Autoblog

Ford confirms launch of new Tourneo vans and Ecosport in Europe for Geneva

Jeffrey N. Ross — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Wagon, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Crossover, Ford

We've already seen plenty of what the Geneva Motor Show will have in store for us in less than two weeks, but most of the confirmed debuts that were announced so far have generally been luxury or performance cars. Ford, on the other hand, will be showing off a couple of its new family-friendly models for European buyers to enjoy.

On the larger side of things, the full range of Tourneo vans (shown above) will be on display, including the introduction of the new Tourneo Courier model, but Ford will also be showing off the all-new EcoSport crossover, which is based on the automaker's Global B platform and will be positioned beneath the Kuga, better known here as the Escape. The subcompact EcoSport was originally unveiled at the Beijing Motor Show last April.

Continue reading Ford confirms launch of new Tourneo vans and Ecosport in Europe for Geneva

Ford confirms launch of new Tourneo vans and Ecosport in Europe for Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford sales in China up 21% in 2012, 43% in Dec. alone

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, China, Crossover, Ford

Ford went into the Beijing Motor Show last year talking big about its "15 by 15" plan for China - introducing 15 new models to the market by 2015, doubling production capacity and its dealership network. Its stand at the show showcased four new vehicles - the EcoSport, Kuga, Edge and Explorer CUVs - along with the launch of the 1.0-liter EcoBoost in the Ford Focus (pictured) and convenience features like the Mandarin-enabled SYNC system in the new, Chinese-built Focus.

It's all paying off so far, with Ford reporting record December sales and annual sales (all sales are wholesales in China) in the world's largest auto market. Overall December sales were up 43 percent to 70,510 compared to 49,238 in the year before, with overall annual sales up by 21 percent to 626,616 compared to 519,390 in 2011.

Those numbers are a combination of Ford Motor China sales, and the sales locked up by Ford's passenger car joint venture partner, Changan, and its commercial vehicle joint venture partner, Jiangling. Passenger cars with Changan were up 31 percent for the year, to 418,500 units, including the imported Ford Edge that climbed to 426,608. The Focus ruled the roost, tallying 296,360 units sold for the year. Commercial vehicles did 200,008 units, a three-percent gain year-on-year.

For the number junkies among you, the press release below breaks it down even further.

Continue reading Ford sales in China up 21% in 2012, 43% in Dec. alone

Ford sales in China up 21% in 2012, 43% in Dec. alone originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Jan 2013 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Europe goes further with American vehicles

Scott Burgess — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, SUV, Europe, Paris Motor Show, Work, Crossover, Hatchback, Ford, Design/Style, Electric

Just weeks before the Paris Motor Show, Ford Motor Co. has taken the wraps off of much of its new lineup for Europe in an effort to shore up its efforts for European dealers. The webcast press conference from Amsterdam ended with the official announcement that the Dearborn, Michigan-based car maker will officially make the Mustang available for Autobahn runs and cobble stone street drifting.

"We'll have more details on the Mustang coming to Europe later this year," CEO Alan Mulally said, as he stood before a crowd of more than 2,500 dealers, enthusiasts and reporters. Thousands more watched him and other key Ford executives tout the company's accelerated plans to introduce more global vehicles to Europe.

The Old Country has been problematic in recent years as its stagnant economy has cost automakers billions. Ford lost $404 million in Europe in the second quarter of 2012 and expects Europe to continue to drag down the company's global profitability in the near future. But instead of going on the defensive, Ford has launched its own path to prosperity, Mulally said. The company can't afford to try the same old formulas.

"Six years ago, we developed our One Ford plan," Mulally said, "Now, we're bringing that plan to Europe."

Scroll down to continue reading.

Continue reading Ford Europe goes further with American vehicles

Ford Europe goes further with American vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Edge going to Europe, will be joined by EcoSport

George Kennedy — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Crossover, Ford

As part of Ford's a big European product rollout, the automaker announced that the Edge crossover will make its way across The Pond in the near future.

Hot on the heels of the Mustang announcement, Ford has stated that the Edge and all-new EcoSport crossovers will make their way to Europe. While you may be quite familiar with the Edge, the EcoSport is a compact crossover, first sold in Latin America. It has already been announced that the Fiesta-based SUV would be sold in India, and now it appears that it will come to Europe as well.

The EcoSport will slot in below the B-platform Ford Kuga (sister crossover to the Escape), which will enter the market first. The EcoSport will come within 18 months, and finally, the Edge will arrive as a "larger, more premium crossover."

According to Jim Farely, VP of global marketing at Ford, "The expanding European SUV market is a unique opportunity for Ford and lands right in our sweet spot." He went on to boast that "No other company can touch Ford's expertise, global portfolio and credibility when it comes to SUVs."

