Ford's upcoming EcoSport has been doing the rounds of testing for a while now, and based on the evidence of an eagle-eyed enthusiast friend with IndianAutosBlog, it looks like the EcoSport is getting ready to punch above its weight - a version of the dual-clutch automatic gearbox from the Fiesta has been spotted in an EcoSport test mule.
The automatic gearbox, called Powershift, utilises a dry clutch for maintenance-free operation, and it should gel well with the small-displacement engines that the EcoSport is planning on being powered by. The gearbox will endow it with manual-matching performance and efficiency, which is the way most of the automotive world is headed. We aren't too sure about the automatic option making it to the Indian marketplace, as the cost will have to be factored in. If the EcoSport's automatic variant ends up in a class above its manual bretheren, there's no saying how the market will take to it. However, arguing in favour of the car, there is no small SUV with a truly modern gearbox anywhere near the price range of the EcoSport, so this could be the car for those looking to run their mini-SUV as a commute vehicle.
Also spotted was the Sync in-car infotainment system. Again, this is something we're expecting on more expensive Fords, but if Ford can include it in the spec sheet and yet keep the price right, there's no doubt that the general public will appreciate the system considering the lack of options at the price the EcoSport will be offered at.
Source: IndianAutosBlog.
