Ford EcoSport SUV Will Debut At Los Angeles Auto Show

ord’s smallest SUV, the EcoSport, is coming to America. Its styling has been updated a bit from the current version of the car sold in South America, Asia, and Europe, but it will still look like a smaller version of the Ford C-Max. The diesel engine offered in Europe probably won’t make it to America but the US will most likely get at least two of the three engines available on the Continent — a 1.6 liter 120 horsepower four cylinder, a 1.0 liter three cylinder EcoBoost turbo making 123 horsepower, or a 2.0 liter four cylinder that has 160 horsepower. This year’s LA auto show kicks off November 18.

The EcoSport is a small crossover SUV built on Ford’s global “B” architecture which is shared with the Fiesta. Originally developed as a simple and inexpensive SUV for emerging markets, the EcoSport was first built in Brazil. Since then, production has expanded to China, Russia, India, Vietnam, and Thailand. Ford sold more than a quarter million EcoSport cute utes worldwide in 2015. The EcoSport is said to have a towing capacity of more than 1,500 pounds in European trim, so it should be suitable for hauling small camping trailers and boats on vacation.

In size, the EcoSport will compete with the likes of the Buick Encore, Honda HR-V, Chevy Trax, and Nissan Juke. Americans are buying a lot of those compact SUVs, which are easier to maneuver than a full luxobarge like the Chevy Suburban. Sales of smaller SUVs are up dramatically of late and Ford obviously wants a piece of the action.

Source: The Automakers. Data through October 31. 2016

The EcoSport for the US market will likely be built at Ford’s Cuautitlan Stamping and Assembly plant in Cuautitlan Izcalli, Mexico. That’s where the Ford Fiesta for the US market is manufactured. Another possibility is Ford’s assembly plant in Thailand. The date for the start of sales in the US has not yet been announced. Pricing details are also unknown, although The Motley Fool suggests a base model might sell for around $20,000 with a fully equipped Titanium version costing $26,000 or so. Ford may make more details available during the LA show next week.

Photo credit: Ford Motor Company. 2016 European model shown.

2015 Chevy Trax Brings Wagon-y Shape to Small Car Lineup

The small, SUV-like Trax is already a huge hit in more than 60 global markets- and GM has made the smart decision to bring its 2015 Chevy Trax to the US to take on the flood of new cute-utes from Honda, Kia, Fiat, Jeep, and damned near everyone else, too.

The sub-compact SUV/CUV market is hot, Hot, HOT right now, is what I’m saying, and bringing the Trax to the US now is probably a good move for GM, despite the fact that the mechanically similar Buick Encore is doing well. That’s because Chevy’s brand image is stronger, probably, with young buyers- and Chevy’s dealer network is stronger, without a doubt, than Buick’s. That should give the 2015 Chevy Trax a sales advantage over the bite-size Buick, but so too will a lower price, more “youthful, motorcycle-inspired” interior and instrument cluster, and clever folding seats that can fold super-flat from front to back. Like, way front …

… front passenger seat front, which is a neat trick that I’ve only seen in Hondas and Volvos, until now. Maybe more cars can do this- but they don’t play it up?

In any event, the 2015 Chevy Trax should sell for something like its $18,000 Canadian price tag once it makes its way to the US. The 1.4 liter engine- the same as the one found in the Chevy Sonic turbo and previously-mentioned Buick Encore- is standard in the Trax, and gives back nearly 140 HP. That should be more than enough for some spirited performance to go along with the 26/34 (expected) EPA fuel economy ratings.

We’ve reached out to GM to ask about the availability of a 2015 Chevy Trax tester, and we’ll give you all the driving impressions and random infotainment complaints we can muster as soon as we get one. Until then, here’s some more pictures of Chevy’s newest small SUV thing. Enjoy!

Source | Photos: Chevrolet.