In the Manaus City, capital of the Amazonas state and doorway to the Amazon Forest, Ford do Brasil introduced the EcoSport compact SUV. The EcoSport is the second model from Ford’s Amazon Project, a complete range of models based on the Fiesta.

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Manaus was selected as location for the launch of the new SUV to pay homage to the Amazon project name.


And the Amazon Forest itself also has a connection with the name of the model. According to Ford, the name EcoSport was choose after research in South American countries showed that the name was easily associated with nature and sports.


“The EcoSport is based on the Fiesta, but is not a version of the European Fusion. It has a different design, powertrain and interior compared with the Fusion,” said Luc de Ferran, Ford do Brasil vice-president of design.


Also, compared with the Fusion, the EcoSport has a more aggressive and stronger look.

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In addition, the EcoSport is 21cm longer and 12cm higher than the Fusion. And it is equipped with wheel size 16.


To equip the compact SUV, Ford chose the Brazilian-made engines Zetec Rocam one-litre supercharged and 1.6-litre 8-valve engine and also the imported Duratec 2.0-litre 16-valve engine. For export, the EcoSport is also fitted with a Peugeot’s 1.4-litre turbo-diesel engine.


The one-litre supercharged engine with 95 hp was the big surprise of the model’s launch presentation. Because of this engine, also used in a locally-made Fiesta version, the EcoSport is the first Brazilian-made SUV with one-litre engine. This engine gives Ford an SUV which benefits from the low Brazilian industrial product tax (IPI) applied to vehicles with one-litre engines.


Ford introduced the EcoSport in Brazil only with front traction (4X2). All wheel drive versions are expected at the end of the year.


The EcoSport is produced in Ford’s Camaçari plant, in Bahia state, built to produce the Amazon Project models. Ford expects to produce 55,000 units of the EcoSport in Camaçari plant this year.


Ford wants to sell about 30,000 units in the Brazilian market in 2003, and expects to export the remaining 25,000 vehicles to other South American markets.


The possible export of the vehicle to the United States and Canada remains unconfirmed.


“We are in conversation, but we have two problems. The United States has different vehicle security legislation to Brazil and maybe the EcoSport is a little small for the American market,” said Richard Canny, president of Ford South America.


Next, in the Amazon Project, there will be a sedan, a pick-up and a minivan.