LA Auto Show: Ford debuts new Escape Hybrid
When we brought you the first shots of the 2008 Ford Escape last night, the Escape hybrid photos weren't available yet. That's been rectified, and you can check out more photos of the Ford's hybrid ute painted in Subliminal Message Green after the jump. To recap, the Escape Hybrid is a full hybrid vehicle -- a point Ford gleefully emphasizes in the press release with a (very) thinly veiled shot at GM's "mild" Green Line system seen in the current Saturn Vue and headed to the Aura. Unlike the GM cars, Escape Hybrid is capable of running solely on the electric motors at speeds up to 30 mph. Its 70 Kw electric motor and 2.3L four-cylinder combine to produce 155 horsepower and deliver performance numbers on par with a 200-horsepower gasoline V6. As a result, fuel economy during city driving is increased up to 75%.
The power is delivered to the wheels via a CVT, and for the '08 model, the transition between gasoline and electric modes has been made more seamless.
(More photos, relevant press release info after the jump)
[Source: Ford]
GALLERY
PRESS RELEASE (EXCERPT)
Full version here
Ford Escape Hybrid continues to be a "full" hybrid. This means that, unlike other "mild" hybrid vehicles, Escape Hybrid can run on 100 percent electric power up to about 30 mph, maximizing in-city fuel economy.
At low speeds, power is delivered by a permanent magnet AC synchronous electric motor, producing 70 kw @ 5,000 rpm and 330V maximum voltage. When additional power is required, the Escape Hybrid's 2.3-liter DOHC 16-valve Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine seamlessly engages, contributing 133 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 124 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,250 rpm. The net result is 155 horsepower with 0-60 times comparable to a 200 horsepower V-6 engine and a boost in city-driving fuel economy of nearly 75 percent. Escape Hybrids are equipped with a smooth-shifting, electronically controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). .
For 2008, Escape Hybrid engineers made revisions to software in the control system to improve transparency, or the transition between gasoline and electric operation. The transition from all-electric to gasoline power to a combination of the two is now even more seamless and virtually imperceptible to the driver.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
D-Dog 2:07PM (11/29/2006)
Other than the hybrid badge, doesn't look any different from the regular Escape.
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Presto 4:40PM (11/29/2006)
Is this Ford Escape five years behind Toyota's current hybrid technology like the last one?
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James 2:17PM (11/29/2006)
This is the first new Ford vehicle that I'd seriously consider buying in QUITE a while. Well done.
I love the mint green, too.
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John P. 4:36PM (11/29/2006)
D-Dog, Not looking different than the standard Escape is a good thing wouldn't you think? It doesn't have that weenie electric car looking Prius stigma hanging over it.
Really nice Job Ford, keep them coming like this and you'll be in the black soon. I like what I see so far.
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fordman 3:40PM (11/29/2006)
what are you guys smoking? this is supposed to be a 2008 model right? well cant ford make their own hybrids by now? The are still using toyota hybrid. And secondly, where is the improvement? its the same engine and hybrid powertrain. I figured a second generation ford might be leaps and bounds better than first generation but im disappointed.
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Michael Karesh 2:54PM (11/29/2006)
The transitions were relatively seamless, as hybrids go, before. From what I've heard, fuel economy ranges from the high 20s into the low 30s, which is quite good for an SUV.
My review of the 2006:
http://www.epinions.com/content_198884363908
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Ryan D 5:29PM (11/29/2006)
Did they ever resolve the issue with the original Escape where the AC only ran off of the gasoline engine? That was my big problem with the first-gen model.
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Jaden 3:34PM (11/29/2006)
Why is every hybrid shown in puke green?
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Bill 5:20PM (11/29/2006)
I really don't like the big chrome plate by the rear license plate. Other than that, it's not bad, and the technology is there.
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Bob 3:49PM (11/29/2006)
fordman , get your facts straight, this is not a toyota hybrid system but a 100% ford one. Ford just liscenced some parts that were similar with toyota's system to prevent any problem i.e toyota suing ford.
