[SSarkar]

I honestly don't understand this obsession with touch-screens. They are ergonomically useless, unsafe and to me the tactility that a really good HU with clickable buttons provides an by-far unmatched.

Lets talk about what a touch-screen offers:

1. A big-display: More of a hindrance than of any practical use.
2. DVD/Video Playback: Useless unless you are static + it drains the battery in that case. Most people will have it hacked so that it plays video even when on the move. Again, ridiculously unsafe and illegal.
3. A screen for your rear-view camera. Again, I much prefer the Hyundai implementation some years ago, where there was an HQ screen within the IRVM, far easier to use as well.
4. Navigation: Nothing that cannot be added by a dedicated good quality aftermarket retrofit. And in any-case, I personally find my Phone's navigation far far more superior, precise and updated frequently.
5. Format Support: Basically supports the same standards as a good non-touchscreen unit.

And to add to this phenomenon, some manufacturers are adding this touch-screen craze to other controls as well. Case in point - Honda City.

And Ford has gone ahead and reduced equipment, increased prices and generally done some stupid stuff just to add a Touch-screen ICE! Brilliant!

[shibu]

Looks like not all features are reduced. Also the wheels shown in the brochure are 16 inchers only. The new one is here:

https://www.india.ford.com/content/d...t-brochure.pdf

Fortunately should I say, I just bought a Oct 2016 manufactured Titanium plus for a superb price! The car is being delivered tomorrow. One thing which is standing out on decoding the VIN on ETIS is, it says:

- Chennai Plant Build (India)
- Export Sales

What does it mean ' Export Sales'? Does it mean I am getting a export model?

I plan to retrofit the new touch screen at a later date.

[arunphilip]

Originally Posted by shibu

Also the wheels shown in the brochure are 16 inchers only.

This is good to know. The spy pics above are probably an export variant, or just a test mule running the export alloys.

Originally Posted by shibu

One thing which is standing out on decoding the VIN on ETIS is, it says:
- Export Sales
What does it mean ' Export Sales'? Does it mean I am getting a export model?

Sadly, no such luck Even my 2013 EcoSport had such a tag in ETIS. It probably means something to Ford internally, but it doesn't mean we get any export-specific bits in the car.

[RapidRavi]

Removal of features even if they are very small may impact the sales.
I own a T(+) and here are my thoughts:
Touchscreen: I was a big fan of this before getting Ecosport. Once i got mine, never missed this.Also no reverse camera required which is very difficult to see during night. Buttons can be managed easily instead of you ending up touching different areas of screen while eyes on Road.
Lumbar support : Very important on long drives. You adjust this according to posture and it will never hurt your back on long drives. My friends are already complaining about back pain issues without this.
Cooled glove box: Never worked nor will missed.
Passenger storage box: Its important when you have atleast 4 ppl in family.Although not a major miss.
Driver seat arm-rest: This has some minute alignment issue with gear knob.But very useful again on long drive where you slot in top gear and does not shift for over an hour.Gives you a very relaxed posture rather havingboth hands busy.

In my view Lumbar and arm rest are definitely going to be missed even after that price hike which hurts you more.

[shibu]

Originally Posted by arunphilip

This is good to know. The spy pics above are probably an export variant, or just a test mule running the export alloys.


Sadly, no such luck Even my 2013 EcoSport had such a tag in ETIS. It probably means something to Ford internally, but it doesn't mean we get any export-specific bits in the car.

Thanks Arun.

Just was wondering if you can post the ETIS feature list here. Below is mine and it would be interesting to see the changes:

