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Ford Revises Ecosport to Counter Poor Sales (in Europe)


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Ford Motor will offer the EcoSport SUV in Europe without the spare wheel on the outside of the rear tailgate after the SUV's sales got off to a slow start.

The EcoSport has failed to make a big impact in the region’s booming subcompact SUV/crossover segment against sleeker-looking rivals such as the Renault Captur, Peugeot 2008 and Opel/Vauxhall Mokka.

 

Ford sold 11,257 EcoSports in Europe through November after launching the model in April, according to figures from JATO Dynamics.

The segment leader, the Renault Captur, had sales of 149,701 during the same period. The Peugeot 2008, the No. 2 seller, had sales of 125,002 while Opel sold 114,658 Mokkas.

IHS forecasts that European sales of subcompact SUVs will grow to more than 900,000 by 2017 from 500,000 last year, boosted by new arrivals such as the Fiat 500X, which IHS predicts will sell over 70,000 units to put it fifth behind the Captur, 2008, Nissan Juke and Mokka.

IHS forecasts that Ford will sell 20,239 EcoSports in Europe this year, instead of its original prediction of 36,000 sales.

IMO, the ugly snout of this little guy also contributes to its poor sales. Surely Ford could bring forth a more attractive, credible entry.

http://europe.autonews.com/article/20150120/ANE/150129999/ford-revises-ecosport-to-counter-slow-sales?cciid=email-ane-daily

Edited by Harley Lover
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I've been saying this car is not really ready for primetime in developed markets. It works very well in South America and Southeast Asia because the faux 4x4 styling is what the consumers in those markets like. For Europe and North America, Ford needs something more car-like in appearance, and less butch. More Mazda CX-3 or Buick Encore, and less miniature Bronco looks.

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IMHO, Ford can do better. Here's the competition:

 

 

I agree. Ford brought a knife to a gunfight. I think (hope) this was a stopgap measure, because it does not measure up to the competition, and the marketplace obviously agrees. I'm a little worried that the front end styling of the new Edge is too close to this thing, but hopefully seeing it in the flesh will assuage those concerns.

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I agree. Ford brought a knife to a gunfight. I think (hope) this was a stopgap measure, because it does not measure up to the competition, and the marketplace obviously agrees. I'm a little worried that the front end styling of the new Edge is too close to this thing, but hopefully seeing it in the flesh will assuage those concerns.

I've seen several of new edges driving around town. No need to fear

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I don't think people really understand how small the Ecosport really is, I see them in the flesh everyday

and I can tell you that they are a lot smaller than the Kuga (Escape) and even the Traxx looks bigger.

 

I think what Ford needs for the NA and european market is a C1 based product that spans both

a true small compact Ute and a larger compact Ute like Escape. There's no real advantage in

selling an Ecosport to customers in Nth America if it's not roomy enough, you may as well

just build a two door SWB Escape or even an "XV" AWD Focus hatch and call it done......

 

BTW, sales of Fiesta are a worry, inventory levels are now around 20,000.

If Ford doesn't act, they will have an unmitigated disaster on their hands..

Edited by jpd80
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Just had to chime in here, I received an Email invitation from my Lincoln dealer, in it theres a picture of the MKC, with the heading "Escape to Winter Luxury"... I got a chuckle out of that, not sure if it was intentional, but geesh, as much as you try to deny it they cant help point it out.

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I don't think people really understand how small the Ecosport really is, I see them in the flesh everyday

and I can tell you that they are a lot smaller than the Kuga (Escape) and even the Traxx looks bigger.

 

I think what Ford needs for the NA and european market is a C1 based product that spans both

a true small compact Ute and a larger compact Ute like Escape. There's no real advantage in

selling an Ecosport to customers in Nth America if it's not roomy enough, you may as well

just build a two door SWB Escape or even an "XV" AWD Focus hatch and call it done......

 

BTW, sales of Fiesta are a worry, inventory levels are now around 20,000.

If Ford doesn't act, they will have an unmitigated disaster on their hands..

NA has a 'C' level CUV which is the Escape. If there is any demand for a 'B' level CUV in NA, perhaps not now if gas prices keep going down. I don't think a 3 door Escape would fly in NA considering the Fiesta is available in 4-5 doors only. One of the biggest complaints about the Fiesta is the Slope of the roof in the rear taking away space in the back unlike the Fit and Versa for example. Therefore, that can't be changed without a redesign of the body itself. The logical solution would be to bring the Ecosport but change the look and name.

Edited by Hugh
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Look, EcoSport was developed for emerging market tastes so it is not all that surprising that it is not doing well in Europe. EcoSport replaced Fusion (the one based on Fiesta, not the midsize car) in Europe and Fusion was more closely aligned to what that market demands. It is one of the pitfall of "One Ford".

 

Ford thought that B-Max would appeal to buyers seeking the tall roof profile and those that want high ride height would not mind the butch 3rd world looks of EcoSport. But they kind of read the market wrong... the B CUV segment is trending more car like appearance and less miniature 4WD.

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Ford thought that B-Max would appeal to buyers seeking the tall roof profile

 

IMHO, Ford thought the unique sliding B-pillar of the B-Max would appeal to buyers, for easier access. But I could be wrong.

 

I'd like to see the B-Max B-pillar treatment on the EcoSport's replacement. The rear doors on all the competition, for example, are too small, IMHO. :)

 

Ford-B-MAX-MPV-Launch-Date-Features-Pric

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IMHO, Ford thought the unique sliding B-pillar of the B-Max would appeal to buyers, for easier access. But I could be wrong.

 

I'd like to see the B-Max B-pillar treatment on the EcoSport's replacement. The rear doors on all the competition, for example, are too small, IMHO. :)

 

Ford-B-MAX-MPV-Launch-Date-Features-Pric

I forgot the B-Max. That's what I'm thinking to bring over here instead of the EcoSport. JMHO.

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Beside being slammed for the interior being a sea of cheap plastic, the EcoSport is sold in just a handful of EU markets.

The test drive reviews at launch were all very positive but the interior was lambasted for being way too down scale.

Plus the bad designed rear tailgate with the side opening is a big negative, never mind the spare wheel stuck on it.

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I forgot the B-Max. That's what I'm thinking to bring over here instead of the EcoSport. JMHO.

Meh...I don't think the B-Max would do that well here......

Although, I wonder if they could make a hybrid out of it. Seeing as there were reports of doing a hybrid minibrand right? It would fit in below the C-Max and be a Prius C competitor.

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