Ford EcoSport baby SUV concept (2012) first pictures

Ford has shown the new EcoSport concept car – a showcase for a potential new small SUV. Ford calls it 'a new compact SUV.'

It's based on Fiesta running gear, to give you an idea of the baby 4x4's footprint. And the best news? Ford plans to sell a car very like this, as the company continues to expand its model range despite slimming down its architectures.

Ford chief executive officer Alan Mulally is to unveil the EcoSport at the 2012 Delhi auto show.

It's being unveiled in India as the Blue Oval plans to launch this – and seven other new models – in the country by the middle of the decade.

At this stage, Ford will only confirm the baby 4x4 is planned for sale in India, Brazil and other Asian markets, although it hints that other markets – including potentially Europe – could be added at a later date.

The Fiesta B-platform is destined to underpin more than two million vehicles a year by 2015.

The Ford EcoSport was developed in South America, but is part of the company's One Ford strategy so it has been engineered for sale globally.

The previous EcoSport was launched in South America in 2003 and has sold 700,000 vehicles since.

The chunky styling is wrapped around the Fiesta architecture, meaning that the engines on offer will be familiar to supermini buyers.

Ford's new 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost engine will be one of the powertrains available.

By Tim Pollard