Minor Features
Less Underbody Protection
Less Rear Mudflaps
Front Door Scuff W/Logo
Accessory USB Unit W/IPod Function
Less Front Mudflaps
Less Exterior Valance Panel
Less Seat Temperature Control
Less Battery Monitor System
Less Luggage Compartment Mat
Cargo Tie Down Hooks-Inside
Version Pack 6
Chennai Plant Build (India)
Export Sales
Less Special Equipment Package
Less Marketing Flex Prep Pack
With Side Impact Package
(-) Exclusive Pack
Titanium Badge
Less Dress Up RSO
(-) SVP
Less SIP
Exterior Paint - Solid
EOBD
Less SVO Except Packs
Less Fire Extinguisher Fixings
With Standard Jack
With Breakdown Warning Sign
Less Fire Extinguisher
With First Aid Kit
Less Tyre Repair Service Kit
With Rear Package Tray
Less Service Interval
Less Fuel Label
Power Front Windows One Touch Up/Do
With Electric Rear Windows
With Tinted Glass All Round
Grille-W/Horizontal Chrm Bar Centre
Less Windscreen Shade Band
With Laminated Windscreen
Less Heated Windscreen
With Heated Rear Window
With Cooled Glove Box
With Base Instrument Panel
Console Top Plate - Finish 2
With Long Overhead Console Design A
With Full Floor Console
With Footrest
Front Floor Mat-Driver Only
Less Rear Floor Mats
Headliner With Lighting
Sunvisor Less Mirror - Drivers
With Sunvisor Mirror - Passenger
With Chrome Interior Door Handles
Less Front Roof Grab Handle
Less Rear Interior Assist Handle
Vinyl Soft Arm
With Load Floor Carpet
Less First Aid Retain Straps
Less Spare Tyre Cover
With W/Triangle. Retainer Straps
With Engine Dash Insulator
Interior Dash Insulator II
With Insulator
Grille - Black With Upper Chrome
With Silver Roof Rack W/O Crossbars
Less Exterior Body Mouldings
With Lower Body Cladding
Less Auxiliary Roof Rack Crossbars
Less Spoiler
With Electrochromic R/View Mirror
Dual Power Signal Mirrors
With Body Coloured Exterior Mirror
Leather Seat Trim
With Driver Seat Back Map Pocket
Passenger Seat Back Map Pocket
Under Seat Stowage Drawer-Passenger
With Drivers Seat Armrest
With Front 2 Way Headrest
Driver Seat Recliner - Lever
Passenger Seat Recliner-Lever
With Split Fold-Down Rear Seat
With 2 Way Adjustable Rear Headrest
Less Rear Seat Centre Armrest
Less Rear Centre Headrest
With Drivers Manual Lumbar Support
Less Cargo Net - Front Seat
2nd Row Seat 60/40 (3 P) - Folding
With Driver 4 Way Mnl.Seat Adjuster
With Pass 2 Way Manual Seat Adjust
Less Trailer Coupling
With Front Towing Hook
With Rear Towing Hooks
Body Coloured Exterior Door Handle
Chrome Liftgate Handle
5 Speed - Leather Shift Knob
With Child Proof Safety Lock
With Central Locking System
Keyfree System
Keyless Entry/Start - Passive
With Trans Linked Rr Washer/Wiper
With Automatic Windscreen Wiper
Less Sun Roof
Less Body Tu-Tone Paint
6 Year Corrosion Protection
Front Bumper - Plastic - Painted
Rear Bumper Body Coloured Plastic
Less Bumper Energy Reinforcement
Air Curtain Restrnt LH
Less Inflatable Knee Bolster Driver
With Beltminder
With Inertia Front Seat Belt
With Centre Rear 3 Point Seat Belt
With Driver Air Bag
With Passenger Air Bag
Less Passenger Air Bag Deactivation
With Isofix Hard Point Attachment
Fixed Front Seat Belt Mount
Style 1 Tether Anchorage Restraint
Seat Belt Pretensioners Drv/Pass
With Exterior Tyre Carrier
With Conventional Spare Wheel
Less Tyre Pressure Sensors
16" Alloy Wheel - Style 3
205/60R16 ATR BSW
With Conventional Spare Tyre
Less Wheel Covers
Lock Wheel Lug Nut-Spare Only
Components Unique For Alloy Wheels
Cold Start -10 Deg C
Standard Electric Starter Motor
With Stage IV Emission Car
With Standard Suspension
With Front Stabilizer Bar
With Mechanical Parking Brake
With Front Disc-Brake/Rr Drum Brake
Less Brake Emergency Assist
MK70 - 4 Wheel Anti-Lock Brakes
Gear 3.58/1.93/1.28/0.95/0.76
Less Manual Shift Auto Trans
Less Skid Plates
Standard Front Seat
Filter Cowl Intake - Odour
A/C Refrigerant-R134A
With Non Locking Fuel Cap
Fuel Tank Flap - Locking
With Diesel Fuel Capability
Standard Foot Pedal Pad Design
With Electric Power Steering
With Manual Tilt/Slide Stg Column
Electronic Locking Steering Column
Leather 3 Spk Sterling Silver Wheel
Less Speed Control
Less Auxiliary Heater
Low Series Analog Cluster
Silver Face/Silver Rings - Cluster
With KMH Speedometer
With Trip Computer
With Tachometer
Dual Note Electric Horn
Matrix Multi Function Display
Less Navigation Data
Emergency Assistance
With Headlamp On Warning Device
Less Revers Gear Alarm
With Reverse Proximity Sensor
With High Speed Warning Chime
Less Anti-Theft Alarm
With Engine Immobilizer - Integral
AM/FM Stereo/MP3/CD/Clock
With A/V Jack
Blue Tooth Interface Connect
Roof Mounted Radio Antenna
Less ICE Feature Pack
Less Integrated Control Panel
Less Module/GPS Antenna
Microphone
With Media Gateway Module
Voice Ctrl-Mndrin Taiwanes & British
With Steering Wheel Radio Controls
Hazard Warning Switch/Pad Lamp
Less Smokers Package
Non-Illuminated Cigar Lighter
Less Camera
Powerpoint Plug-Load Compartment
With Chrome Fog Lamp Bezel
DTRL Lamp Lit In Pos 0 And Pos
Dual Headlamp With Light Guide
With Front Fog Lamps
Less Interior Light Group
Header Mounted Courtesy/Maplights
With Courtesy Light Delay
With Rear Overhead Courtesy Lamp
Less Glove Box Illumination
With Load Compartment Lamp
With High Mounted Stop Lamp
With Single Rear Fog Lamp
With Manual Headlamp Levelling
With Auto Headlamp Plus Wiper
With RH Front Courtesy Light Switch
With Rear Courtesy Light Switch
Less Instrument Panel Dimmer Switch

