Ford has named its second new SUV in  a few days – earlier this week it was the mid-sized Freestyle for the USA, this time it’s the (relatively) tiny EcoSPort, a Brazilian-built spin-off of the newly-launched European Fusion model (think Fiesta hatchback and raise the roof, ride and seat heights a few inches).

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According to the Detroit News, Ford will build the new mini-SUV in its Brazilian plant in Bahia from next year as part of plans to increase market share in South America’s largest economy.


The newspaper said the EcoSport will be exported to other countries in Latin America such as Mexico, Chile and Venezuela.


There have been previous reports saying the new SUV is also likely to be shipped to the US where it would have four-wheel drive and a two-litre engine rather than the two-wheel drive 1.4- and 1.6-litre units fitted in Europe where a 1.4 turbodiesel, developed with Peugeot-Citroen, is also available.

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