Ford’s EcoSport SUV, which made its debut at the Delhi Auto Expo in January and which has been confirmed as being ASEAN-bound, is set to be the second model built at the new Ford Thailand Manufacturing plant in Rayong. The plant, set to open on May 3, will initally build the Focus for the ASEAN market.
The production slot of the B-segment compact SUV, which sits on a Fiesta platform, was mentioned in passing on a slide in a briefing detailing the workings and capabilities of the upcoming FTM plant (the pix is from its Delhi debut). The briefing was arranged specifically for the Malaysian press contingent during the media preview of the third-generation Focus in Bangkok.
No production schedules – and thus, probable market debut dates – were revealed, but we’ve got word that the EcoSport, when it arrives, is very likely to wear a normally-aspirated 1.5 litre Ti-VCT engine, the same that is now equipping Thai Fiestas. Conversely, the EcoSport made its debut in India shod with a 1.0 litre three-cylinder EcoBoost lump in its 120 PS and 170 Nm form.
The region’s buyers aren’t going to see the particular EcoBoost unit – or any of the new family of turbocharged mills, for that matter – in ASEAN production cars for a while. Malaysia, of course, already has the Mondeo and S-MAX wearing the 2.0 litre, in its 203 PS output guise.
A quick aside on the last – things are set to change, because the incoming 2012 versions of the Mondeo and S-MAX will be dressed up to 240 PS forms. There’s an expected hike in pricing, about RM10k for the S-MAX and RM13-14k for the Mondeo, but the vehicles will feature additional kit and features; the Mondeo gets a full Titanium-spec bodykit, among other things.
Getting back to the 1.5 litre Ti-VCT unit, that one offers 109 PS at 6,300 rpm and 140 Nm at 4,300 for output numbers. In the Thai Fiesta, the unit is mated to the six-speed PowerShift transmission; aside from the revised capacity for the engine, the car continues on specifications-wise, based on the equipment list as seen on the display examples at the show.
The displacement revision has all to do with getting the Fiesta compliant with the country’s first-car progamme, which was approved in September last year and covers cars purchased from September 16, 2011 up to December 31 this year. In it, first-time car buyers are able to deduct excise tax paid for the purchase of the car from their personal income tax.
The tax-refund policy covers three types of vehicles – passenger cars with engines of 1,200-1,500 cc, double-cab trucks, and regular pickup trucks of 2,500-3,000 cc capacity.
For the passenger car part of the scheme, car buyers eligible for tax refunds must be at least 21 years old, and must hold ownership of the cars for at least five years. Their vehicles must not be worth more than one million baht, with an engine capacity not exceeding 1.5 litres.
The cars must also be manufactured in Thailand, excluding those produced with imported used parts. Car buyers will be refunded the actual amount of tax they have paid, with the ceiling of the refund set at 100,000 baht per car. As for the refund, that will be made from October 1, 2013 onwards.
The take up for the scheme – which aims to get at least 500,000 vehicles sold in its duration – has been reported to be slow, with only around 6,000 vehicles sold thus far through the plan.
Some final Ford-related news from Bangkok. On display at the Ford stand at the show, which opens to the public today, is an Australian-made Territory SUV; the vehicle has been brought in to sample response for a probable introduction in the Kingdom. And as for the new Ranger, that one’s flying – 3,000 already sold and 10,000 orders in the first four months in the Kingdom means it’s all chugging along for the pick-up.
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Ford needs a new distributor in Malaysia. They need a principal who can “up” the brand. It is such a good brand and they produce superb cars but let down by poor and slow after sales service.
Also, if you go to the showrooms in Malaysia, the showrooms are so old and run down. Try going to a Ford showroom in Australia or UK, the showrooms look better than even Rolls Royce.
Here in Malaysia, staff are not attentive. I can even stand there for half an hour but nobody layan me. Go to the PJ showroom for example, the toilets are like my secondary government school toilet.
Hmm.. I agree on that new distributor suggestion.. but it’s kind of difficult coz dealership needs a real serious amount of capital.. No wonder in Malaysia it is amongst those who are close to the supreme network gets the better share.. to them, after sales service is 2nd…
FuyyyOOOoOO!!!
I like the model very much.
oh..and the car too..sorry
OMG…sexy lady…
1st and foremost, I apologize for the vulgar language i will use in the following.
Fark u Ford, that’s for screwing ASEAN region. No Turbo No Buy!
No turbo = cheaper to maintain.
No ecoboost = use more fuel.
Hmm… how do we know that gal is a real girl and not a drag queen? LOL :D
Any upskirt pics to verify she’s really a she and not he-she? hahaha :D
Nice car so as the girl..proton when will u start building mini suv on platform of savvy or saga then sell it below RM50 K
EMAS Global Car project….but have to sold more car with huge profit margin to funded the project hehehe!………………….”I’ve told the Proton people that I’d like to see the car out in a year, but they tell me they need more time,” Dr Mahathir said (in 2010).
wow.. the girl is look fantastic… the girl much better than ford car.
1.5 engine in a Fiesta I understand but 1.5 in the SUV with no turbo? Phail!
PT, pics of the lovely ladies pleeeze…
It’s on the way. :)
At current price , both mondeo and s-max are even harder to see on the road than a GTR, yet they have the guts to increase the price. Better spec or not, that is a stupid move!
Dont be too proud bcos of the Fiesta success. You should concentrate more for even better brand awareness. Take a lesson from Toyota. They have models for almost everyone with prices to match.
Re: the Mondeo, the price isn’t going down, but the value you’re getting for money is in fact going up.
There have actually been drops in price disguised by spec increases: from the original low spec in 2010 upgrading to the mid spec (“S” or “Zetec”) in 2011 for practically no price premium: and now from mid to high spec (Titanium) in 2012 for a minor price premium.
In practice the Mondeo will never sell well in Malaysia unless taxes and tariffs come down: they’re built in Belgium.
I’ve had a current model Ecoboost Mondeo for half a year and it’s an amazing car to drive, but you’re right, it’s probably not worth it at its current price. It’s not just a feature list thing: just the build quality they can achieve in Europe exceeds what AP (Asia Pacific) countries can put together – all the interior panels fit exactly, for blissful zero interior cabin noise. While many AP production cars have worse part fit tolerances and after a few months or years of driving, you’ll start to notice the occasional rattle or vibration / hum on the various interior parts. It’s not just the quality of assembly that matters: you’re reliant on the quality of your tier 1 and tier 2 suppliers in the region.
Also having peak torque available at 1750rpm is a new experience for most drivers… you can’t really go back to normally aspirated engines after this. It’s like trying to go back to DVDs after you’ve watched BLURAY, hehe.
Thai’s gov bagus nyer.. tax refund when purchase thai made car…
did they sell that model? i willing to pay double for her..
I think the export versions of the EcoSport will have the 121PS 1.6 Ti-VCT of the Fiesta (In Brazil its expected to have a 1.6 and 2.0 engine), since the 1.5 Ti-VCT in Thailand was made so they can have a model higher than the 1.4 that’s eligible for an excise tax rebate of up to 100000 baht.
Uuuhh!! So hot…I am now pin up Paultan tab on my web browser. I mean all those cars…and those ladies…ngehehe!!