2008 Ford Escape (& Hybrid Model) @ 2006 LA Auto Show

[NYCshopper]

2008 Ford Escape (& Hybrid Model) @ 2006 LA Auto Show

2008 Ford Escape



Press Release:

THE 2008 FORD ESCAPE COMBINES A BOLD NEW LOOK WITH A SMOOTH, QUIET RIDE AND TOUGH SUV CAPABILITY

The Ford Escape, America’s best-selling compact utility vehicle, has a completely new look inside and out for 2008. Escape now makes a powerful statement with a bolder, rugged exterior design that bears a stronger family resemblance to the Ford Explorer and Ford Expedition. The all-new interior resets the bar for small utility vehicles, with more upscale appointments, new innovative storage options, and improved comfort and quietness. In addition, chassis refinements deliver impressive fuel economy and agile driving dynamics that belie the Escape’s rugged exterior.

“The 2008 Escape offers the capability and styling of a traditional SUV with the benefits of crossover construction – building on the successful formula that has made the Escape America’s favorite small utility vehicle for six years,” says Cisco Codina, group vice president, North America Marketing, Sales and Service. “The new Escape offers a more refined ride, go-anywhere capability, impressive fuel economy, up to 3,500 pounds of towing, and a more comfortable interior that is quieter and more versatile.”

The combination of traditional SUV capability and crossover construction made the original Escape an instant success. More than one million Escapes have been sold since its introduction as a 2001 model – more than any other small utility vehicle or crossover of any size. Six years later, Escape remains the sales leader of the small-utility segment, a remarkable feat considering the segment has almost doubled, from 800,000 sales in 2000 to a projected 1.5 million in 2006.

Bolder, Tougher Exterior Design

“The goal from the beginning was to make Escape look even stronger and tougher than the original,” says Doyle Letson, chief designer for the 2008 Escape. “We raised the beltline to give the profile a strong, modern proportion of sheetmetal to glass. Then, we sculpted the surfaces for a more Ford Tough Truck appearance, that now matches Escape’s capabilities.”

The high beltline is further emphasized by the new blacked-out B-pillars, integrated running boards, available 17-inch wheels, and the deletion of the original Escape’s molded-in color fascias and lower bodyside molding.

To integrate the higher beltline, the hood has also been raised and now features a unique “reverse crease” design that draws the eye to the detailed surface. The new front fascia has headlamps that sweep up toward the front corners of the vehicle to short side marker lamps. The new headlights bracket the dramatic new grille.

Refined and Recycled Interior

The 2008 Escape is believed to be the first U.S. automotive application of seating surfaces made from 100 percent post-industrial materials, supplied by InterfaceFABRIC, Inc. InterfaceFABRIC estimates that Ford’s use of post-industrial materials, rather than virgin fibers, could conserve an estimated 600,000 gallons of water, an estimated 1.8 million pounds of carbon dioxide equivalents, and the equivalent of more than 7 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually.

Escape also showcases Ford’s first use of a “top of dash” display positioned at eye level on the dashboard, which shows ambient temperature, radio functions and climate-control readouts. This simple, efficient design puts much of the vehicle’s information in one place at the top of the dashboard, making it easier to reference when driving.

Also improving ease-of-use is the clean, uncluttered center console. Rather than the traditional “brick” design for the radio and temperature controls, Escape features dials and buttons that “poke-through” the center console. The instrument panel houses audio and climate controls, a standard MP3/iPod audio jack, and controls for the available heated seats and in-dash navigation system.

Escape’s interior also features the first use of Ford’s new, signature Ice Blue interior lighting. The cool blue lighting replaces the traditional green on the instrument cluster, the center console, the redundant controls on the steering wheel, and the door lock and window switches. Ice Blue presents a cool, crisp, easy-on-the-eyes light for night driving and enhances the overall feel of the interior.

Escape’s center console is large enough to hold a laptop computer, and there are three levels of storage space. In addition, the center console features two removable bins with innovative dovetail mounting points, which allows the bins to be hung from the front passenger side and rear of the console for additional storage.

Refined, Quiet Interior

Engineers made a host of changes to the 2008 Escape to reduce noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels inside the vehicle.

The 2008 Escape is one of the first Ford Motor Company vehicles to use speed-sensitive Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS), a sophisticated system that helps correct for road irregularities and improves overall steering feel.

Conventional power steering systems use an engine-driven hydraulic gear, which saps power and efficiency from the engine. The 2008 Escape’s new EPAS system uses an electric motor, rather than the engine’s accessory drive. This new system helps improve fuel economy and eliminates the hydraulic noises typical of conventional hydraulic power-assisted steering systems.

In addition, new recessed channels in the vehicle’s roof panel are designed to improve airflow over the top of the vehicle, while horizontal ribs in the roof also strengthen the body structure and help reduce boom noise in the cabin. A new acoustic laminate sandwiched between two glass panels in the windshield and an acoustic headliner also help decrease wind noise. New interior carpeting, which is up to 50 percent thicker, further improves the isolation from road and wind noise.

