Ford EcoSport Malaysia

Ford EcoSport being previewed at SDAC showrooms – 1.5L Trend and Titanium variants, RM96k-RM104k

In Cars, Ford, Local News / By Paul Tan / 31 July 2014 3:13 pm / 51 comments

Although it hasn’t been officially launched yet, the Ford EcoSport is now being previewed to the public at SDAC showrooms, so if you’re interested in a new B-segment SUV, you may want to head there to check it out this weekend. We dropped by this afternoon to snap some photos of the EcoSport just for you.

The new Thai-assembled EcoSport – which made its ASEAN debut last year in Bangkok – will be available here in two trim levels, both powered by a 1.5 litre Ti-VCT engine mated to a six-speed Powershift dual-clutch gearbox, driving the front wheels – the same configuration as found in the current B299 Fiesta 1.5.

Official pricing hasn’t been released, but the EcoSport Trend is expected to retail for about RM96k, while the higher-spec EcoSport Titanium will go for about RM104k.

Click to enlarge the brochure.

Full specs can be seen in the brochure scans above, but we’ll simplify it for you. The Trend trim level starts off with two airbags, ESP stability control, manual air-conditioning, a six-speaker Ford Sync infotainment system, steering wheel audio controls, tilt and telescopic steering adjustment, fabric seats and 16-inch alloy wheels with 205/60R16 tyres.

The rear seat bench can be folded down in a 60:40 split, and they can tumble forward to maximise the luggage area, which increases from 362 litres to 705 litres with the rear seats tumbled forward.

The EcoSport Titanium ups the airbag count to seven, including a knee airbag. The driver seat gets adjustable lumbar, and a centre armrest is added on. The variant gets a single-zone automatic climate control system, and there are also auto lights and wipers as well as a sunroof.

Seats are upgraded to leather, and there’s also leather on the gear lever and the steering wheel. The alloys are also 16-inch units with the same tyre size, but feature a different design. The Titanium also features keyless entry and push-start ignition. You also get an additional 12V power socket at the side of the rear seat. Exterior-wise, there’s a bit more chrome here and there, such as on the fog lamp surround.

We’re told that the Ford EcoSport will be officially launched sometime in the second half of August 2014, so we’ll get the official prices then. Word is that the 1.0 EcoBoost version will eventually be introduced here, when production of the six-speed PowerShift auto variant begins (currently, Thai production only builds it in five-speed manual transmission guise, for the Australian market).

In the meanwhile, read our review of the Ford EcoSport from our Thai drive of the SUV.

GALLERY: Ford EcoSport 1.5 Trend

GALLERY: Ford EcoSport 1.5 Titanium

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SPIED: Ford EcoSport Titanium sighted undisguised

In Cars, Ford, Local News, Spyshots / By Paul Tan / 25 July 2014 12:44 pm / 37 comments

The Ford EcoSport has been sighted on test on the road, two of them in fact – an orange one snapped by reader Hakimin Zahid and a greyish one sighted by reader Erh Pin Lim.

While the unit that we saw at JPJ Putrajaya earlier this week was in Trend trim, these cars being driven on the road with trade plates are of the Titanium spec that was advertised on oto.my for RM96,888. The Titanium spec includes better looking alloy wheels and chrome fog light surrounds, but the giveaway is of course the Titanium badge on the rear.

Since the Ecosport has the high ground clearance of an SUV, you can peek under the car in some of these shots. It doesn’t look like there’s any drive to the rear axle, so these are most likely front-wheel drive cars. This might reduce offroading capabilty but it should improve fuel economy and it’s not likely that any EcoSport owner is going to do anything funky anyway other than some ‘creative’ parking perhaps.

The EcoSport will be powered by the same 110 PS/142 Nm 1.5 litre Ti-VCT four-cylinder engine and six-speed PowerShift dual clutch transmission combo as on the Fiesta 1.5. There is also the possibility of the 125 PS/170 Nm 1.0 litre EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder mill found in the Fiesta EcoBoost coming in later.

In the meanwhile, read our Ford EcoSport review from when we tried the car out in Thailand.

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Ford EcoSport sighted in JPJ Putrajaya – launch soon

In Cars, Ford, Local News, Spyshots / By Jonathan Lee / 22 July 2014 8:45 am / 23 comments

Click to enlarge

The Ford EcoSport has landed in Malaysia – regular contributor ApexKit sent us pictures of the Fiesta-based B-segment crossover at JPJ Putrajaya, indicating that a launch is imminent.

This intriguing Midnight Sky example looks to be in mid-spec Trend trim judging by the plainer four-spoke 16-inch alloys and black fog light surrounds, rather than the six-spoke wheels and chrome fog light surrounds of the Titanium model. This indicates that there will be at least two trim levels that will be offered locally (we probably won’t get the base Ambiente variant).

