Ford’s facelifted EcoSport spotted testing in India

The carmaker had earlier launched a mildly refreshed version of its compact SUV this year. This will be the EcoSport’s second update and, this time, the updates will be major. Ford showcased this facelift at the LA auto show last year.

The front is all new - the grille is now a one-piece hexagonal unit, the headlamps and the fog lamps feature new designs, so does the front bumper. This new look is more in line with other modern Ford SUVs like the Kuga, which is on sale globally.

The side looks more or less the same, spare for the new alloy wheels. The tailgate-mounted spare, which is a popular feature in India, is likely to stay on Asia-bound models of the car. The interior also sees heavy revisions – a lot of the control surfaces are new. The basic design of the dashboard is similar to that of the old car, but now features a new layout for the centre console. There’s a new instrument cluster and steering, and body coloured inserts as well.

The new centre console encompasses Ford’s SYNC 3 touchscreen infotainment system. The central air-con vents have been moved lower on the centre console, and there are revised air-con controls too.

The updated car will most likely feature a familiar set of engines, a 1.0-litre EcoBoost turbo petrol, a 1.5-litre petrol and a 1.5-litre diesel. Ford is looking at regaining ground which it has lost to rivals like the Vitara Brezza and Mahindra’s TUV300.