China copycats Ford Ecosport as an EV

Now it does not surprise us when there is a new vehicle from China and it is again a copied vehicle. A manufacturer from China called BYD has now copied the Ford Ecosport that is sold in the Indian market. However, the vehicle that they are selling is an electric vehicle and it has been named Yuan Pro. It is made to attract people towards electric vehicles as Yuan Pro is an electric compact SUV that is more affordable than other electric vehicles.

BYD calls their design language “Dragon Face 3.0”. Interestingly enough, Ford itself calls their petrol engine Dragon. The side profile and the rear of the Yuan Pro are similar to the Ecosport. It gets the same sloping stance and a tailgate-mounted spare wheel. The front is also quite similar but there is a difference in terms of headlight design and grille. Because it is electric there is no front grille. However, the rest of the vehicle has many Ecosport elements in it.

The interior of the Yuan Pro is slightly different from the Ecosport because it has more technology whereas the Ecosport has started to show its age. There is a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a digital driver’s display that measures 8-inches. When compared the Ecosport comes with an analogue instrument cluster with a multi-information display and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Also, the upholstery and the cabin is now finished in a light colour. The steering wheel and the AC vents design is also different. So, in terms of interior, the Yuan Pro definitely looks better than the Ecosport.

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The Yuan Pro is longer and has a longer wheelbase than the Ecosport. It measures 4.37 meters and has a wheelbase of 2,535 mm. This means that the SUV should offer better cabin space for the occupants. The major difference is the powertrain.

BYD offers three variants and 2 battery capacities with the Yuan Pro. The base variant gets a 38.9 kWh battery pack that should be enough for a driving range of around 300 km. The bigger battery pack has a capacity of 50.1 kWh and it can deliver a driving range of 400 km. BYD is using a new type of lithium-ion battery pack which is called “Blade”. They claim that these battery packs are less prone to catch fire when punctured.

The electric motors could produce a max power output of 136 bhp of max power and a peak torque output of 210 Nm. The power figures are better than Ecosport and also because it is electric you get instant response from the electric motors. There is also loads of safety technology on offer. It comes with Brake Assist, Stability Program, Traction Control, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist and much more.

Ford Ecosport in India

Ford is working on a facelift for the Ecosport in the Indian market. The new facelift was recently spied on the Indian roads with the front being covered by camouflage. We do not expect it to get any mechanical upgrades. However, it will get a redesigned front fascia with new L-shaped LED Daytime Running Lamps. The launch is expected to happen this year.

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