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Wednesday, February 08, 2012

The Ford Escape: The Earliest American Made Crossbreed

By Valery Seraiva


The Ford Escape had the classification for being the original American-made hybrid car. It was expected to have its release in 2003 but it really didn't officially debut until 2004. It is a true electric hybrid vehicle that can run on gasoline, electric motor or both. It was designed to fulfill the demand established by the drivers for optimal performance and fuel consumption. For every 15,000 miles it generates no more than one pound of smog-forming pollutants, which is significantly less than light truck average of 105 pounds, and average cars of 67 pounds.

Ford was smart enough to design the first hybrid an SUV given that it was the most popular vehicle type at the time. This Ford hybrid appears like a normal car and has the performance capabilities, also. It did not have the image-problem that Honda experienced with their very first hybrid. The fuel consumption and functionality of the Ford Escape was excellent in the eyes of American consumers. It really is graded 34/31 mpg by the EPA, which is more efficient than its gas-only counterparts by 30%. This will make it the right choice for shoppers who want a crossover vehicle with a good green value. The combination of the 153 horsepower four-cylinder gas engine and electric motor gives the Escape its excellent fuel economy.

It comes with a continuously variable transmission as a result of a set of motors and generators. The Escape Hybrid, because of this setup, can run up to 25 mph on batteries alone, with a range of 40 miles. Its use of a mechanical differential to divide power between the wheels in their all-wheel drive is unique. Most other hybrids implement the same, but utilize the electric motors. Therefore, the Escape is better than other hybrid crossovers when it comes to off-road capabilities. It's very solid in different sorts of weather because of the 8.5 inches of ground clearance. The body construction extends back to 2001, which is one issue with the Escape Hybrid, because it doesn't have the bounding, softer ride of the gas-only version.

While the back-seat leg room is somewhat tight for an SUV, it does have excellent viewing areas, and ample head room. It looks a lot like the first Ford Explorer, and has an interior that looks more like a truck than a crossover. The entertainment package ended up being updated in 2010 and it features SYNC speech command capabilities. The equipment also features HD radio and Sirius Travel link for information via satellite radio.

Should you be looking for an American hybrid that's a SUV then the Ford Escape is one place to start. Though it may not have the perfect fuel consumption compared to other hybrids, it has a lot more room.






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