IRVINE, CA - Calling it the world's first hybrid SUV, Ford Motor Company will begin production of an Escape Hybrid to go on sale to consumers in the summer of 2004. According to Ford, the Escape Hybrid will boast the acceleration of a V6 engine, the fuel economy of a small car and the utility of a normal SUV.
Developed in partnership with Volvo and Aisin AW, Ford's new SULEV- and PZEV-rated hybrid powertrain combines a 300-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery pack located underneath the rear cargo floor with a 2.3-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, a 65-kilowatt (kW) electric assist motor and a 28 kW generator. The company claims that it produces the acceleration of a 200-horsepower V6 engine while achieving between 35 and 40 mpg in stop-and-go city driving. Expect this technology to add several thousand dollars to the sticker price of the Ford Escape, putting the Hybrid model in the same price class as the larger Ford Explorer. Without the 65 kW permanent-magnet electric motor assist, the Ford Escape Hybrid would not perform as though it was equipped with a V6 engine. When additional power is needed, such as when accelerating from a stop or when passing, the Escape Hybrid's electric motor assists the gasoline engine in making power. The benefit is lively acceleration and ample power when needed, without excess fuel consumption.
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