Ford is working on the EcoSport facelift which is scheduled to go on sale in the Indian car market in 2015-16. The first spy pictures of the facelifted SUV have hit the interweb. Surprisingly, the vehicle gives away the spare wheel mounted on the rear door which gives it a more common look.
The removal of the spare wheel will give the SUV a cleaner design. It is expected that the spare wheel is likely to be placed inside the boot of the SUV, which could take up luggage space. These changes will be offered on the European model. It is still unclear whether the changes would be reflected to Indian-spec model.
This move of removing the spare wheel is likely to receive mixed response from buyers. The removal would reduce the length of the SUV, which in return making parking easier. However, the spare wheel will be squeezed into the small 346-litres of the boot, which means storage space will further go down.
The removal of the spare wheel could affect the demand of this crossover. The spare wheel offers a more rugged look which few people love to drive home. Without spare wheel, Ford will have an option of offering larger rear window for better visibility. The company is also expected to give some other changes to its styling to keep things fresh in the market. However, the interior styling and mechanics of the SUV is expected to remain unchanged.
