[Vid6639]

Originally Posted by CEF_Beasts

There is some news afloat mentioning that around March Ford will launch an EcoSport without a spare wheel as a new variant alongside the regular spare-wheel mounted EcoSport. Apparently some cars have been spotted in a Ford dealer stockyard and are RHDs.

Attachment 2123585

lol What exactly is the point of this variant?

The Ecosport had a huge attraction to buyers cause of the spare tyre at the back making it look like a "proper" SUV. Lose that and one the biggest appeals of the car is gone.

To top it off no spare tyre at all. That makes no sense at all.

Seriously what are they achieving with this variant....unless they save in costs with no spare tyre (with alloy) as well as no need to att beefed up door to take the weight.

[CEF_Beasts]

Originally Posted by Vid6639

lol What exactly is the point of this variant?

The Ecosport had a huge attraction to buyers cause of the spare tyre at the back making it look like a "proper" SUV. Lose that and one the biggest appeals of the car is gone.

To top it off no spare tyre at all. That makes no sense at all.

Seriously what are they achieving with this variant....unless they save in costs with no spare tyre (with alloy) as well as no need to att beefed up door to take the weight.

Exactly what a dumb move if they launch this variant! I bought the EcoSport just because of that sweet looking spare wheel on the tailgate, it was a differentiator among the sea of other CSUVs!

Don’t know what exactly Ford India is upto, rather than this they could have brought back the Sync 3 system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in the lower variants.

I don’t think anyone will pick this variant up, no spare wheel and still a sidewards swinging tailgate.

[sreerknair]

Originally Posted by Vid6639

lol What exactly is the point of this variant?

Vid, I think there is a minority like me who is waiting for that Spare wheel to be removed to buy EcoSport. To me EcoSport is a hatch with raised ground clearance and would like to drive it that way.

[chautob0t]

I had put off the purchase of EcoSport for my dad as there were essentially no dealer discounts due to limited production and a 4-8 weeks waiting time.

The sales guy from a Delhi dealership told us that there is a new variant coming without the mounted spare wheel. He said he couldn't give us even a rough timeline but his educated guess said it was probably schedules in late April or May as all limited editions of EcoSport come in that period historically. (Thunder, Signature do fall in this time frame.)

Glad I waited for it, I am actually not too keen on Mahindra's petrol turbo as it'll be new and who knows what niggles will be present, they are not using it for their own cars, yet.

I agree that it does look pretty weird without the wheel, but the extra dimensions of the wheel fill up my parking space with barely inches left on either end.
I was hoping it'll come with a space saver spare tyre though. I guess I will wait to see it in the flesh and then decide.

If it looks too bad in person and the features are lacking compared to Titanium, I will go for Titanium MT itself or S MT petrol (primarily for extra airbags).

(The recent activity on this thread made me think twice for the diesel but uncertain rules in NCR rule that out as the car will stay in the family for 7-10 years at least.)

[JithinR]

I initially thought that the first post mentioning this new variant was actually a nice joke or maybe some silly rumor. But scroll down the page and I see that Ford is actually serious about pulling this off.

Damn, that is some iffy weed these guys smoke in Sholinganallur. What is the point of removing that spare wheel unless you at least update the tailgate door to hinge upwards?

Kind of makes me glad that the guy I was trying to get a used Ecosport AT from hasn't returned my calls.

[Vid6639]

Originally Posted by sreerknair

Vid, I think there is a minority like me who is waiting for that Spare wheel to be removed to buy EcoSport. To me EcoSport is a hatch with raised ground clearance and would like to drive it that way.

But what different does it make to the drive? It is a spare wheel

I have the car for more than 7 years and it has made no difference to drive with or without the wheel, which I did once when the rear was bumped into but the tyre took the brunt.

The tyre doesnt hamper visibility nor did it hamper parking. If anything it protected the rear bumper from pesky bikers.

It is merely aesthetics and it was the differentiating factor amongst other raised hatches that are also sold as SUV. The Ecosport atleast looked different and more SUV like than the other raised hatches labelled SUV.

Other than the miniscule minority like you there will be not many people who will buy a car with no spare at all and if you get stuck in some ghat section with a puncture in the middle of nowhere, then the only option is to park car and call RSA or take tyre to a puncture shop and get it back to the car.

[bwildrd#1]

Originally Posted by Vid6639

lol What exactly is the point of this variant?

Probably Ford is left with many unsold stocks of this variant which was initially meant for export. Can't think of any other reason!!

