2013 Ford Escape unveiled, gets a 4-banger lineup
The Ford Escape has been with us for about eleven years now and it wasn’t until 2008 that the Escape saw its first major refresh. Though, because it was still based on the original, Ford set out to completely redesign the Escape for 2013. And because the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show is happening now, the Auburn Hills make has just fully revealed the all-new, completely redesigned global Escape.
“We call our all-new Ford Escape the ‘Smarter Utility Vehicle’ because it offers the strengths that customers today really value – fuel economy, versatility and new technology that makes driving and living with the vehicle easier and more fun – all wrapped in a sleek, more modern design,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s vice president for Global Product Development. “Ford understands that more people every year are looking at vehicles like Escape, and we want to give them even more reasons to buy.”
Taking twelve years in the making, the new Ford Escape fully embodies Ford’s recent incorporation of Ford of Europe’s “Kinetic Design” language, making for a much more attractive design than the traditional two-box shape of the original.
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Besides a completely new design, the new 2012 Ford Escape also gets some new engines. The options are two EcoBoost four-cylinder engines, rated at wither 1.6L (175-hp) or 2.0L (240-hp) , with both being projected to offer up to five mpg’s more than the outgoing Escape. The standard engine in North America is an updated 2.5 liter 4-cylinder. All engine choices are mated to a 6-speed SelectShift Automatic.
Other new features for the new 2012 Ford Escape include some new hands-free technology features that will help make driving safer, in this day and age of mobile computing and communication. That means the Escape gets the latest version of Ford’s Microsoft-based SYNC system with MyFord Touch.
Pricing and details weren’t shared at the revealing, but we could expect that information to pop up as we get closer to the launch date. Customers globally will start seeing this SUV with other names including Kuga in Europe and China.
– By: Chris Chin
