Ford To Preview EcoSport Compact SUV In New Delhi

GM and Ford are gearing up for a battle in the compact SUV segment. Buick offered a teaser last week of its new Encore CUV's left headlight, and now Ford has responded with the right light of its own Territory-inspired offering.

Ford's new CUV is being developed as a global model under its OneFord plan, and is expected to continue the name of its current EcoSport CUV already offered in a few emerging markets. 

While it is unclear if a version of GM's Barina-based Encore will hit the Holden range, Ford's new Fiesta-based crossover could potentially slot into the local line-up beneath next year's Kuga SUV.

In Australia, the EcoSport would take on a fast-growing assortment of rivals, including the Skoda Yeti and the Suzuki SX4, along with the the larger Nissan Dualis, Mitsubishi's ASX and the upcoming Subaru XV.

Ford has offered few details on the new model, saying only that it will be the second of eight new models planned for the Indian market by 2015, and a wider global launch is on the cards.

Watch for more details to come out of the Auto Expo 2012 event in New Delhi next month.