[arjab]

The All Wheel Drive EcoSport is tagged as the SE and sold without the tailgate mounted spare in the UK and Brazil.
Now, if this variant, as media reports say, is to be positioned near the top of the range, can it be that Ford India is planning a surprise & launches an AWD version?
No harm in dreaming I guess! Some dreams, sometimes, miraculously comes true as well!
Fingers crossed!

[sreerknair]

Originally Posted by Vid6639

It is merely aesthetics

who will buy a car with no spare at all and if you get stuck in some ghat section with a puncture in the middle of nowhere, then the only option is to park car and call RSA or take tyre to a puncture shop and get it back to the car.

Yes it is the aesthetics without tailgate mounted spare that makes it desirable for some. I know those will be a minority in India. But in some markets EcoSport is sold without that tailgate mounted spare. I do expect Ford to keep a spare somewhere inside/under the car though. Without a spare at all, the car is a strict "No" for me.

[da_lowrider]

Originally Posted by bwildrd#1

Probably Ford is left with many unsold stocks of this variant which was initially meant for export. Can't think of any other reason!!

It does reek of a 'clearance sale', doesn't it? All of these small pieces coming from Ford India seem to be coming together to form one rather sad, bleak picture.

[bwildrd#1]

Originally Posted by da_lowrider

It does reek of a 'clearance sale', doesn't it? All of these small pieces coming from Ford India seem to be coming together to form one rather sad, bleak picture.

Maybe or maybe not. Current gen Ecosport is almost at it's end of lifecycle. Not only in India but in other markets as well. I hope this new variant is linked to clearance sale as you said, but only for this model. Not Ford India.

I for one was expecting Storm edition as a replacement for Titanium+ variant. Definitely not this one

[Shanksta]

I had only one fear when the dealer told me there is 90days waiting period, Ford must not delete any features. The first news I read today after waking up, called up my dealer with a decision to cancel my booking if the spare removal was not limited to only the new variant.

Got a clarification from my Sales executive that this is only a new variant and my Titanium will come with a spare mounted on the tailgate.

So remember this from the official Ford press release on 04-Jan-2021 ?

Half of the variants to offer sun-roof with its introduction on Titanium trim; Titanium+ variant to make way for an exciting update soon

The new variant dubbed SE is essentially the new Titanium+ variant and it will be positioned between the Titanium and the Sport. It will not be getting a spare wheel as a differentiating factor. But looks like it will be getting 6 airbags and all the other bells and whistles.

Still I do not get why they chose to remove the spare wheel and yet left it operationally to open sideways

Anyway my booking remains intact but Ford if you are reading this please send my car already and stop giving me mini heart attacks.

[CEF_Beasts]

Spotted again this time being loaded into a truck.


This one is the 1.5L Dragon Petrol.


Looks like this SE trim will get the Sync 3 system.

My reasoning:-
Sync 3 system is smaller (8-inch) and has more rounded edges as seen in this picture as compared to the 9-inch flyaudio system.

[Chetan_Rao]

Model nomenclature suggests it's export surplus, originally meant for another RHD market, so it may have features made-for-India specimens don't.

Much as I belong to the small minority that dislikes the tailgate-mounted spare, not having a spare at all is a big no-no in a country like ours with iffy roadside assistance coverage.

[da_lowrider]

Originally Posted by Shanksta

I had only one fear when the dealer told me there is 90days waiting period, Ford must not delete any features.
Got a clarification from my Sales executive that this is only a new variant and my Titanium will come with a spare mounted on the tailgate.

So remember this from the official Ford press release on 04-Jan-2021 ?

The new variant dubbed SE is essentially the new Titanium+ variant and it will be positioned between the Titanium and the Sport. It will not be getting a spare wheel as a differentiating factor. But looks like it will be getting 6 airbags and all the other bells and whistles.

Still I do not get why they chose to remove the spare wheel and yet left it operationally to open sideways

I'm in a similar boat. I got the 'apologies for missed delivery date email' and a call from the dealership GM. They weren't ready to confirm a timeline though, as the GM admitted that they haven't received any information from FORD in terms of timelines due to the semiconductor shortage. When I asked him, if i can expect a March delivery (booked December 30th), he refused to confirm anything at this point. I have started exploring other options though.

On the plus side, there used to be this notion that the made for India models might be a little compromised, maybe the SE isn't?

Ford's release that they will finalise and announce their India strategy within 30 days, is the only glimmer of hope I have, that one way or the other we'll know what is going to happen. Fingers crossed.