Ford expected to reveal mini SUV in India
Fiesta-based EcoSport will be unveiled in concept form at the New Delhi Auto ExpoFord issued a press release overnight, announcing that an "all-new vehicle" would be previewed at the Auto Expo 2012 in New Delhi early next month.
A teaser image accompanying the press release hints that the new model will feature up to the minute Ford corporate styling. Although the company was careful to reveal nothing about the car, it's believed to be a near-production concept for a vehicle that will be an SUV smaller in size than the upcoming Euro-designed Kuga. It's certainly not the new Figo that we earlier reported would be at the motor show, although the Figo will certainly be there too.
Reportedly the new SUV will be badged as the Ford EcoSport once it's in production — in India — although it may not retain that name in the Australian market. And our information is that it's coming here. Furthermore, it's rumoured that the car was designed by Ford Australia in the first place, in accordance with 'One Ford' principles.
That follows on from Ford Australia's development work on the Indian market Figo, which is now being exported to markets outside the borders of India. Australia being in a time zone that roughly approximates India's means the local development team can be in close contact with Ford staff on the sub continent during sensible office hours. This was one of the defining reasons for Ford Oz landing the tasks of developing the original Indian Fiesta and the Figo successor.
The Figo has, according to Ford, sold 130,000 units since it went on sale in March of last year, making it an immediate sales success — and a critical success as well, the company reports. It's now exported to 30 different markets.
Figo will be one of the other Fords on display at the New Delhi Auto Expo, which opens its doors on January 7. Other Ford products on display at the show will include the Ford Classic (which appears to be a badge-engineered Kia Rio from an earlier generation) and the Ford Endeavour (an SUV that seems to be based on the previous generation Ranger).
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