For more on the new European onslaught of Ford products, check out the press release below.

Continue reading Ford Edge going to Europe, will be joined by EcoSport

Ford Edge going to Europe, will be joined by EcoSport originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford EcoSport urban CUV unveiled in China

Zach Bowman — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:57:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, China, Crossover, Ford, Beijing Motor Show

Ford has unveiled the production version of its EcoSport crossover at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show. The small five-door utility should offer buyers plenty of functionality in a compact and efficient package thanks to a range of drivetrain configurations including a 1.0-liter, three-cylinder Ecoboost engine. The small-displacement engine is good for 118 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque, which should be more than enough to move the little machine around. All told, Ford says the EcoSport will see duty in over 100 world markets, though the CUV isn't expected to show up in our neck of the woods.

The EcoSport Titanium is currently on display in Beijing, complete with 16-inch wheels and a massive chrome grille. All models feature Ford Sync with voice control, while smart keyless entry and remote start are also available. As expected, the crossover also comes laden with safety tech, including dual front and side-curtain airbags.

The EcoSport will be a cornerstone of Ford's aggressive expansion into China that will see it roll out some 15 new models by 2015. In the CUV segment, Ford of China presently only sells the Edge, but it will add the EcoSport, Kuga (read: Escape) and Explorer to its showrooms as part of this initiative. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Ford EcoSport urban CUV unveiled in China

Ford EcoSport urban CUV unveiled in China originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brazilians, this is your new Ford EcoSport

Chris Tutor — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Budget, Crossover, South America, Design/Style

When Ford unveiled the EcoSport Concept at the New Delhi Auto Expo in January, we were smitten. A pint-sized, good-looking CUV with thrifty engines could do well here in the States. Brazil's Noticias Automotivas has caught what looks like a production EcoSport sans camo before it undergoes crash testing and, as promised, it looks little changed from the showcar.

The sparkly LED-powered headlights are gone but everything else seems to be very close to what design boss J Mays told us about in New Delhi. The final version is expected to come with two engine options: the 1.6-liter Sigma and the 2.0 liter Duratec.

Despite Ford's plans to expand the EcoSport beyond Brazil, we're not hopeful it'll be sold in North America, as we've heard Blue Oval executives dismiss the Fiesta-sized CUV as too small. Be sure to check out Noticias Automotivas for additional photos of the new EcoSport.

Brazilians, this is your new Ford EcoSport originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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J Mays talks about Ford's new EcoSport concept

Chris Shunk — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Videos, Crossover, Ford

We're not all that hopeful that the next generation Ford EcoSport will make its way to North America, but global markets ranging from Brazil to India should soon get their hands on a production version of this comely B-segment crossover.

It's too bad that the Fiesta-sized EcoSport isn't likely for our shores. We're liking the Kinetic look and wide stance, and we're guessing that the planned 1.0-liter EcoBoost mill should be both mildly entertaining and extremely efficient. And we're not the only ones that are impressed with the EcoSport.

As you might imagine, Ford chief designer J Mays sounds positively smitten with the Blue Oval's newest crossover creation, and he recently spent some time on camera to give an in-depth look at the concept's finer design points. Hit the jump to watch the video for yourself.

Continue reading J Mays talks about Ford's new EcoSport concept

J Mays talks about Ford's new EcoSport concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford EcoSport bows at the Delhi Auto Expo

Zach Bowman — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Crossover, Hatchback, Ford, India, South America

Ford has officially unveiled the EcoSport ahead of the Delhi Auto Expo. The vehicle wears a CUV version of the company's Kinetic design language with a large octagonal grille and discreet headlights. Despite its concept looks, Ford says the vehicle could be in production in as little as six months.

Under the hood, the EcoSport boasts the smallest Ecoboost engine ever created. The turbocharged 1.0-liter, three-cylinder engine is good for around 118 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque, though a small-displacement diesel option may bow in the future.

The EcoSport will be built in India and Brazil and is likely to play a large role in growing the Ford presence worldwide. The vehicle will head to 100 markets globally and is slated to be the second of eight new Ford products headed to India by 2015. That doesn't mean we'll be seeing the CUV on our soil anytime soon, however.

Ford EcoSport bows at the Delhi Auto Expo originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next Ford EcoSport now playing at New Delhi Auto Expo [UPDATE]

Chris Paukert — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:30:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Budget, Crossover, Misc. Auto Shows, India, South America, Design/Style

While we've been consumed with the ramp-up to next week's Detroit Auto Show, there's a more pressing matter on the international car events calendar - this week's New Delhi Auto Expo. Ford Motor Company isn't overlooking the burgeoning biennial show, and it's taking the opportunity to reveal its first-ever world debut at the show, the next Ford EcoSport.

