rmc523 Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 So I was driving around town earlier and noticed in a parking lot that there were 2 (very) lightly camoed EcoSports parked next to each other. It's not super uncommon to see other market vehicles down here (I'll see a Mercedes A-class or Chevy Orlando occasionally because they're sold in Canada, and they often come here to south Florida. I even saw the current Genesis with a Michigan plate well before it was on sale to the public, but to see vehicles like this with no plates was odd for here. As you can hopefully see in the pictures below, the hoods of both were badly misaligned, but also had a few lines of camo coming from them. The one on the right (front view) and left (back view) had Chinese badging on it, while the other had English. I didn't take a picture but the are around the gauge cluster was slightly camoed as well. So that got me thinking - when will we see the EcoSport in the U.S.? I think sooner than later. This was my first time seeing one in person, and they looked like nice little cuvs. My biggest complaint obviously is that that spare tire has to go for the U.S., but otherwise I think it'd do nicely as a sub-Eacape offering. Certainly much better looking than that new Honda HR-V or the Nissan Puke, I mean Juke. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 I'm not really opposed to 'spare tire on the back' as a practical necessity for smaller CUVs and I don't understand the near visceral reaction some people have against it. However, the way these vehicles are designed, it looks terrible. It looks like they designed the car and then realized they had to put the spare tire on the tailgate. Zero effort to integrate it. Cool pics though. And I think the next EcoSport will be sold here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted June 12, 2015 Author Share Posted June 12, 2015 I guess because it just looks antiquated. And I actually thought it looks better with the exposed wheel than with the cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 If Fiesta can manage to fit a mini-spare inside, why not Ecosport? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanh Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 development mules for the upcoming Bronco....wheel will remain on the outside.... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pioneer Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 Depending on where is built, I might buy one when my Focus needs replacing. But I'm probably not going to like where it's built. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted June 12, 2015 Author Share Posted June 12, 2015 development mules for the upcoming Bronco....wheel will remain on the outside.... I didn't even think about that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 I didn't even think about that! They're not Bronco development mules....... Not unless the toughest task to be asked of a Bronco is negotiating a gooey stretch of patched asphalt. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 Depending on where is built, I might buy one when my Focus needs replacing. But I'm probably not going to like where it's built. You and I both know it will be Mexico Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 I guess because it just looks antiquated. See, to me the external spare is still part of the 'utility vehicle' iconography. It's one of the ways a vehicle tells you what it's supposed to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 You and I both know it will be Mexico Or somewhere South of that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzcat Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 (edited) See, to me the external spare is still part of the 'utility vehicle' iconography. It's one of the ways a vehicle tells you what it's supposed to do. It is an iconography and that's part of the problem. In more mature markets (e.g. Europe or US), CUVs are trending more car like so the Ecosport kind of has the "wrong" look. The car was designed first and foremost for emerging markets and the spare tire is probably an asset in projecting the right kind of image there. In mature markets, something with that spare tire hanging out back in a package like EcoSport could come off as not being very authentic... too pastiche and trying too hard to emphasise the utility elements. The problem is Ford is trying to sell the same car in both emerging and mature markets and sometimes things just don't translate very well. Edited June 12, 2015 by bzcat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted June 12, 2015 Author Share Posted June 12, 2015 See, to me the external spare is still part of the 'utility vehicle' iconography. It's one of the ways a vehicle tells you what it's supposed to do. I wouldn't argue with that point - but the EcoSport seems lore like cute ute than utility vehicle. For a Bronco or Wrangler, it makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pioneer Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 You and I both know it will be Mexico Then Focus 5-door it is. If they still have a manual in another 4 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harley Lover Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 The 2015 refresh in Europe eliminates the rear spare: https://www.carwow.co.uk/blog/2015-ford-ecosport-gains-updated-suspension-and-interior Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harley Lover Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 Here's an image (nice improvement): Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 They really need to change that name to something a lot less godawful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackinaw Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 Depending on where is built, I might buy one when my Focus needs replacing. But I'm probably not going to like where it's built. How about India? Check out Autoline Daily, episode 1639: http://www.autoline.tv/daily/?m=201506&cat=789 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
02MustangGT Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 They need to change the vehicle design to something less god awful. Seriously, the tall Fiesta look is horrible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanh Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 02, agreed , box it out, external tire...Bronco II it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullynd Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 I'm not really opposed to 'spare tire on the back' as a practical necessity for smaller CUVs and I don't understand the near visceral reaction some people have against it. A rear mounted spare takes a minor fender bender and turns it into something much worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 See, to me the external spare is still part of the 'utility vehicle' iconography. It's one of the ways a vehicle tells you what it's supposed to do. The spare in B-Max is stored under the rear hatch but due to South America requiring AWD, that space needs to be kept clear to give rear differential and drive axles room. It's strange that all markets except Sth America don't come with AWD yet they cannot add a B-Max rear hatch for the tire. Just my opinion but I think something like a high set AWD Focus 5-door hatch would suit North American markets better making use of existing production facilities and more like a baby Utlility - a bit like the Subaru XV Biker suggested previously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordowner Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 Will that be the face of the updated Escape? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
02MustangGT Posted June 13, 2015 Share Posted June 13, 2015 Fordowner, one would hope that the updated Escape front end is more in line with the new Edge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted June 13, 2015 Author Share Posted June 13, 2015 Will that be the face of the updated Escape? No, we saw mules of the refreshed Escape a few weeks back that gave it much more of an Edge look: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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