Ford EcoSport's Chinese name revealed

If you remember, the Ford EcoSport’s production version was recently unveiled at the Beijing Motor show and was simultaneously shown to the Brazilian media as well. Now Ford is readying the EcoSport for the Chinese market. 

The production version for China is being developed by Ford and their joint venture partners, Chang’an. However, instead of calling it the EcoSport, the compact-crossover will be called ‘YiBo’ in China. The words ‘YiBo’ mean ‘Wings of Combat’ in Chinese lingo and the name is expected to give the EcoSport an aura of aggression in their market. 

The EcoSport will get the 1.0-litre, 120PS EcoBoost turbo-petrol engine that Ford talked about when it unveiled the prototype of the compact crossover in India earlier this year. While it’s the same engine that will come to the Indian EcoSport as well, the Chinese model is also expected to get the option of a 1.5-litre Ti-VCT engine from the current Fiesta sedan sold in India. This variant is expected to get an automatic transmission – which is essentially could be the six-speed dual clutch transmission that powers the Fiesta automatic in India. It will be interesting so see if Ford India considers this option for India too. However, with the fuel price hikes being announced every now and then, we would rather wish that the 1.5 diesel mill finds its way into the EcoSport’s engine bay. 

The Chang’an-Ford YiBo / EcoSport is expected be priced between 1,00,000 to 1,30,000 Yuan which translates to Rs 8.75 to 11.25 lakh. However, we expect the Indian model to be priced lower as it is speculated to sit between the Figo hatchback and the Fiesta sedan.