Inside, it appears that the Trend model will feature a traditional manual key start and a manual air-conditioning system – niceties such as keyless entry and start as well as automatic climate control are expected to be reserved for the Titanium.

Click to enlarge screenshots

The EcoSport will be powered by the same 110 PS/142 Nm 1.5 litre Ti-VCT four-cylinder engine and six-speed PowerShift dual clutch transmission combo as on the Fiesta 1.5, with the 125 PS/170 Nm 1.0 litre EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder mill coming in later.

Local distributor Sime Darby AutoConnexion (SDAC) gave an estimated price range of between RM98k and RM108k when the EcoSport was previewed at KLIMS13 last year, but a recent oto.my listing showed a price tag of RM96,888. While we wait for the final prices, you can read our review of the 1.5 litre model from Thailand.

GALLERY: Ford EcoSport test driven in Thailand

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Ford EcoSport 1.5 listed on oto.my – RM96,888?

In Cars, Ford, Local News / By Paul Tan / 10 July 2014 9:34 am / 37 comments

Click to enlarge screenshots

A Sime Darby Auto Connexion sales advisor has listed a Ford EcoSport Titanium 1.5 on our car classifieds website oto.my for RM96,888. This comes after we noticed the opening of registration of interest for the EcoSport on the Ford Malaysia website.

When the EcoSport was first previewed in Malaysia at KLIMS13, an indicative price of between RM98k to RM108k was given. If this RM96,888 pricetag is accurate, the Fiesta-based SUV will be coming in at slightly below the lower end point of the indicative pricing.

The oto.my ad does list some of the equipment that the EcoSport will be coming with – points that stand out include keyless entry, a sunroof and seven airbags.

The Ford EcoSport will come in with a 1.5 litre Ti-VCT four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed dual clutch transmission – the same mechanical bits found in the Fiesta 1.5. The engine does 110 PS at 6,300 rpm and 142 Nm at 4,400 rpm in the EcoSport. There is also a variant with the 1.0 litre EcoBoost three-cylinder turbo, but that will only be coming later.

The EcoSport has one competitor in Malaysia so far – the Peugeot 2008, which is priced at RM120k. Looks like the EcoSport’s RM97k pricing undercuts the 2008 by quite a bit then.

Interested? Sign up for updates at the Ford EcoSport registration of interest page.

GALLERY: Ford EcoSport test driven in Thailand

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Ford EcoSport coming to Malaysia soon – teaser and registration of interest on Ford Malaysia site

In Cars, Ford, Local News / By Paul Tan / 3 July 2014 5:00 pm / 27 comments

It looks like Ford Malaysia distributor Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC) will be launching the Ford EcoSport in Malaysia soon, as it has put up a teaser slide as well as a registration of interest form on its website. Previously, it was reported that the EcoSport would be coming to Malaysia in the second half of the year – it’s July now so we’re officially in the second half.

The Ford EcoSport will come in with a 1.5 litre Ti-VCT engine mated to a six-speed dual clutch transmission first – the same mechanical bits found in a Fiesta 1.5 Ti-VCT. The 1.5 litre Ti-VCT engine does 110 PS at 6,300 rpm and 142 Nm at 4,400 rpm in the EcoSport – a little less horsepower but a little more torque compared to the tuning of the engine in the Fiesta. The 1.0 litre turbo EcoBoost engine will eventually come later. We test drove the 1.5 litre model in Thailand – read our review here.

Being a B-segment SUV, it should come in at a premium over the typical B-segment hatchback price. SDAC gave an estimated pricing of RM98k to RM108k when the Ford EcoSport was previewed at last year’s KLIMS13 show. The EcoSport does have one competitor in Malaysia – the Peugeot 2008, which is priced at RM120k. Honda Malaysia may also bring in the Honda Vezel later.

Interested? You can sign up here: Ford EcoSport registration of interest.

GALLERY: Ford EcoSport test driven in Thailand

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DRIVEN: Ford EcoSport 1.5 in Hua Hin, Thailand

In Car Reviews, Cars, Ford / By Jonathan James Tan / 4 May 2014 12:01 am / 57 comments

Introducing a new segment to a car market as yet small but as competitive as ours is a brave endeavour. See, in big markets with more vast buying populations, needs are generally more varied, so you can push in something new, comfortable in the assumption that there should be enough people who go, “At last! Where’ve you been all this while?”

But as if being small wasn’t enough, the Malaysian car market is also traditional, cautious and very cost-conscious on the whole. We’re not too eager to try new things, and are quite sceptical of new tech – unless of course, it’s affordable, easily accessible, or free. All of which are traits that are hindrances to, say, the introduction of a new kind of car.

