The 2017 Ford Ecosport has been spotted testing in European ST-Line form, as Ford finalises the model for launch at next month's Frankfurt motor show.
The updated model will inherit the more aggressive exterior styling of the Kuga and Edge models. Its look will be near identical to the US-spec model that was revealed last year, as will the kit and technology the crossover will come with.
Facelifted Ford Edge revealed to American market
Development cars spotted by an Autocar spy photographer display restyled front bumpers with a new black mid-section and lightly tweaked rear bumpers.
Earlier test cars (see gallery) had a spare wheel fixed to their tailgates. This feature remains popular in South American and Chinese markets, but UK and European-spec Ecosports now do without it.
Across all markets, the 2017 Ecosport will come with Ford's latest-generation Sync 3 infotainment system.
It seems likely that the current car’s engine line-up, which comprises a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol, 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol and 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel, will be unchanged. The most recently spotted test car appears to be fitted with the 1.5-litre petrol engine.
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Why
Why bring out a new ecosport, which is basically a Fiesta with raised ride-height, when Ford are also making a Fiesta active, which is a Fiesta with raised ride-height?
Ford made a big mistake a few
Ford made a big mistake a few years ago, spending all that money on engineering the B Max with its lack of B pillar. Surely their business analysts could see that the small people carrier market was waning, and that it was the compact SUV market where the demand was building (everyone else was aware of that). They should have spent that time and money developing a completely new small SUV for Europe so that they wouldn't now be in the position of continually attempting to get this pathetic model up to scratch. Their customers deserve better.
Third time lucky or strike 3?
Think the EcoSport will live on hence the refresh and will be more ruggedised (!) compared to Fiesta Active.
Given the Fiesta is such a good base it should be good but they need to sort build quality, packaging (not side opening door) and make it feel more like a premium mini crossover.
Some stiff competition though with Mokka X, revised Captur, Arona and more.
Hopefully it will be third time lucky.
Gu