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2018 Ford EcoSport facelift Escapes LA: New-look compact SUV in Oz next year

The newly updated 2018 Ford EcoSport has surfaced today with a new face clearly inspired by the larger Edge and the recently revised Escape nee Kuga SUV.


The new-look EcoSport makes its debut at this week's Los Angeles motor show, ahead of a North American market launch - nearly four years after the current model first touched down in Australia.

The EcoSport's styling changes are focused at the front end, introducing larger headlights and the latest iteration of Ford's evolving grille design in place of the stacked look of the outgoing model.

Large triangular fog lights, a new bumper and new wheel designs round out the changes.

The little EcoSport is otherwise unchanged on the outside, with profile and rear styling largely untouched.

Moving into the cabin, the changes are more dramatic. Gone is the current car's centre stack which shares much of its design with the Ford Fiesta. In its place is a new centre stack and floating tablet-style 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system that looks pretty similar to the unit seen in the new Hyundai i30.

Running the company's latest Sync 3 software, the new media unit features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, along with access to Sync Connect and FordPass app-based technologies.

Under the bonnet for US-bound models is the choice of a 1.0-litre Ecoboost three-cylinder turbo petrol or a 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated petrol unit.

Both come standard with a six-speed automatic transmission (the Ecoboost is currently only available with a five-speed manual here) while the 2.0-litre also comes standard with all-wheel drive.

The Titanium variant in the States also comes standard with a 10-speaker B&O Play audio system, along with satellite radio.

10 exterior colour choices are on offer, along with seven ambient lighting options.

Australia

The facelifted EcoSport is confirmed for an Australian debut sometime in 2017, with a more specific window to be confirmed closer to launch.

Although the EcoSport has failed to have much of an impact here, Ford Australia product communications manager Damion Smy told CarAdvice today the company is betting big on this update.

"The EcoSport will play a crucial role in our growing SUV line-up, which we have more than doubled since 2012 and will see the locally-engineered Everest 4x2, five-seat Everest and the new Ford Escape arriving in showrooms in 2017," Smy said.

"This will allow us to offer consumers more choice as Australia’s appetite for SUVs continues unabated."

The EcoSport managed only 98 sales last month and 1530 year-to-date, well behind competitors like the Mazda CX-3 (1176/15,493) and the Mitsubishi ASX (1650/15,112).

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