Ford is using next week’s Los Angeles auto show to show the EcoSport small utility vehicle that will finally be sold in North America after years of popularity abroad.
The automaker will use an event Monday to unveil the EcoSport, ahead of press days for the auto show. The information was revealed on Snapchat by DJ Khaled and then confirmed by Ford on twitter.
The EcoSport is a subcompact utility vehicle based on the Ford Fiesta. Since its debut and sales success in Europe and China, Ford executives have been asked how long until it is available here.
We got our first confirmation in January when CEO Mark Fields announced plans to add four new utility vehicles to the lineup over the next few years. The automaker said they would be new nameplates for the Ford and Lincoln brands.
The EcoSport was first introduced in 2003 in Brazil, followed by a second-generation global model in 2012. It is getting a face-lift for 2017 that includes a new dash to accommodate Sync 3 and all-wheel drive for more markets.
The EcoSport is currently built in China, Thailand, Russia, Brazil, and India, with plans to build some in Romania next year. The U.S. model could be built in Mexico alongside the Fiesta or exported from one of the existing EcoSport plants.
It competes against other small utes such as the Honda HR-V, Jeep Renegade, and Opel Mokka (Buick Encore here). Other competitors include the Chevrolet Trax, Nissan Juke, and Fiat 500X. While it has both gasoline and diesel engines in Europe, we would expect gasoline only in the U.S., likely Ford’s 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines and the EcoBoost 1.0-liter three-cylinder.
Other SUVs we are still waiting to see from Ford include the return of the Ford Bronco around 2019. Lincoln is expected to get an Explorer-sized, three-row SUV and there is room for a subcompact crossover as well which would likely do well in China where the luxury brand is growing.
Motor Trend will bring you more details Monday after the wraps have come off the North American version of the EcoSport.
Source: Ford via Twitter
The post Ford EcoSport Small Crossover Confirmed for North America appeared first on Motor Trend.
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