Rs. 5.59 Lakh

The much awaited Ford EcoSport compact SUV has been launched in India at an astonishing base price of Rs. 5.59 Lakh. The EcoSport will be offered in no less than 10 variants spread across 4 trims, 3 engine options and 7 colours.

The EcoSport is the first Ford vehicle in India to offer the famous turbocharged 3 cylinder, 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine. Despite being the smallest in the range, the 2-time Engine of the Year award winning EcoBoost churns out the maximum power output of around 122bhp and 170Nm torque. It also returns a claimed fuel efficiency of around 18 kmpl. The other two engines – 1.5L petrol and 1.5L diesel are the same as those which fulfill the power needs of the Fiesta sedan. The petrol unit puts out 110 bhp and 140 Nm of torque whereas the diesel mill produces 90 bhp and 204 Nm of torque.

The sub-4 metre compact SUV is also the first car in India to offer Ford’s voice-enabled in-car connectivity system, SYNC. This means you can operate your Bluetooth-enabled phone and USB devices, dial calls, read out text messages and browse and select music tracks via voice commands. In terms of safety equipment, the EcoSport will come with Ford’s Emergency Assistance system. This system enables the car to deliver a voice message directly to emergency operators in the event of an accident in which the airbags have been deployed or fuel pump shut-off is triggered.

The EcoSport is available in four trims – Ambiente, Trend, Titanium and Titanium Optional.

The Ambiente version comes with a quite a bit of equipment despite being the base version. Tilt and telescopic steering, a music player with Aux-in and Bluetooth, electric wing mirrors, remote locking, a multi-function display, front power windows and 15-inch wheels make up most of the Ambiente trim.

Next up the ladder is the Trend trim, which comes with rear power windows, steering-mounted audio controls and driver-seat height adjust over everything that the Ambiente has to offer. Both these trims will be available only with manual transmissions coupled to 1.5-litre petrol or diesel engines.

Further up is the aptly named Titanium trim. The famous 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine is available only with the Titanium trim which also comes with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, 16-inch alloy wheels, climate control, cooled glovebox, roof rails, front fog lamps, reverse parking sensor, and dual airbags. An option pack for the Titanium is also available, which offers push-button start, leather seats, keyless entry, and side and curtain airbags. The EcoBoost engine is mated to a manual gearbox but an automatic-gearbox-equipped Titanium version is available with the 1.5-litre petrol engine. There is no diesel version available for the top-spec EcoSport.

The Ford EcoSport will not only compete with the likes of the Renault Duster as was expected, but with its aggressive pricing, it may have a drastic impact on other hatchbacks in the similar price range. Ford seems to have a winner on its hands with the EcoSport.

Ford EcoSport prices (ex-showroom, Delhi):

1.5-litre Petrol Manual

Ambiente: Rs 5.59 lakh

Trend: Rs 6.49 lakh

Titanium: Rs 7.51 lakh

1.5-litre Diesel Manual

Ambiente: Rs 6.69 lakh

Trend: Rs 7.61 lakh

Titanium: Rs 8.62 lakh

Titanium (O): Rs 8.99 lakh

1.0-litre EcoBoost Petrol Manual

Titanium: Rs 7.89 lakh

Titanium (O): Rs 8.29 lakh

1.5-litre Petrol Auto (DCT)

Titanium: Rs 8.44 lakh

June 26, 2013
Ford EcoSport Bookings open at Rs. 50,000

Bookings for the highly anticipated compact SUV, the Ford EcoSport, are finally open. While there has been no official announcement, the Ford EcoSport is expected to be launched in the last week of June, and according to the official Ford EcoSport Facebook page, those interested can now book it after paying a sum of Rs 50,000. There’s no word however on the vehicle’s pricing, and there’s a Rs 3,000 cancellation fee in case you change your mind later for whatever reason.

First showcased at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo, the EcoSport is one of the most awaited cars this year. An endless delay in the SUV’s launch has begun to take a toll on customer patience with several angry fans making their opinions heard on the car’s Facebook page, slamming Ford for the lack of clarity on the SUV’s launch date and price. In response, Ford said that prices will be announced in a couple of weeks.

The Ford EcoSport will be the first car in India offering the excellent 1.0- litre EcoBoost engine produced by the American manufacturer. The same engine has won the famed Engine of the Year Award two years on the trot now. The Ford EcoSport will be available in four trims (Ambiente, Trend, Titanium and Titanium Optional) and three engine options: the 1.0-litre petrol EcoBoost, and the 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engines from the Fiesta. All three engines come mated to the standard 5-speed manual gearbox also employed in the Fiesta though the 1.5-litre petrol can also be specified with the six-speed Ford PowerShift automatic transmission. Ford claims a fuel efficiency figure of 18.9kmpl for the EcoBoost-powered version.