If reports are to be believed, the B-segment crossover market is positively thriving in Europe, with a new breed comprising the likes of the Nissan Juke, Renault Captur and Opel/Vauxhall Mokka vying for sales. With urbanisation and congestion on the rise globally, it’s not difficult to see why such vehicles make sense.

After all, they take up little road space, are roomier inside, offer more flexible storage capabilities and give you a better view of the road ahead. They even look funky – couldn’t have come at a better time, with all this hipster hashtaggery about.

The Peugeot 2008 was the first of this current breed to enter Malaysia, and remains presently the only one in its class on sale. But its RM120k price tag means it’s a bit of a stretch for most of the sort of people such a car would appeal to, i.e. youth. Hard to go for when the same money gets you into C-segment territory.

But when it arrives here from the Ford Thailand Manufacturing plant in Rayong, Thailand later this year, the Ford EcoSport is expected to give the 2008 a run for less money – the top 1.5 Titanium-trim car, which will be introduced first, is estimated to cost a bit above RM100k, while a lower-trim car with the same engine, planned for a later juncture, might just stoop the starting price under six figures. 1.0 litre EcoBoost? A little longer to wait, I’m afraid.

For now, before the Honda HR-V/Vezel hits the market with its CKD price tag, let’s look at the Ford EcoSport 1.5 Titanium, which we hopped over the northern fence to test drive recently.

Let’s see how much Further a Fiesta-based SUV can Go.

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Ford EcoSport 1.5 Titanium previewed at KLIMS13

In Cars, Ford, Local News / By Anthony Lim / 14 November 2013 9:49 pm / 23 comments

Ford is previewing a number of upcoming vehicles at its stand in KLIMS13, and one of those in the spotlight is the EcoSport – the B-segment SUV isn’t going on sale just yet, but order books have opened for the second-generation model, which sits on a B3 (or if you will, a B2E) platform shared with the sixth-gen B299 Fiesta.

As it stands, the EcoSport is set to enter the Malaysian market by the middle of 2014, with estimated pricing listed at RM98k to RM108k, putting it very close to the Peugeot 2008 in terms of price. The vehicle will debut here in its 1.5 litre Ti-VCT form, with 112 PS at 6,300 rpm and 140 Nm at 4,400 rpm – the Sigma family mill will be paired with a six-speed Powershift dual-clutch auto transmission. Down the road, a 1.0 litre EcoBoost variant should join the lineup.

The display example at the show is a Titanium version, finished in the signature Mars Red, sitting on 16-inch wheels and 205/60 tyres. The show car is actually an Indian market model, but the final product we’ll be getting will be from Thailand, built at the Ford Thailand Manufacturing plant in Rayong.

When it arrives, the EcoSport should feature kit such as Ford SYNC, smart keyless entry and push-start ignition, rear parking sensors and dual front/side curtain airbags (the Titanium version has seven airbags). The EcoSport made its global debut in India as a concept back in 2012, and had its ASEAN premiere earlier this year at the Bangkok International Motor Show.

Read our review of the EcoSport here.

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Ford Ecosport SUV and Fiesta 1.0L Ecoboost to make debut at KLIMS13, where order books open

In Cars, Ford, Local News / By Danny Tan / 8 November 2013 1:11 pm / 48 comments

Ford is preparing a big show at the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2013 (KLIMS13), which starts next week (Nov 15) at the Putra World Trade Centre. Themed “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” Ford’s display will feature cars from yesteryear, as well as current models and upcoming ones.

For the latter, the Ford EcoSport compact SUV and Fiesta 1.0L EcoBoost variant will make their Malaysian debuts at the show. The EcoSport is likely to launch with a 1.5 litre Ti-VCT engine, as per the facelifted Fiesta that was launched here in September. The SUV is available with a 1.0L Ecoboost elsewhere, so perhaps that might come in some day as a range-topper.

The turbocharged three-cylinder 1.0L Ecoboost engine in the Fiesta is of course the reigning International Engine of the Year, having retained the title it won in 2012. Ford says that the 120 PS/170 Nm mill delivers up to 20% improvement in fuel economy and 15% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to larger displacement engines. The 1.5 Ti-VCT in the Fiesta facelift does 112 PS and 140 Nm.

Both cars will be open for bookings at KLIMS13. Customers who put their name down for a new Ford along with a deposit of RM500 will receive a special gift, while stocks last. Those interested in the Focus Sport+ and Titanium+ and Kuga SUV have additional Big Deal incentives.

Also on display, but not for sale, are the 1928 Ford Model A pick-up (original condition with minor restoration), the 662 hp Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 and the Ford Fusion Hybrid. The latter is also known as the new Ford Mondeo, so it can be considered a preview of the D-segment sedan that will be coming in the future.

We hear that the Fiesta ST hot hatch and Everest Concept (SUV based on the Ranger T6) might also turn up at PWTC, so there’s plenty to see at Ford, for sure.