Debuting with a sliver of show-only frosting (check out those glitzy headlamps), the tiny crossover is about the same size as the Fiesta five-door, and it's built on the Blue Oval's new global B-Car architecture. Ford isn't revealing much in the way of powertrain specifics for this thinly disguised model, but our sources tell us the EcoSport will see the first application of the company's new 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine in India (yes, that means there will be an EcoSport EcoBoost), and presumably there will be an ethanol variant as well.

The upright CUV has been designed with emerging markets in mind, namely portions of Asia and South America, so we're unlikely to see it in North America (we'd be more likely to receive the B-Max MPV), though our sources tell us that an eventual European market appearance is not out of the question. Roughly 90 percent of cars in those markets are B-Segment or smaller, and the previous generation of the Brazilian-built EcoSport has sold some 750,000 units since hitting the market nine years ago.

While the original EcoSport sold almost exclusively in Brazil, the new model will spread its wings to take on a more global role as part of the company's One Ford agenda. To be assembled in both India and Brazil, the EcoSport represents the first time that Ford's team in Camacari, Brazil has taken the lead in conceiving a global product, another indication of the market's growing importance. The new EcoSport will be a lynchpin for the Blue Oval, who expect the Asia Pacific region to swallow up to one out of every three Ford vehicles sold by 2020 (it's just one in six today).

Want more proof of India's rise in importance? Officials tell us that Ford plans to treat the Delhi show as a first-tier show going forward, on par with Detroit, the Frankfurt Motor Show, and so on. Ostensibly, the show will replace a Tokyo Motor Show presence for the Dearborn automaker, as Ford was absent from last month's show in Japan.

UPDATE: Additional photos and sketches have been added to the gallery, along with two official videos and a press release after the jump.

Continue reading Next Ford EcoSport now playing at New Delhi Auto Expo [UPDATE]

Next Ford EcoSport now playing at New Delhi Auto Expo [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford teases next EcoSport ahead of New Delhi

Zach Bowman — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Budget, Etc., Crossover, Ford, India

While we're gearing up for the 2012 Detroit Auto Show next month, Ford is getting read to take on the Delhi Auto Expo with a gamut of production and concept vehicles. The company has released a teaser for what is likely the company's next EcoSport CUV to stir up interest.

The second-generation production vehicle is likely based on the same platform as the Ford Fiesta (the outgoing EcoSport is based on Ford's foreign market Fusion crossover) and will make its way around the globe in select markets as part of the automaker's "One Ford" strategy. That means European buyers will get a shot at taking home an EcoSport of their own, though we don't expect the model to show up on our shores anytime soon.

Ford will also show off the company's Figo, Fiesta, Ford Classic and Endeavour to the Indian market. The Delhi Auto Expo kicks off on January 7 and runs through January 11. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Ford teases next EcoSport ahead of New Delhi

Ford teases next EcoSport ahead of New Delhi originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Edge headed to Brazil

Dan Roth — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 07:57:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Crossover, Ford

It seems like America is the only place where American cars aren't popular. Buick has huge numbers in China, and Ford's having a lot of success in Brazil. Sales of the Fusion sedan took off to the point that it now leads the midsize segment there. Riding high on the Fusion's success, Ford's sending the Edge below the equator. The Edge will join a lineup that includes the new Ka compact, the EcoSport small 'Ute, and the Fiesta.

Ford's also pumping $1 billion into it's Brazilian operations to keep the stampede going. Ford do Brasil has had 15 quarters of profit and earnings are up 72-percent over last year. The infusion of cash will go into Ford's local products, which will help the rest of their lineup come closer to the Edge's excellence.

Press release after the jump.

[Source: Ford]

Gallery: Ford Ka

Gallery: Ford EcoSport

Gallery: Ford Fiesta ST Mototune

Continue reading Ford Edge headed to Brazil

Ford Edge headed to Brazil originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Jan 2008 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The U.S. B-segment car Mark Fields axed

Stuart Waterman — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, SUV, Ford

Back in January at the L.A. Auto Show Mark Fields promised the audience at his keynote speech that Ford would soon be unveiling a new product to compete in the fast-growing subcompact (or B-segment) market in the U.S. Well, here we are in August and Ford is still without the promised small car to compete with the Chevy Aveo, Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit. What happened?

Well, it turns out that Ford was rushing to market a version of the Fiesta-based EcoSport small SUV (pictured) that its subsidiaries sell in Mexico and Brazil. According to The Detroit News, the already fairly basic EcoSport would have been stripped down even further as Ford tried to come up with a price leader for the market. Fields (wisely, in our opinion) canned the project, saying this week that he'd rather wait for Ford to "come in with a product that's distinctly Ford" and not "just another econo-box."

[Source: Detroit News]

The U.S. B-segment car Mark Fields axed originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Aug 2006 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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