New Ford Escape Hybrid SUV Scheduled for July 4th Production
Escape Photos
Ford Plans Multiple Models with Hybrid Drivetrains
With more reported buyers for gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles than Toyota and Honda can currently cope with, Ford is walking into an enviable market as the third automaker in the race for green customers. Whats more, the worlds number two car company will be giving North Americans exactly what they want, a clean, fuel efficient SUV.
The Escape Hybrid is based on Fords compact gasoline powered sport utility vehicle, a proven favorite among youth oriented car buyers. It will offer all the convenience of a compact SUV, including flexible seating from two to five adults, as well as ample cargo capacity, plus the rugged, go-anywhere exterior design that has become so popular over the last decade.
Ford Motor also will become the first domestic producer to offer the environmentally friendly technology, targeting 10,000 to 20,000 per year, according to an announcement made on Thursday.
As of yet no prices have been announced, but fuel savings nearing 40 mpg in the city should cause buyers to be willing to spend more immediately to save in the long run.
With analysts and shareholders concerned about Ford Motors profitability, and the potential for the hybrid project to drain the company financially in the name of improving the automakers overall image and capturing marketshare, a Ford spokesman stated that the new Escape Hybrid would be profitable, with the full cost of development shouldered by Escape buyers.
While this news will be good for the bottom line, a final date of production will be music to the ears of environmentalists, who have petitioned the domestic Big 3 to push forward with greener technologies such as gasoline-electric hybrid systems.
Both Toyota and Honda have garnered strong support from the green minded, a group that is growing larger and larger with each passing year. Toyota has just introduced an all-new Prius, larger than the previous model while providing improved performance and better fuel economy, at 60 mpg in the city. While this figure is much more impressive than the Escape Hybrids 40 mpg city fuel consumption rating, Fords is a dramatic improvement over the current 2.0-L 4-cylinder gasoline powered Escape, delivering 23 mpg in the city, while offering V6-like performance.
Also an important note, Toyota wont be sitting idly by watching Ford steal its SUV customers. The Japanese automaker has a Lexus RX Hybrid planned for next year, based on the popular RX 330, with a less expensive Highlander based hybrid to follow. Whats more, now that Toyota is producing its hybrid on regular production lines, it has promised to deliver its advanced hybrid powertrain to the majority of its production cars.
The Escape Hybrid, that uses an electric motor and battery system to boost the power of its naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engine, will be built in Claycomo, Missouri on the same assembly line as its gasoline powered namesake.
Fords hybrid system, according to Phil Martens, Fords Group VP of Product Creation, stated that the automaker needed to develop a proprietary hybrid system as it needed the expertise garnered to create even more advanced powertrains in the future, such as economically viable hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles.
Like Toyota, Ford plans to adapt its hybrid system to other models. Plans are afoot to sell a hybrid version of its upcoming Futura sedan, but Martens did not mention what alternative hybrid models the blue oval brand might offer.
General Motors and Chrysler are both planning to sell hybrid pickups next year, while Nissan has adopted Toyotas system for a new hybrid Altima.
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