The Blue Oval has gifted the U.S. Department of Energy a one-of-a-kind vehicle: a plug-in Escape Hybrid that can run on E85, has a 30-mile range on pure electric power at up to 40 mph, and gets 88 mpg in the city and 50 mpg on the highway. Yes, you read that correctly. But you might want to read it again.
The Escape uses a 4-cylinder engine assisted by a 10kW lithium-ion battery pack made by Johnson Controls/Saft. In pure electric mode, the battery pack runs until it is 70-percent depleted, and then the gasoline engine kicks in. The vehicle's emissions are estimated to be 60-percent less than that of a traditional gas vehicle, and that could climb all the way to 90-percent less if the car used cellulosic ethanol.
This is one of 20 vehicles that Ford is giving to government and research bodies in order to help push the growth and penetration of hybrid vehicles. Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas, said "There's no silver bullet solution, so we're pursuing multiple technology paths – recognizing that commercial viability is an essential component for success." And we say hear hear, well done, and it's about time...
Our brothers-in-green have already covered the fact that Ford saw fit to provide new rides to the two American Idol finalists. This isn't a shocker; Ford is a major sponsor of the hit talent show on Fox. The chosen rides? Ford Escape Hybrids, which we have found to be very nice vehicles that return rather good fuel efficiency. According to The Detroit News, Cook is getting along with both his new car and Ford Motor Company in general rather swimmingly, "I love it. It's nice to have a new car. Ford has been amazing throughout the whole process. I definitely could see this as the start of something," says the rocker. Ford capitulates. "We don't have anything in the works with David yet but he is someone Ford would be proud to be associated with," according to Connie Fontaine. She should know, she manages Ford's relationship with American Idol. An American Idol tie-up has been made in the past, as past winner Kelly Clarkson sang a custom tune for Ford's last marketing campaign.
Click above for a high-res gallery of the lifeguard Escapes
The Los Angeles County Lifeguards (cue the Baywatch theme and visions of Pamela and the shirtless Hoff) are getting new rides. A fleet of customized 4WD Ford Escape Hybrids is replacing the group's current pickup trucks, and the first ten (of a total 45) have been delivered. Changes made to the Escapes for lifeguard duty include the replacement of the center console with a radio rack and the removal of the 60% side of the 60/40 split rear seat. In its place is a storage unit for emergency equipment. The lifeguards' Escapes are also fitted with heavy-duty rubber mats and are literally topped off with a custom roof rack. All are finished in the signature yellow paint, which is further accented with special graphics and dark wheels. It's a pretty spiffy-looking package overall, and the hybrid part of the equation surely appeals to many in the Golden State. You can read Ford's lengthy press release after the jump.
Gallery: L.A. County Lifeguards Ford Escape Hybrid
One of the concerns people have about hybrid vehicles is the durability of the complex drivetrains. Ford is helping to put some of that concern to rest. Less than two years ago a fleet of eighteen Escape Hybrids joined the ranks of New York City taxis. In that short span of time each one of them has now completed over 175,000 miles of service and saved an estimated $250,000 in fuel costs. If a vehicle can survive the constant stop and go traffic of New York city streets while accumulating the same mileage as an average driver collects in 11 years, it's probably doing okay.
Clever commercials are nice. A grin on our face certainly increases the chance we'll remember the brand that made us laugh. But now isn't a time for jokes at Ford Motor Company, which finds itself ensconced in a difficult turnaround plan that has yet to get in gear. That's why we actually like this new commercial called "Proof" because it doesn't feature a Mustang Shelby GT500 on the Autobahn or a Fusion being pitted against its competitors. Rather, it features the best product Ford has at the moment: the Mustang, F-150, Fusion, Edge, Taurus and Escape Hybrid. Narrated by new Ford pitchman Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs fame, the spot is refreshening because it just cuts to the chase and lays it on the line by saying, in essence, "Here's what we got, like it or not."
Check out the commercial after the jump and let us know if you agree or think we're whack.
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)
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Ford will be recalling close to 140,000 Five Hundreds and Mercury Montegos, along with over six thousand Hybrid Escapes.
The cause of the recall on the Five Hundred and its Mercury stable mate is a faulty door latch that may allow water to enter the mechanism and, if the water freezes, could cause the door to open while the sedan is in motion. The recall will affect 2005-2006 model year vehicles.
On 2006 Escape Hybrids, Ford has found that the drivetrain shaft could fracture and, in turn, may cause the vehicle to move even if the 'ute is in the 'Park' position.
Ford dealers are instructed to inspect and replace the part if it's necessary.
Plug-in hybrids remain a mysteriously contentious issue with automakers, despite the fact the public and many non-profit and for-profit organizations are pushing for the technology's mainstream adoption. At Ford's annual shareholder's meeting Bill Ford responded to a question about plug-in hybrids by saying "We have nothing to announce today, but yes, we are keenly looking at it." You may remember we foresaw Ford considering the technology earlier when Niel Golightly, Ford's Director of Sustainable Business Strategies, admitted the company was considering the technology.
Hybridcars has posted a three-page letter sent to Bill Ford by Prof. Andrew Frank of UC Davis, the inventor of the plug-in hybrid, and Felix Kramer, founder of the non-profit California Cars Initiative, beseeching the man and his company to endorse the group's research and development of a plug-in Ford Escape Hybrid. You can read the letter here.
Again, Ford could score major PR points by being the first to mass market a plug-in hybrid. An Escape that could achieve 100+ mpg would certainly be front page news.
Many are speculating that liability concerns are what's keeping automakers at bay. Safety issues surrounding more batteries that are larger being stored onboard, the potential for sparks near gasoline vapor and even drivers pulling away with the car plugged in could be of particular concern.
Sales of Toyota’s popular Prius took a big dip
last month, falling nearly 25 percent compared with the same month last year. Year to date sales for the Prius hybrid
are also about 10.4 percent behind last year’s pace. Regardless of the slip, the Prius still sold more than any
other hybrid in the month of April by a large margin. For example, while Toyota is being quiet about the Prius only
selling 8,234 units last month, Ford’s been shouting from the rafters that sales of its Escape and Mariner Hybrid
SUVs increased by 115 percent to 3,420 units in April.
In the U.S. market at least, it's great to be a Toyota
dealer. According to CNNMoney.com and Edmunds.com,
Toyota's Prius tops the list of 10 hottest cars in America, with six Toyota models making the list (including all three
Scion models).
Hybrids are hot, too - the Prius, Lexus RX400h and Ford Escape all made the list.
What makes a car "hot"? Edmunds defined a "hot" car as selling close to sticker price, having
minimal incentives or rebates, and spending little time in dealer inventory before purchase. By these criteria, the
"Hot 10" are, in order:
Sales of Toyota’s popular Prius took a big dip
last month, falling nearly 25 percent compared with the same month last year. Year to date sales for the Prius hybrid
are also about 10.4 percent behind last year’s pace. Regardless of the slip, the Prius still sold more than any
other hybrid in the month of April by a large margin. For example, while Toyota is being quiet about the Prius only
selling 8,234 units last month, Ford’s been shouting from the rafters that sales of its Escape and Mariner Hybrid
SUVs increased by 115 percent to 3,420 units in April. 
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