2018 Ford EcoSport set to launch in the Philippines soon

MANILA: After the successful rollout of the all-new Ford Expedition and the next-gen Mustang, Ford Philippines is now planning to showcase the refreshed EcoSport in the country. The car is likely to make its official debut at the 2018 Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) that will be conducted at the World Trade Center Metro Manila from April 5th to 8th.

The EcoSport was first launched in the Philippines in early-2014 and was due for a major facelift. The 2018 EcoSport gets some refreshed exterior styling along with some minor feature updates. The front fascia, which has been redesigned is dominated by a larger front grille, bigger headlamps, sharper fog lamps and revised bumper with integrated skid plate. At the rear, the compact crossover gets subtle changes which include a revised bumper, refreshed tail lights and spare tire carrier. The side profiles remain identical to the outgoing model.

The engine specifications of the Philippine-spec EcoSport have not been revealed yet. However, the facelift model is likely to be powered by a 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost engine and a 2.0-litre four-cylinder Duratec turbo-diesel power-plant. As far as the transmission option is concerned, both the engines will be paired with a 6-speed AMT gearbox. In the safety department, the 2018 facelift version will be equipped with six airbags, ABS with EBD and much more.

Inside, the crossover boasts of a well-integrated cabin with seats and steering being upholstered in leather. The dashboard gets some minor updates with a refreshed center console and instrument cluster. The old infotainment system has been replaced with Ford’s best-in-class SYNC 3 that is connected to an 8-inch touchscreen display. The new system is compatible with navigation, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. Other noteworthy features include automatic climate control, reverse camera, Bluetooth connectivity and lots more.

Although prices for the next-gen EcoSport have not been disclosed so far, it is likely to be priced at Php 850,000 for the base variant and will go up to Php 1,100,000 for the top-spec variant.