Compared with the previous model, the 2008 Escape is 12 percent quieter on the highway (30.8 sones to 27 sones at 80 mph in the wind tunnel) and 20 percent quieter in high velocity crosswinds.

Standard Safety Equipment and Fuel-efficient Powertrains

Under its skin, the 2008 Escape has one of the most advanced safety packages in the small SUV segment. Escape comes standard with Safety Canopy™ side air curtains, which provide head and neck protection for the first- and second-row passengers, as well as standard side-impact air bags that deploy out of the upper portion of the front seats to protect the upper and lower torso of the driver and passenger. In addition, I-4 and V-6 Escape models come standard with Ford’s exclusive AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control).

The 2008 Escape’s standard 2.3-liter, 16-valve Duratec 23 I-4 produces 153 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 152 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,250 rpm, paired with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. The available 3.0-liter, 24-valve V-6 Duratec 30 engine makes 200 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 193 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,850 rpm. With a four-speed automatic, the V-6 powered Escape can tow up to 3,500 pounds.

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 25 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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[NYCshopper]

&

2008 Ford Escape Hybrid

[Kostamojen]

I wonder if the interior still feels like a 1980's Hyundai...

[lawn boy]

ugh...just another facelift. still the same platform.

it seems like only ford can rely on the same old platform for 10 years and still remain on top.....for christ sake, the ranger has been the same platform since 1992 and is still the best selling compact truck! focus is still a strong seller and its the same old pos....same with the escape. how?!?!

[Hazdaz]

I think Ford wants to go out of business.

[zer0_thirteen]

Originally Posted by NYCshopper

In a clever marketing move, the new Ford Escape will come pre-equipped with your choice of fast food! Always finding new ways to attract the American public..

[jigga]

Originally Posted by zer0_thirteen

In a clever marketing move, the new Ford Escape will come pre-equipped with your choice of fast food! Always finding new ways to attract the American public..

And am i the only one here who reckons that the current Escape looks more palatable than this sucker they have now?

[SlideWRX]

Originally Posted by lawn boy

ugh...just another facelift. still the same platform.

it seems like only ford can rely on the same old platform for 10 years and still remain on top.....for christ sake, the ranger has been the same platform since 1992 and is still the best selling compact truck! focus is still a strong seller and its the same old pos....same with the escape. how?!?!

Um, designing a new platform every four or five years is ridiculousliy expensive and introduces new problems. Toyota's camry has been on the same platform for twenty years, BMW 3 & 5 series on the same platform for generations, etc. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Having the same platform isn't a bad thing. Hell, the impreza's been on the same basic platform for 10+ years. (GC GD etc. it's the same structure refined and reskinned)

If you want to argue the styling re-skin wasn't significant, enough that is debateable. but the article itself lists a bunch of the changes made.

Tom

[SlideWRX]

Originally Posted by jigga

And am i the only one here who reckons that the current Escape looks more palatable than this sucker they have now?

To me, the previous version was really bland. Invisible. I'm just wondering why they 'showed' a hybrid version when it looks exactly like the normal one. No engine bay shots, or anything. I had to look up what an Atkinson cycle was, 'cause the first thing that popped into my head was 'less carbs?'

The atkinson cycle leave the intake valve open longer to let some air out on compression. that gives it more efficiency, but less power. Similar to the miller cycle, but without a supercharger.

Tom

[Hazdaz]

Originally Posted by SlideWRX

Toyota's camry has been on the same platform for twenty years, BMW 3 & 5 series on the same platform for generations, etc.

The Camry has most definitely NOT been on the same platform for 20 years... and neither has the 3 or 5-series been on the same platforms for generations.
I don't know where you are getting this wrong info, but please stop.

With your thinking... this car:

and this car...

.. share a platform.
Nope. Sorry, wrong answer.

[dennis_skinner]

it was obviously the success of the Freestar that convinced ford they should do the same with the Escape, minus the name change.

whats more disturbing, is that trucks and suv's are supposed to be the things Ford is focusing on, add to that the increasing popularity of car-based suvs, and you would think Ford would atleast try to come out with an all-new highly competitive Escape.

[SlideWRX]

Originally Posted by Hazdaz

The Camry has most definitely NOT been on the same platform for 20 years... and neither has the 3 or 5-series been on the same platforms for generations.
I don't know where you are getting this wrong info, but please stop.

With your thinking... this car:

and this car...

.. share a platform.
Nope. Sorry, wrong answer.

Engineering teardown. They take the previous generation, fix/upgrade some components, re-style and it's a 'new' car. There have been several generations between the two you show. Believe me, it's fustrating to fix problems when components get re-designed every generation and new problems creep up, then go benchmark competitors that have been using the same (refined) components for generations.

IIRC, the 3-series never re-started with a blank slate. They choose to fix/refine what they don't like about the previous chassis and go from there. To be honest, that's why it has such great driving dynamics with a strut front suspension; they kept refining it generation over generation.

Maybe it's a matter of perspective.



Tom