Read more about the different features of the Ford EcoSport here.

June 15, 2013
Ford’s 1.0L EcoBoost wins second consecutive Engine of the Year Award

Ford has taken top honors in the International Engine of the Year voting for the second year in the row. As was the case last year, Ford’s 1.0-liter EcoBoost earned the the American automaker the accolade, achieving the highest-ever accumulated score in the 15 year history of the award.

The award is voted on by 87 automotive journalists from 35 countries around the world based on drivability, performance, economy, refinement and the successful application of advanced engine technology. This is only the third time an automaker has managed back-to-back victories. Voters were impressed by the EcoBoost engine’s power output – 123 horsepower between 1,400 and 4,500 rpm, 148 pound-feet of torque from 1,400 to 4,000 rpm. It is also surprisingly compact in size; Ford has demonstrated that the package is small enough to fit in the overhead bin of a passenger airplane.

The 1.0-litre EcoBoost will be offered in the Ford EcoSport when it goes on sale in India later this summer. Apart from this, it is offered in the European Fiesta, B-MAX, Focus, C-MAX and Grand C-MAX, and Ford plans to put the engine in the Transit Connect, Transit Courier, Tourneo Connect, Tourneo Courier and Mondeo and EcoSport soon. It’s no wonder that Ford is planning on increasing production of the EcoBoost engine at its factory in Cologne, Germany to almost 1000 engines a day from mid-August to meet demand.

The other category winners are listed below:

New Engine
Ford three-cylinder turbo (Focus)

Green Engine
General Motors 1.4-liter range extender (Chevrolet Volt, Opel Ampera)

Performance Engine
Ferrari 4.5-liter V8 (458 Italia)

Sub 1.0-Liter
Ford three-cylinder turbo (Focus)

1.0-Liter to 1.4-Liter
Volkswagen 1.4-liter TSI Twincharger (Polo, Beetle, Golf, etc.)

1.4-Liter to 1.8-Liter
BMW-PSA 1.6-liter turbo gasoline (Mini Cooper S, Peugeot 207, etc.)

1.8-Liter to 2.0-Liter
BMW 2.0-liter twin-turbo four gasoline (125i, 320i, Z4 20i, etc.)

2.0-Liter to 2.5-Liter
Audi 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo (TT RS, RS3 Sportback)

2.5-Liter to 3.0-Liter
BMW 3.0-liter bi-turbo six-cylinder (1 Series M Coupe, 335is, Z4 35is)

3.0-Liter to 4.0-Liter
BMW M 4.0-liter V8 (BMW M3)

Above 4.0-Liter
Ferrari 4.5-liter V8 (458 Italia)

Image courtesy: Ford

June 6, 2013
Ford EcoSport Model Range For India Leaked

According to reports, the model range for the Indian version of the much anticipated Ford EcoSport has been leaked. Four trims namely Ambiente, Trend, Titanium and Titanium optional will be on offer. These trims will be available in a choice of 3 engines, a 1.5-litre petrol, 1.5-litre diesel and obviously the center of attraction will be Ford’s much awaited 1.0-litre turbo charged direct-injection EcoBoost petrol. The EcoBoost however will be available only with the top-end Titanium trim.

The Ambiente is expected to be the base trim and comes with a quite a bit of equipment despite it. Tilt and telescopic steering, a music player with Aux-in and Bluetooth, electric wing mirrors, remote locking, a multi-function display, front power windwos and 15-inch wheels make up most of the Ambiente trim. Next up the ladder is the Trend trim, which comes with anti lock brakes, rear power windows, steering-mounted audio controls and driver-seat height adjust over everything that the Ambiente has to offer. Both these trims will be available only with manual transmissions coupled to 1.5-litre petrol or diesel engines.

Further up is the aptly named Titanium trim. The famous 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine is available only with the Titanium trim which also comes with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, 16-inch alloy wheels, climate control, cooled glovebox, roof rails, front fog lamps, reverse parking sensor, and dual airbags. An option pack for the Titanium will also be available, which offers push-button start, leather seats, keyless entry, and side and curtain airbags. The EcoBoost engine is mated to a manual gearbox but an automatic-gearbox-equipped Titanium version will be available with the normal 1.5-litre petrol. There is no diesel version available for the top-spec EcoSport.

The 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engines will produce 107 bhp and 88.8 bhp respectively and the new EcoBoost is expected to put out between 95 and 100 bhp. The Ford EcoSport is expected to have a base price around Rs. 7.5 lakh with the top of the line Titanium trim costing upwards of Rs. 12 lakh.

[Autocar]

May 5, 2013