A source privy to Ford India’s plans this week
tipped IAB that the 1.0 L EcoBoost engine that powered the pre-facelift
EcoSport will be brought back. Backing the news is Autocar India which reports
that the engine will make a comeback on the Ford EcoSport Titanium S.
The Ford EosSport Titanium S with the 1.0 L EcoBoost
engine will be marketed as a sporty version of the compact SUV. In the UK, the
1.0 L EcoBoost engine comes in two states of tune – 125 PS and 140 PS. The
exact power and torque outputs of the India-spec model are not known yet.
However, as the 1.5 L 3-cylinder petrol on sale already makes 123 PS, Ford may
look to dial the 1.0L to up to 140 PS. The planned launch of the Titanium S
grade with a 1.0 L EcoBoost engine also explains the presence of marking for a
6th gear seen in the earlier interior shots. The same engine in the UK-spec
EcoSport comes paired with a 6-speed manual transmission.
As revealed by images of the Ford EcoSport Titanium
S a few days ago, the dashboard gets an all-black treatment along with orange
highlights around the centre console and on the door trim and matching
upholstery. The instrument console, unlike the variants currently on sale,
features chrome rings around the speedometer and tachometer and a bigger,
4.2-inch MID. The Titanium S variant will get a sunroof.
On the outside, there is a darkened front grille,
dark tarnish finish 17-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels, black headlamp inserts and
black front fog lamp bezels, roof rails and rear spoiler. A blacked out roof
can also be seen in the photos. A 1.0 L engine in a sub-4 m vehicle ideally
brings down price as the vehicle attracts the lowest tax. However, Ford imports
the 1.0 L turbocharged engine from Europe, which coupled with the addition of
features like the sunroof, will mean the Titanium S grade commanding a premium
over all existing grades. Expect it to be priced in the INR 11-12 lakh bracket
(ex-showroom). As per the report, dealers are accepting bookings for this
variant for around INR 30,000 ahead of its launch in May.