[arunphilip]

Originally Posted by shibu

Just was wondering if you can post the ETIS feature list here. Below is mine and it would be interesting to see the changes

That's an interesting exercise. Rather than put in an entire list in-line, I've compared my Aug 2013 EcoSport's list of features to your Oct 2016 EcoSport's in the following file: Aug 2013 vs Oct 2016 EcoSport differences.xlsx

A lot of cosmetic differences, pseudo-DRLs, auto headlights/wipers/dimming IRVM were introduced during a late-2015 facelift, the details of which are captured in this post on the EcoSport review thread.

Beyond that, the 3 things that caught my attention were:

• Battery Monitor System: present in Aug 2013, apparently absent in Oct 2016. I'm not sure what the impact/purpose of this is.
• Interior Dash Insulator: in Aug 2013, compared to "Interior Dash Insulator II" in Oct 2016. I'm not sure what the impact of this change is.
• Body Tu-Tone Paint: absent in Oct 2016, not specified for Aug 2013. I'm not sure if this is due to colour differences, since the Aug 2013 EcoSport is a metallic Kinetic Blue shade. All colours except white are metallic shades and have reflective chips in the paint.

[shibu]

Originally Posted by arunphilip

That's an interesting exercise. Rather than put in an entire list in-line, I've compared my Aug 2013 EcoSport's list of features to your Oct 2016 EcoSport's in the following file: Attachment 1594957

A lot of cosmetic differences, pseudo-DRLs, auto headlights/wipers/dimming IRVM were introduced during a late-2015 facelift, the details of which are captured in this post on the EcoSport review thread.

Beyond that, the 3 things that caught my attention were:

• Battery Monitor System: present in Aug 2013, apparently absent in Oct 2016. I'm not sure what the impact/purpose of this is.
  
  This probably due to upgraded alternator!
  
• Interior Dash Insulator: in Aug 2013, compared to "Interior Dash Insulator II" in Oct 2016. I'm not sure what the impact of this change is.
  
  Better part.
  
• Body Tu-Tone Paint: absent in Oct 2016, not specified for Aug 2013. I'm not sure if this is due to colour differences, since the Aug 2013 EcoSport is a metallic Kinetic Blue shade. All colours except white are metallic shades and have reflective chips in the paint.
  
  Mine is Diamond white which is solid.
  

Thanks Arun for the excel sheet.