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Damon 4:49PM (11/29/2006)
Ford does NOT use Toyota hybrid technology. BusinessWeek says: "The Ford Escape Hybrid was engineered, validated and is manufactured in the United States. There is NO Toyota technology or parts in our vehicle. We received NO technical support from Toyota when designing our hybrid system.
We entered into a business arrangement with Toyota where we EXCHANGED patent licences. We licensed 21 patents from Toyota because our hybrid system design was close enough in design to what Toyota did that we wanted to ensure there were no accusations of infringement." http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/NussbaumOnDesign/archives/2005/11/is_ford_innovat_1.html
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eric 4:01PM (11/29/2006)
i like it you all can go to hell
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Mike 4:54PM (11/29/2006)
Not surprising that this is the best that Ford can come up with. They take a pig SUV, remove it's pig engine and replace it with an overhyped gas/electric power plant called a hybrid. OOOOOOH!
Anyone that knows anything about hybrids, knows that simply driving a hybrid will not automatically increase fuel economy - like Ford would like you to believe, so people can continue buying pig SUVs...but this time hybride pigs. It's how you drive the vehicle. You have to drive it like a 75 year old woman on a sunday drive in the country to attain the proported fuel consumption. If it gets driven, like almost all SUVs are- with a lead foot - say hello to your old friend 18MPG!!!
But hey, Ford's not worried, because it know there are too many suckers out there that are going to fall for this!
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eric 4:06PM (11/29/2006)
this is america suppot the americans you live in the usa so buy usa true people work for toyota and other compays that are not american but it goes to the dumb ass japs
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Mike 4:21PM (11/29/2006)
Oh Eric, you really crack me up, the way you pretend to be a moron and encourage people to buy American - even though these American products are some of the most non-inovative and crappiest ones out there!
Thanks for the good laugh! And those japs really are a$$ holes for making such great products! Bastards!
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Drewboy 6:08PM (11/29/2006)
I like the look, but not the color. There are much better looking shades of green they could have put on that for an auto show! I'm excited about this one, regardless of if the technology is old Toyota or not.
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just askin' 9:34PM (11/29/2006)
...is it just me or does "Mike" sound grumpy, opinionated, biased, and mostly wrong. Hey Mike, stop drinking the hate-arade, relax, you don't have to attack everyone that you disagree with...
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Jeff 8:50PM (11/29/2006)
Hey Mike, anybody who knows anything about hybrids also knows that you enjoy the sound of your own whiny voice a little too much. Stop bitching, open your eyes and realize that something that has become fashionable and trendy isn't necessarily a load of crap. Anybody who knows anything about hybrids knows that the technology will allow anybody to see marked gains in their fuel economy, regardless of their driving habits. Smart drivers will see an improvement, from close to the non-hybrid EPA mileage to close to the hybrid mileage. Lead footed drivers will see an improvement from shitty mileage to improved but still not awesome mileage.
In fact you might reason that a lead footed driver, who wastes tons of energy, heating up their brakes between stops, will see more of an improvement than somebody who drives smart and doesn't use the breaks as much. Keeping in mind that more of an improvement does not mean better mileage though.
This truck looks great. I gotta admit it is surprising that we're only seeing subtle improvements to the hybrid drivetrain, though.
Can't wait till Ford shows us their next hybrid model. They are taking a bit of time on that one. Lets hope they at least show us the hybrid Fusion within a year, and maybe a hybrid F-150 when the new one comes out.
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thriftytechie 11:37PM (11/30/2006)
Excuse me. I think I just puked a little.
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Bob 9:30PM (11/29/2006)
I have a 2006 Escape Hybrid available to me at work in the fleet pool. Most people, including myself stay far away from it due to the A/C issues. When at a stoplight, even on MAX A/C, it is miserable at best. I'm shocked, with comparable hybrid systems (ie: Prius) that Ford couldn't do any better on mileage per gallon in this update.
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