2006 Ford Escape Hybrid

Automotive, environmental and consumer groups alike have showered the Ford Escape Hybrid with praise during its first year on sale. The world's cleanest and most fuel-efficient SÚV has won, among other important honors, the coveted North American Truck of the Year for 2005.

This year, Escape Hybrid builds on its 'no compromises' philosophy with a new exterior paint color and a Premium Package bundling many popular options that enhance luxury and utility.

Escape Hybrid combines the fuel economy and emissions benefits of a 'full' hybrid with the go-anywhere capability, toughness and spaciousness of the Ford Escape, America 's favorite small SÚV. Escape Hybrid is the first hybrid vehicle to offer four-wheel-drive and towing capability of up to 1,000 pounds when properly equipped.

The Escape Hybrid is a 'full' hybrid, meaning it automatically switches between pure electric power, pure gasoline engine power or combined operation to maximize efficiency and performance.

Full hybrids achieve their greatest improvement in fuel economy during stop- and -go driving, when the electric motor is most efficient. In fact, the Escape Hybrid provides approximately 80 percent better fuel economy in city driving than the conventional V-6 Escape.

Its gasoline engine and electric motor work in concert, providing performance similar to that of a V-6 engine. In less dem and ing situations, the Escape Hybrid can run on its electric motor alone, (at speeds up to 25 mph) its gasoline engine alone or the most efficient combination of the two.

Escape Hybrid can travel more than 400-500 miles in city driving on a single tank of gasoline.

Design and Equipment The Escape Hybrid looks like the traditional Escape, the best-selling compact sport utility, with a few key differences. The Escape Hybrid features unique badging that uses the Ford road- and -leaf insignia, with st and ard 16-inch wheels and a discreet battery cooling vent in the driver's side rear quarter window. Escape Hybrid is available with a special Appearance Package that features body-color door h and les and silver bumper covers, body-side cladding and wheel lip moldings.

Like the traditional Escape, it offers seating for up to five and includes the same 60/40 split folding rear seat. Efficient packaging of the hybrid technology (locating the battery pack at the rear load floor, for example) means that interior versatility is preserved. Even with a full complement of five passengers, cargo room behind the second row seat is still an ample 27.6 cubic feet.

The maximum cargo space can be exp and ed to over 65 cubic feet, if desired. The roof rack is capable of holding up to 100 pounds of cargo.

A unique gauge package features an economy indicator with 'green zone' that shows when the vehicle is operating on battery power. A separate gauge displays levels of charge and assist for the battery pack. An optional navigation system features an Audiophile stereo system, a unique energy flow diagram that displays hybrid system operation and a fuel economy screen that displays instant and average fuel economy.

Escape Hybrid also offers a 110-volt AC power outlet, perfect for a television, radio, air pump, electric razor or even holiday lights at the campsite.

Powertrain and Chassis

A special 2.3-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine features Atkinson-cycle combustion for improved efficiency and produces 133 horsepower at 6,000 rpm.
A 70-kWatt (equivalent to 93 horsepower) electric traction motor provides an added boost to the drive wheels when maximum acceleration is desired.
A generator-motor recharges the batteries, starts the engine and helps regulate how the two propulsion channels blend together in the transaxle.
A special electronically controlled, continuously variable transmission (eCVT) harnesses internal combustion and electric power sources to drive the front wheels in a FWD Escape or all four wheels with the optional Intelligent 4WD System™.
A 330-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery pack located and sealed at the rear load floor stores electrical energy.
An electronic vehicle system controller manages charging, drive assist and engine-starting functions. This device shuts the engine down during coasting and at stoplights to save fuel. (concept carz) It also converts the traction motor into a generator during braking to help recharge the batteries.
The combined output of both the gas and electric motors is 155 horsepower, and the powertrain provides 0-60 acceleration performance similar to the conventional Escape with 200-horsepower V-6 engine.

The generator-motor provides power boosts during heavy load situations, helping Escape Hybrid accelerate briskly to speed. In addition to fuel-free operation, electric motors deliver maximum torque at low rpm, so they are an ideal complement to gasoline engines that generate peak power at higher rpm.

The electric power-assisted steering system allowed Ford engineers to easily tune the amount of steering assist independent of engine and vehicle speed, giving the Escape Hybrid a very easy steering effort at parking-lot speeds, while retaining Escape's hallmark crisp steering feel while driving.

The optional Intelligent 4WD System, available on all Escape models, is fully computer-controlled and provides maximum traction as driving conditions vary. Its operation is so seamless that most drivers will never notice that it has engaged.

Benefits for Driver and Environment

The front-wheel-drive Ford Escape Hybrid achieves 36 mpg on the EPA city cycle; the conventional V-6-powered Ford Escape has a city fuel economy rating of 20 mpg.

It is an extremely clean vehicle to operate – an amazing 99.4 percent cleaner, on average, than an unregulated vehicle. Escape Hybrid meets strict Super Últra Low Emissions Vehicle (SÚLEV II) and Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) st and ards.

Major Features and Options

Escape Hybrid is offered in front-wheel-drive or with the Intelligent 4WD System for confident traction in all conditions. This year, a new Premium Package combines a monochromatic exterior in five exterior colors with Premium leather-trimmed seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats and side mirrors, Reverse Sensing System, navigation system and hybrid energy flow display with Audiophile stereo, 110-volt power outlet, cargo area retractable cover and floor mats.

Other available packages include:

Leather Comfort Group: Leather-wrapped steering wheel and leather-trimmed seats.

Safety Package: Safety Canopy™ system with side air curtains, rollover sensor and front side air bags.

Options include a 320-watt, satellite-capable Audiophile audio system with six-disc in-dash CD changer, 110-volt AC outlet, moonroof, retractable cargo cover and a hybrid energy display monitor that includes a navigation system.

Source - Ford Media