Meanwhile the new Ecosport price is announced in Autocar India:

http://www.autocarindia.com/auto-new...kh-403908.aspx

Anybody has the Ecosport pricelist for Kerala from last month(December)?

[ramharis]

China has been having such aftermarket touchscreen items for a long time. Perhaps, ford is buying these units from them and calling it ford like most indian car manufacturers.
http://m.dhgate.com/search.do?key=ec...id=&tag=&scht=

[amit_rai]

This is not a very far-sighted decision by Ford. They have got some guts to do this (Removing Important features) and adding a "Touchscreen" !!. According to me, Touchscreen in a car acts more as distraction and only useful when car is standing still. Please see below points for how touchscreens are being used in Cars:

1. As Navigation : I am big fan of "Google Maps" and since "Offline Maps" feature has been introduced, it makes it more practical, economical and updated. I would prefer Google Maps over Navigation devices any day.

2. As Video Players : Seriously!!, watching videos while car is running is just too stupid. For other occupants, they can always use Phones or Tablets, if so required.

Touchscreens in India come on Left side of the driver. As most of the people are right handed, it is not very easy to operate a touch screen while driving. Most of the controls are on the steering anyway nowadays.

Lumbar support and Driver's arm rest were very important features and Ford has not done any good to their reputation by removing these.

I am however OK with removal of DRLs which I think are more of gimmick and not much useful in Indian conditions anyway.

[skanchan95]

Video review of the 2017 Ecosport by Mr Karthik Hegde, Sales Exceutuve, Cauvery Ford, Mangalore

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0ftbekAFCo&t=24s

Its a bit odd that the highest variant i.e Titanium(O) doesn't get Sync(with voice commands) with the touchscreen display, whereas the lower Titanium gets Sync(with voice commands). I find Sync to be extremely useful and practical on my Figo Titanium+.

[arunphilip]

Originally Posted by skanchan95

Video review of the 2017 Ecosport by Mr Karthik Hegde, Sales Exceutuve, Cauvery Ford, Mangalore

Its a bit odd that the highest variant i.e Titanium(O) doesn't get Sync(with voice commands) with the touchscreen display, whereas the lower Titanium gets Sync(with voice commands). I find Sync to be extremely useful and practical on my Figo Titanium+.

Thanks for sharing this interesting video. Some observations:

• Despite his claim that this is the same system as used in the Ford Endeavour (i.e. Sync 3), I have my doubts, because of the difference in the navigation icon (see my earlier post about this), as well as the absence of Sync integration via voice commands that skanchan95 has pointed out.
• Interesting to see that cruise control and 17" alloys are indeed being offered - these were until now available only on export models
• The ride on 17" alloys - all I can think of is ouch!
• The buttons on the left (CD/Radio/Aux/Phone/Menu) don't correspond to the row of icons on the touchscreen, and the CD button is a bit of a misnomer - again it goes to show this is a slightly hacked together setup rather than a cohesive upgrade. For whatever reason, Ford seem to be delaying the proper facelift and are introducing this as a stopgap.

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by arunphilip

[*]Despite his claim that this is the same system as used in the Ford Endeavour (i.e. Sync 3), I have my doubts, because of the difference in the navigation icon

He said that its the same 8" sized screen from the Endeavour, that's all. Its easy to get confused and he never said its the same voice command equipped system i.e Sync 3 from the Endeavour. Functionality wise it is not Sync3, its just that the screen size is same. Ford probably went ahead with this a hurriedly put together update rather than a well thought out one.

[RavenAvi]

Caught on camera at a Ford dealership by a Carwale reader.

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by RavenAvi

Caught on camera at a Ford dealership by a Carwale reader.

The photos are screen captures from Karthik's video and one can make that out clearly. It's a shame that the author hasn't given him credit.

[redbaron91]

Originally Posted by skanchan95

He said that its the same 8" sized screen from the Endeavour, that's all. Its easy to get confused and he never said its the same voice command equipped system i.e Sync 3 from the Endeavour. Functionality wise it is not Sync3, its just that the screen size is same. Ford probably went ahead with this a hurriedly put together update rather than a well thought out one.

I had a web chat with Ford executive from their official website. Executive confirmed, voice command feature is not available in the upcoming updated version.