Ford EcoSport
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The Ford EcoSport is a mini SUV designed and built in Brazil by Ford. It is essentially a redesigned version of the European Ford Fusion, based on the Fiesta platform. The EcoSport is Ford's best-seller in Mexico, Argentina and Brazil, thanks to its off-roader-like design and to its low price when compared to other SUVs. Its main rival is the Chevrolet Tracker, the Volkswagen CrossFox, but the Fiat Sedici could be a future competitor. Because of its small size, the EcoSport is not sold in the U.S. market, so while the Ford Escape represents Ford's entry-level SUV for the U.S. market, the EcoSport slots in just under the Escape for Latin American markets.
With the recent growth of B-class and C-class segment vehicles in the United States, Ford is pursuing the possibility of bringing the Ecosport to the US market. Several other Ford models not available in the United States currently, e.g. the Fiesta, are part of this product line extension into smaller vehicles.
In Brazil, The Ford EcoSport is currently sold in three different versions:
- Zetec-Rocam 1.0 8v Supercharged 95hp (Discontinued in 2006);
- Zetec-Rocam 1.6 8v Flex 111hp (when using ethanol);
- Duratec 2.0 16v 145hp. In Brazil it can receive a 4-speed automatic transmission.
- Duratec 2.0 16v 145hp with 4WD.
In Mexico, The 2006 Ford EcoSport is sold only as a single trim, XLT, in two versions:
- 4X2 (184,900 Mexican pesos, which is about US $16,650)
- 4X2 Leather (194,100 Mexican pesos, which is about US $17,479)
All EcoSports sold in Mexico come with the Duratec 2.0L 16V 145 HP gas engine with 138 lb-ft of torque and a 5-speed manual transmission. http://www.viarural.com.ar/viarural.com.ar/insumosagropecuarios/ganaderos/vehiculos/ford-sauma/ecosport-02.gif">
The Ford EcoSport in the most common version is powered by a Ford 2.0 I4 16v Duratec Engine (141 HP @ 5950 RPM) with a front drive train, and a very hard to reach top speed of 220 km/h. In fact the vehicle can be considered a SUV but it's as stable as a car.
The Ford EcoSport 4WD is another 2.0 Litre Engine powered version. The 4WD system is electronically controlled from the dashboard, and it's a simple rear enabling traction system without diffrentials or HI & LO ranges, but it's a helping tool while driving at high speed through streets & off-road.
The another two versions 1.0 I4 8v Supercharged Zetec-RoCam & 1.6 I4 8v Zetec-RoCam are not well known because of his low-power/entry-level engines for a though mini/mid size SUV. These models will not be sold anymore in some countries.