[GMfan1111]

Hi guys I was out and about today and decided to take a few days off from chrysler and Give GM tech center a try. while No GM testers showed up yesterday or today These Fords did appear today. The driver of the car hauler must have been out to lunch and forgot to camo these two because they had no camo at all. No interior shots they were too high up but i snapped plenty of exterior pics

 

[GMfan1111]

 

[GMfan1111]

and the last one If anyone knows if this is either a euro ford or a new ford then i'm all ears I'll be sending these to BP as well

 

[HoosierRon]

I sure hope it is not the next Escape. It looks like it was designed in Thailand.

 

[FenwickHockey65]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_EcoSport

 

[igor]

This is the Ford EcoSport - it is based on the current Fiesta platform, it is built in Brazil and sold all over South America. It is a neat little crossover with optional 4x4 - it is VERY cheap - both by price and by interior.

Ford had planned to import these to the US, but that got canned in 2006, by Fields who had deemed them too chap for the US market and deemed they would damage Ford's brand in the B-segment (hence the Fiesta coming in 2010).

Dearborn is not only the Global center of Ford , it is also the Americas (south and north) center of Ford - a lot of South American models get tested there - so the presence of EcoSports does not need to mean much.

That said, the EcoSport is due for replacement about a year after the North and SOuth American Fiestas get rolled out - so they might be starting testing. They might also be in Dearborn for PowerTrain testing - Ford has several small poweretrains in plan for the Fiesta platform - including 1.6l Turbo, 1,0l three cylinder Turbo, and six-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Igor

 

[civilzues]

I saw one of these a few weeks ago on 696. but it was red. it would be very interesting to see this here.

 

[igor]

 

[GMfan1111]

This is the Ford EcoSport - it is based on the current Fiesta platform, it is built in Brazil and sold all over South America. It is a neat little crossover with optional 4x4 - it is VERY cheap - both by price and by interior.

Ford had planned to import these to the US, but that got canned in 2006, by Fields who had deemed them too chap for the US market and deemed they would damage Ford's brand in the B-segment (hence the Fiesta coming in 2010).

Dearborn is not only the Global center of Ford , it is also the Americas (south and north) center of Ford - a lot of South American models get tested there - so the presence of EcoSports does not need to mean much.

That said, the EcoSport is due for replacement about a year after the North and SOuth American Fiestas get rolled out - so they might be starting testing. They might also be in Dearborn for PowerTrain testing - Ford has several small poweretrains in plan for the Fiesta platform - including 1.6l Turbo, 1,0l three cylinder Turbo, and six-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Igor

oh ok thanks Igor these two were in Warren though and not that far away from GM tech center so they might have been on their way to dearborn and the trucker decided to stop for lunch. There was also a ford expedition on the very top as well but that was a normal expedition and not the diesel tester that was sighted recently so i didn't bother to snap it. At first i thought they were kias (the size is similar) but i decided to move in for a closer look and discovered they were indeed fords. These ecosports could very well be undergoing some sort of testing and happened to be in the area when I showed up. also before i forget thank you for the wiki link Fenwick

 

[t-rex]

I rented an EcoSport in Venezuela a few years back.

It's an inexpensive, fun little cute-ute.

It had a different dashboard than the above pic. The interior was a little on the cheap side, but no worse than the first Aveo, and besides it's a relatively inexpensive vehicle.

If it's got high enough MPG numbers, Ford ought to consider bringing it here. It would be an interesting alternative to cheap hatches like the Yaris or Aveo.

 

[igor]

I would actually like to have them offered here - but I never had a chance to sit in one and feel the interior - it could truly be awful .. In Mexico, these are powered by the 154hp 2.0l Duratec and have 5speed manual, or 4speed automatic, and come in FWD or AWD ... they are quite neat little things.

Igor

 

[igor]

I rented an EcoSport in Venezuela a few years back.

It's an inexpensive, fun little cute-ute.

