EcoSport to retain spare wheel on tail-gate, get more power

Over the past few months, a facelifted version of the Ford EcoSport has spotted testing on Indian roads. This version does not have a spare wheel on the tail-gate and it was believed that Ford would eventually launch it in the country.

Now however, Ford officials have confirmed that the vehicle spotted is the Europe-spec version, which runs on run-flat tyres and does not need a spare wheel. For India, the EcoSport will continue to get a tail-gate-mounted spare wheel. Indian customers demand a full-sized spare wheel and the wheel on the tail-gate gives the EcoSport an SUV-like stance.

While the look of the India-spec vehicle is unlikely to be changed, the diesel variant is likely to get a boost in power. The 1.5-litre TDCI unit is now expected to pump out 99 BHP and 215 Nm of torque - a gain of 9 BHP and 11 Nm over the old engine. The uprated engine has also been used to power the upcoming Figo Aspire compact sedan.

The interiors of the EcoSport are also likely to be given a makeover to give them a more upmarket feel. 

Source: Autocar India