Ford EcoSport
President and Chief Executive Officer of Ford Motors, Alan Roger Mulally, poses next to the newly-launched EcoSport.Reuters

Ford Ecosport is all set to make its first Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region's debut at the 34th Bangkok International Motor Show.

The year's most anticipated vehicle was unveiled for the media and dealers earlier on Monday and will make a public debut on Wednesday at the Motor Show. The ASEAN region consists of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.

"This sporty, compact SUV will not only allow Ford to enter another new segment in ASEAN, it will help to define a whole new vehicle segment for the ASEAN region," said Matt Bradley, president, Ford ASEAN. "The EcoSport is an urban SUV that blends the flexibility and spaciousness of an SUV with the agility, affordability and fuel efficiency of a compact car."

The American auto major which has a separate manufacturing capacity in Thailand eyes 60-70 percent of total growth sales in the ASEAN region for this decade. Ford will also showcase its new Ford SYNC technology at the motor show. The all new Ford Sync app, developed by software giant Microsoft, allows users to control their smartphones using voice commands.

Ford EcoSport SUV, which packs features like Ford SYNC voice, Emergency Assistance Services, sophisticated new smartphone app technologies, Electronic Stability Program and Hill Launch Assist, is expected to set a new benchmark in the SUV sector with its arrival in the ASEAN region.

The EcoSport SUV is currently marketed in countries like Brazil, Mexico and China. The vehicle is rumoured to launch in India by the end of June. According to reports, Ford Motors will launch the diesel version of EcoSport in Argentina soon.