It had a different dashboard than the above pic. The interior was a little on the cheap side, but no worse than the first Aveo, and besides it's a relatively inexpensive vehicle.

If it's got high enough MPG numbers, Ford ought to consider bringing it here. It would be an interesting alternative to cheap hatches like the Yaris or Aveo.

the dash is new - the car jus got facelifted --- the hing with the EcoSport is that it is NOT as efficient as the Yaris and such, because it is an SUV(thing) - it is heavier and a little thirstier .... but I tstill thing it would be a great starting SUV for that "active youth market" - him and her, and 2 friends and 4 sets of skis on top .. and 33mpg highway .. I'd hit it...

Igor

 

[Hudson]

This is the Ford EcoSport

Seems I'm just a few minutes late on this one. But the EcoSport is very similar to the Ford Fusion...from Europe.

 

[1931Chevy]

I sure hope it is not the next Escape. It looks like it was designed in Thailand.

nope the escape will be merged with this in around 3 to 4 years
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Kuga

 

[jry]

I saw one of these a few weeks ago on 696. but it was red. it would be very interesting to see this here.

Yup and i followed a white one on NB 275 a month ago. Too much traffic to snap a photo. Nice ride. Folks would choose this over the little Kia, hands down.

 

[dpstang]

the dash is new - the car jus got facelifted --- the hing with the EcoSport is that it is NOT as efficient as the Yaris and such, because it is an SUV(thing) - it is heavier and a little thirstier .... but I tstill thing it would be a great starting SUV for that "active youth market" - him and her, and 2 friends and 4 sets of skis on top .. and 33mpg highway .. I'd hit it...

Igor

:lmao:

These little guys are ALL OVER the place in Mexico city. I saw a ton of them when I was down there this year. They are little baby Escapes, never got to sit in one but they looked neat.

 

[ds91776]

Actually the Escape will merge withe Ford Kuga program in a few years, not the European Fusion/SA EcoSport. The Euro-Fusion/SA EcoSport replacement will also be a global product and will be sent to the USA, that I am positive about, to compete with Scion, Fit, and all other small, non three row mini-cuv things. Count on it. I think it should be called the Faction in the US.

 

[Bravada]

Ford had planned to import these to the US, but that got canned in 2006, by Fields who had deemed them too chap for the US market and deemed they would damage Ford's brand in the B-segment

Another proof Fields is delusional - how can you DAMAGE the Ford brand in the US? You'd have to sell powdered turd in boxes with the Ford badge, and I don't think it would harm Ford much anyway. The brand that gives you the Crown Victoria, the Ranger, the brand which overslept the midsize car revolution and is still playing catch-up, which gave birth to a humnous large car nobody wants and they hoped swapping the badge would talk people into, the brand which adorns the Edge, whose interior easily wins the "el cheapo" design contest... shies away from the vehicle that would take the US subcompact market by storm.

 

[1931Chevy]

Another proof Fields is delusional - how can you DAMAGE the Ford brand in the US? You'd have to sell powdered turd in boxes with the Ford badge, and I don't think it would harm Ford much anyway. The brand that gives you the Crown Victoria, the Ranger, the brand which overslept the midsize car revolution and is still playing catch-up, which gave birth to a humnous large car nobody wants and they hoped swapping the badge would talk people into, the brand which adorns the Edge, whose interior easily wins the "el cheapo" design contest... shies away from the vehicle that would take the US subcompact market by storm.

remember that MF was not in charge in the mayority of those products, the ones that have been under his watch will start with the flex and mks, and I bet that if they brought that here the media would be having its day against ford by trying to out cheapen the koreans made cars and a lot of people here would be bashing them so I prefer Fields decision of not bringing it here

 

[Bravada]

He is quoted as wanting EcoSport out. This is a proof of stupidity to me.

PS. Let's face it - Fords ARE cheap, they can't make the brand seem any cheaper with the EcoSport.