2018 Ford EcoSport Features A Honeycomb-Inspired Cargo Shelf

Feb 21, 2017 06:23 PM EST | JP Olvido

The new Ford EcoSport has been unveiled and will soon be made available for sale in the United States for the first time. The 2018 EcoSport is nothing like the previous model with its nature-inspired design.

The 2018 Ford EcoSport. The first EcoSport was only made available to Latin American countries and gradually made its way to Asia and Europe. It eventually made its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show last November 18, 2016. Now, it is finally entering the United States market for the first time ever as the 2018 model.

The 2018 EcoSport has a cargo shelf that draws inspiration from honeycombs. It is a vehicle that is lightweight with a cargo shelf interior that is composed of 100 percent recycled paper and glue, specifically water-based glue. The cargo shelf is comprised of small hexagonal cells in an array much like how a honeycomb looks like. The array is placed in between two sheets made out of composite material.

All in all, the shelf weighs only 6 pounds but can hold more than 100 times that, 700 pounds be more specific, on its 38.5-inch by 25.25-inche surface.

Mike Mazzella, the assistant chief engineer of the team behind the EcoSport says, "The hexagonal design of honeycomb is a testament to nature's ingenuity. Not only is it strong, it's super light." He further added that users are able to slide the shelf into different slots like how one would on an oven rack or to put it at the back of the seats making the Ford flexible enough for day-to-day use.

Other features of the 2018 Ford EcoSport include an 8-inch screen for Ford's Sync 3 infotainment system, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, and an 110-volt outlet for charging devices. The EcoSport has a corresponding mobile app that will allow a user to start, turn off, and lock the vehicle. The mobile app can also help locate the EcoSport's location, say, on a parking lot.

See Now: OnePlus 6: How Different Will It Be From OnePlus 5?

© 2024 Auto World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Get the Most Popular Autoworld Stories in a Weekly Newsletter

Join the Conversation

Real Time Analytics