Ford’s KLIMS guests will also have the chance to win prizes in contests and trivia challenges, as well as enjoy various live performances. In addition, YouTube sensation and hitz.fm Morning Crew DJ Jinny Boy will be signing autographs on Sunday, November 17. On that day, a limited number of Ford-only parking lots will be available at a discounted rate, offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

We have a review of the Ford Ecosport SUV from India, where it was launched earlier this year – click here to read the story and view the gallery.

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Ford EcoSport 1.0L EcoBoost: first impressions

In Car Reviews, Cars, Ford / By Faisal Ali Khan / 14 May 2013 12:18 pm / 38 comments

Compact SUVs have all of a sudden come into focus. The Renault Duster has been doing very well sales-wise globally, which has prompted many automakers to bring their own versions about.

The Ford EcoSport is Ford’s contender for the segment, and it was first launched in Brazil in 2003. The second-gen model was unveiled at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo, and India will be one of the EcoSport’s global right-hand drive manufacturing bases. Thailand will be another, for the ASEAN region.

The EcoSport will feature 70% local (Indian) content (to be increased to 85% in the near future). Contrary to rumours, at this point of time there is no long wheelbase or seven-seater version of the EcoSport on the cards. A 4WD version will be launched in the future, but in this review we’re looking at the 2WD.

Proceed after the jump for the full Ford EcoSport review.

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Ford EcoSport makes ASEAN debut in Bangkok

In Cars, Ford, International News / By Anthony Lim / 26 March 2013 4:40 pm / 23 comments

The Ford EcoSport compact SUV has made its ASEAN debut at the Bangkok International Motor Show. Its arrival on the scene is no surprise – ASEAN production of the B-segment offering at the Ford Manufacturing Thailand plant in Rayong was intimated as early as last year, during the previous Bangkok motor show.

The spotting of disguised test mules – clad in a yellow and black dazzle pattern scheme – back in January cemented its impending advent. As we guessed correctly last year, the front-wheel drive EcoSport debuts wearing a 1.5 Ti-VCT offering 108 PS and 138 Nm, mated to a six-speed Ford PowerShift automatic transmission or a five-speed manual transmission depending on market – we’re not likely to see the manual when the SUV eventually makes its way here.

In Bangkok, the top-of-the-line EcoSport Titanium is the showcase model – it’s finished in a distinctive Mars Red shade, replete with a sunroof, 16-inch aluminium alloy wheels and a chrome grille. The EcoSport, in case you’re not already aware of, sits on the Fiesta B2E platform.

Exterior elements include the spare tyre, with an exclusively designed wheel and cover, mounted on the tailgate as a classic SUV cue and for improved available cargo space in the vehicle. The 60/40 split rear seats can be tumbled against the front seats, and in that configuration the boot space is a neat 705 litres.

The interior, meanwhile, features soft-touch fabrics and the global Ice Blue dashboard illumination. Key equipment includes Smart Keyless Entry and push-start ignition, a Ford SYNC system, rear parking sensors and Hill Launch Assist.

Safety kit includes dual front airbags and side curtain airbags, as well as ABS and ESP. No word on when the SUV arrives in Malaysia, but it should be soon enough now that Thai production takes off. In the meantime, enjoy the first live shots we have of the Ford EcoSport from the show – Jonathan says there were too many people around to do a more complete run of interior shots earlier, but we’ll update the gallery when he gets the snaps.

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Ford EcoSport set to be second model built at Ford’s new Thai plant – Fiesta goes the 1.5 Ti-VCT route in Thailand

In Cars, Ford, International News / By Anthony Lim / 28 March 2012 7:59 am / 20 comments

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 EcoSport is ASEAN-bound – SUV is third of eight global One Ford offerings slated for the region by 2015

In Cars, Ford, International News / By Anthony Lim / 5 January 2012 1:53 pm / 10 comments

Ford has confirmed that the EcoSport SUV, which was officially introduced at the Auto Expo 2012 in New Delhi, will be coming to ASEAN markets. The vehicle is the third of eight all new global One Ford vehicles destined for the region by around 2015.

Developed by Ford’s Development Center in Camaçari, Brazil, the EcoSport sits on the company’s global B-segment platform, which will provide the basis for a family of vehicles expected to eventually represent two million units annually.

Ford has big plans for the vehicle, and says that the SUV is a significant linchpin in its plans to achieve its goal of increasing worldwide sales by nearly 50% by mid-decade to eight million vehicles a year, of which 60% to 70% of sales is expected to come from the Asia Pacific and Africa region.

No introduction dates have yet been bandied for the EcoSport in the ASEAN market, but the company says that it’ll be produced at Ford Thailand Manufacturing’s facility in Rayong, Thailand.

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