First Hybrid SUV Unveiled
Drew Beaty
Issue date: 9/17/04 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
With the rise, fall, and then larger rise of gas prices these days Ford has opened the doors to their version of the new Hybrid vehicles with the '05 Ford Escape.
After making a promise almost four years ago, Ford has finally brought the dream of a non-gas-guzzling SUV to life in a more American way than Toyota and Honda could have begun to produce. This long wait between the promise and the pay-off has left many people skeptical about the ability of this new Ford Hybrid.
Taking straight from the somewhat newly introduced Escape, Ford decided to use this SUV to lead in the possibility of creating even more versions of Hybrid vehicles. The Escape received a few modifications to the exterior, such as special five-spoke alloy rims, a face-lifted front end, fog lights, new quad headlights, and the green-leaf Hybrid badge on both front doors and lift gate.
Most of the major changes to the vehicle that can be seen have happened in the conversion of the new powerhouse Hybrid motor. A new motor that Ford Motor Company has stated to get 35-40 miles-per-gallon in the city and 29-31 miles-per-gallon on the highway.
True to form the Hybrid can propel itself using three different forms of power. One of the three is a gas-powered engine when used alone is only for use in stop and go city traffic. Second, a stand alone battery motor which can be charged while driving the car and can make the trip to the grocery store gas free. Or third, an engine and battery combination that has proven to be as powerful as a 3.0 liter V6 engine.
The tri-power option is displayed on the dashboard by additions directly next to the tachometer, a gauge that reads the RPM of the motor, sending readings of battery charge. To get direct readings of mileage along with an array of screens depicting the power flow and total fuel economy, Ford decided to add the option of the four-inch in dash screen that is part of the computer-navigation-audio system.
Ford has squeezed the motor, generator, and the brain module of their Hybrid vehicle into a much tighter package than Toyota has ever done leaving room for the possibility of more Hybrid Fords. According to Car and Driver's web site, the engine itself boasts a 133 horsepower output that is supplemented with a 94 horsepower electric motor.
The combination created a performance almost parallel to the non-hybrid 200-hp, 3.0 liter V-6 Escape, which left the writers of Car and Driver pleased with its performance. This setup leaves the new Hybrid Escape with plenty of power to zip around the city streets while saving large amounts of gas. However, keep in mind that the new Hybrid could cost up to $3500 more than the basic four-cylinder Escape.
After making a promise almost four years ago, Ford has finally brought the dream of a non-gas-guzzling SUV to life in a more American way than Toyota and Honda could have begun to produce. This long wait between the promise and the pay-off has left many people skeptical about the ability of this new Ford Hybrid.
Taking straight from the somewhat newly introduced Escape, Ford decided to use this SUV to lead in the possibility of creating even more versions of Hybrid vehicles. The Escape received a few modifications to the exterior, such as special five-spoke alloy rims, a face-lifted front end, fog lights, new quad headlights, and the green-leaf Hybrid badge on both front doors and lift gate.
Most of the major changes to the vehicle that can be seen have happened in the conversion of the new powerhouse Hybrid motor. A new motor that Ford Motor Company has stated to get 35-40 miles-per-gallon in the city and 29-31 miles-per-gallon on the highway.
True to form the Hybrid can propel itself using three different forms of power. One of the three is a gas-powered engine when used alone is only for use in stop and go city traffic. Second, a stand alone battery motor which can be charged while driving the car and can make the trip to the grocery store gas free. Or third, an engine and battery combination that has proven to be as powerful as a 3.0 liter V6 engine.
The tri-power option is displayed on the dashboard by additions directly next to the tachometer, a gauge that reads the RPM of the motor, sending readings of battery charge. To get direct readings of mileage along with an array of screens depicting the power flow and total fuel economy, Ford decided to add the option of the four-inch in dash screen that is part of the computer-navigation-audio system.
Ford has squeezed the motor, generator, and the brain module of their Hybrid vehicle into a much tighter package than Toyota has ever done leaving room for the possibility of more Hybrid Fords. According to Car and Driver's web site, the engine itself boasts a 133 horsepower output that is supplemented with a 94 horsepower electric motor.
The combination created a performance almost parallel to the non-hybrid 200-hp, 3.0 liter V-6 Escape, which left the writers of Car and Driver pleased with its performance. This setup leaves the new Hybrid Escape with plenty of power to zip around the city streets while saving large amounts of gas. However, keep in mind that the new Hybrid could cost up to $3500 more than the basic four-cylinder Escape.
Article last update: 9/16/04 at 10:41 PM CST