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Ford kicks off 2013 Escape assembly [w/video]

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Videos, Crossover, Ford

The 2013 Ford Escape is now a production reality, the completely redesigned crossover now rolling off the lines at Ford's Louisville assembly plant. Still a top seller in its last model year, the brand-new 1.6-liter EcoBoost Escape gets 22 mpg city, 33 mpg highway and yes, the $23,295 base model does get pricey very quickly when you start ticking the reams of options boxes. Nevertheless, the Escape surpassed the 8,000-orders mark before any customer had even driven it.

Its looks have found some detractors, but we have a feeling that it won't have any problem finding new homes. Scroll down for a video of plant workers talking about production processes, and a press release on what the Escape's production has meant to the area.

Continue reading Ford kicks off 2013 Escape assembly [w/video]

Ford kicks off 2013 Escape assembly [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ford to halt Missouri Escape production in 2011

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:38:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Ford

2010 Ford Escape Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford will be ending production of the current generation Escape crossover by the end of 2011 and move production of its replacement from Kansas City, Missouri to Lousiville, Kentucky. The Kansas City plant has built the Escape and its Mercury Mariner twin since they launched in 2000.

Production of the Mariner will end in the next few months as Ford winds down the Mercury brand and the new Escape will be built on the global C-segment platform. The new Escape is expected to be share a platform with Europe's next generation Kuga crossover. Space in Louisville was freed up by moving the new uni-body Explorer to the Chicago assembly plant alongside the Taurus and Lincoln MKS. Louisville may add additional C-segment products such as the C-Max MPV.

Officials in Missouri are considering new tax breaks to help convince Ford to put a new product in the Kansas City factory alongside the F-150 which will continue to be built there.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid

[Source: Detroit News]

Report: Ford to halt Missouri Escape production in 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Ford Transit Connect to be built Stateside in 2012

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Wagon, Plants/Manufacturing, Work, Ford

2010 Ford Transit Connect - Click above for a high-res image gallery

A welcome splash of news for the UAW and the U.S. economy: Ford will commence production of the Transit Connect at a U.S. assembly plant by mid-year 2012. Currently built in Turkey on a version of the Euro Focus platform, the next generation Transit will also migrate to the FWD compact platform that will underpin the next Focus both hear and abroad. Ford plants in Wayne, Michigan and Louisville, Kentucky will be retooled to build cars on that architecture, meaning the that Transit could join them.

With an electric version joining the 2.0-liter four-cylinder in 2010, an outside analyst predicted 60,000 units would be reasonable by 2013. Ford isn't quoting any production numbers yet, preferring to see how the current version -- that just went on sale this month -- fares.

Gallery: 2010 Ford Transit Connect

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

REPORT: Ford Transit Connect to be built Stateside in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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