Ford's Fiesta-based EcoSport crossover - released this week in South Africa - is available to local customers in a choice of three engines and two transmissions, three trim levels and eight colours.
Headlining the motorvation column is Ford's 92kW/170Nm, one-litre EcoBoost three-cylinder, Engine of the Year for the past two years. Even in this tall, somewhat bulky setting, Ford quotes combined-cycle fuel consumption of only 5.7 litres per 100km.
The EcoSport will also be available with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, rated for 82kW at 6300rpm and 138Nm at 4400rpm, at an average cost of 6.5 litres per 100km on the combined cycle.
And for oil-burner fans there's the 1.5 TDCi intercooled turbodiesel, good for a claimed 66kW at 3750rpm and a muscular 205Nm from 2000-2750rpm, allied to a combined cycle figure of only 4.6 litres per 100km.
A five-speed manual gearbox is standard across the range, with the exception of the 1.5-litre petrol Titanium version, which comes with a six-speed, dual-clutch Powershift automatic transmission.
URBAN WARRIOR
The EcoSport is built in India alongside its Figo cousin to handle third-world traffic - and third-world roads! - with 200mm ground clearances to take the bump out of speed bumps and potholes, electric power-assisted steering with pull-drift compensation and an overall length of less than four metres to take the stress of inner-city congestion.
It comes with Ford's Sync voice-activated connectivity system and mno less than 20 places in the cabin to lose things (are you sure this is not a French car, Cyril?) including a glove compartment that can keep a six-pack cool.
With the 60:40 split rear seats folded and tumbled against the front seats, the boot space increases to 705 litres - big enough, says Ford, to swallow a (very small) washing machine.
All EcoSports have driver and front passenger, side and curtain airbags, while high-end variants also have an electronic stability programme linked to the antilocking brakes, that automatically reduces engine power and selectively brakes individual wheels to stabilise the car when it detects a 'sideways situation'.
PRICES
1.5 Ambiente - R199 000
1.0 EcoBoost Trend - R224 000
1.5 TDCi Trend - R229 000
1.0 EcoBoost Titanium - R244 000
1.5 Titanium PowerShift - R244 000
1.5 TDCi Titanium - R249 000
These include a four-year or 120 000 warranty and a four-year or 60 000km service plan - which effectively means that the first three services are free.
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