Sunday, September 30, 2007

Ford Escape, Not Just another SUV

A vehicle that has power. A vehicle that could deliver. A vehicle that could perform. That is the Ford Escape. It is also able to transport not only cargo but people as well. In fact, it can seat five people comfortably in its cabin. The 2005 version of this vehicle from the Ford Motor Company has an MSRP of $19,995. If you have this amount, the vehicle is yours to own. Its engine choices are the 2.3 liter L4 engine or the 3.0 liter V6 engine. These engines could produce 153 units of horsepower at 5800 rpm and 200 horsepower at 6000 rpm respectively. The delivery and functionality is greater improved with the held of a four speed automatic transmission system or with a five speed manual transmission system.

The 2005 standard version of the Ford Escape holds a couple of features that has been continually used up until the present years model. It holds a 2.3 liter Duratec 23 I4 engine with four cylinders and this comes with an automatic transmission system. It also has an automatic intelligent 4WD system that assist in improving the vehicles fuel efficiency and gas mileage. The interior has surely not been overlooked. After all, this vehicle now holds a redesigned interior. There is a flow through console, a floor mounted shifted, new gauges, and more storage space for more cargo. The Ford Escape also has upgraded seat cushions and fabrics for improved comfort. Advances in its engineering have made this vehicle much quieter inside. Take a walk outside and you would notice that the vehicle also holds new bumpers for the front and the rear. The headlights also are new. As per safety, the Ford Escape comes with upgrades like the Safety Canopy system, the Personal Safety System, as well as an improved body structure that assists greatly in enhancing crash protection.

The Ford Motor Company is the mother and main umbrella under which the Ford Escape runs under. Since 2001, this vehicle has continuously been manufactured. At present, this vehicle is still manufactured. It has been made available as a compact sport utility vehicle and it holds four doors. It has been built on the FF/AWD CD2 platform thus making it quite similar and related to the Mazda Tribute and the Mercury Mariner which also uses the same platform. Its main competition includes the Jeep Liberty, the Toyota RAV4, the Honda CR V, and the Nissan Xterra.

All genuine quality Ford Escape front bumpers, front fenders, hoods, mirrors, radiators, radiator fans, and radiator supports to name a few are available for Ford Escape owners and enthusiasts in great discounts and wholesale deals at Ford Parts Discount. The proven reliability of this online stores genuine and quality Ford Escape parts keep customer loyalty for years. By simply browsing through Ford Parts Discount, one can find dependable and long lasting Ford Escape replacement parts, performance parts, body parts, and accessories.
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Source: http://business-loanapwkmembn.blogspot.com/2007/09/ford-escape-not-just-another-suv.html

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Road test: 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid Part 1










Part of the fun of writing about publishing The Garage is that I get to refuel all that automotive passion from driving all sorts of exciting cars. It really is all about the passion, so what the heck are we doing in a Hybrid? After all, Hybrid vehicles aren't exactly known for their stirring performance. Or are they? Early Hybrid vehicles were generally bought by back to the earth, Jerry Garcia disciples who generally had the social skills of someone who had consumed just a few too many bags of grass in the early days. The cars were untried, had oddball styling and don't even think about taking your clubs away for the weekend.
With the price of gas in today's world, something had to be done to bring the cost benefits of the Hybrid vehicle to the masses. For Ford, that means offering the consumer a range of Hybrid vehicles, including our tester last week, the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid. Now the Hybrid vehicle technology isn't the only part of the vehicle to make the socially conscious happy. The Escape's seats are covered in a rugged looking fabric that is constructed of 100% recycled materials, which likely means you'll be sitting on last month's pop bottles and Twinkie wrappers. The end result is a comfortable fabric that gives the appearance of being quite durable and is likely easy to keep clean. Fortunately, the kids didn't manage to spill anything this time around so we didn't have to test out the stain resistance factor.

Designers took a bit of a chance with the center console by creating a vertically stacked command center. That gamble may not have paid off in this case, as several passengers commented on the quantity of buttons. That said, all these buttons are well marked and intuitively laid out. There just seems to be an overwhelming number of controls in there. Atop this cluster is a new eye level display that could benefit from a bit more of a hood, as bright sunlight can make it a bit tough to read. At the base of the cluster are two of the coolest features on board. Firstly, there is the jack for your MP3 player that should be standard equipment on every car in today's world. Secondly, one of the joys of a Hybrid is an abundance of electricity. Ford sends some of this juice towards a 110 Volt outlet! One would likely use this for a laptop or other such electronic device.

Below that is a deep, removable storage bin. It actually took me a few days to figure out that it is removable, as it's quite big.

Moving rearward, the Escape has enough width in the back seat that kids number 1 & 2 weren't bothered by number 3's booster seat. I actually got in the back seat to play photographer and there is a decent amount of room for 2 adults back there. The leg room is even pretty decent.

Even in a small SUV, cargo carrying ability is the prime objective. Otherwise, you'd be looking at a sedan, wouldn't you? The Escape has a more than decent size cargo area that passed The Garage's 3 hockey bag test with flying colours. Of course Dad's hockey stick has to cross over into the back seat. The separate lifting tailgate glass is a nice touch that makes it easier to load in smaller items.

The interior of the 2008 Ford Escape is definitely one that is well suited to an active family, even one with two little kids and a teenager. Later this week, we'll tell the tale of how the Escape Hybrid fares on the road.
Popularity: 1%


Source: http://thegarageblog.com/garage/road-test-2008-ford-escape-hybrid-part-1/

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Ford Hybrids And Other Eco-Friendly Cars

By Ernest Jarquio

Ford has already introduced two full hybrid vehicles in the market. These are the Ford Escape hybrid, which is the very first hybrid SUV to be introduced commercially, and the Mercury Mariner Ford hybrid.

Like its competitors such as Toyota, Honda and GM, Ford is also busy keeping up with the market. Aside from the two commercially available hybrid vehicles, they already have three more models that are expected to hit the market soon. The car maker has over 100 hybrid patent applications on the way.

Why Go Hybrid?

With hybrid cars, you can enjoy higher fuel efficiency, same or even enhanced comfort compared to conventional cars, a roomier vehicle and a performance that is incomparable. What is more exciting is that with every innovation that car manufacturers make with their hybrid models, they are usually able to offer them at a much lower price than the previous model.

The Escape Hybrid

The Ford Escape hybrid has been named the 11th greenest vehicle and has been offered with a price lower than the former models. It has added safety features and makes use of recycled materials. As with other hybrid car makers, environmental concerns have been a consideration in its design.

The Mercury Mariner

Another model of hybrid from Ford is the Mercury Mariner hybrid. This model is not as popular as the Ford Escape hybrid. It is not easy to find this model in the market. To purchase one, you have to directly order from Ford. This model was not the hit that it was expected to be. The good news is that Ford will offer this model at a lower price than the previous model.

Technology of Hybrids

Many car makers now use the full hybrid technology. It means that their hybrid products can run on both gasoline and electricity at the same time or choose between the two sources at a given time. They can run fully on gasoline or electricity depending on the terrain that the vehicle is traveling. Most city driving makes use of electricity. It is an efficient way to save gas when prices are soaring.

Some hybrid cars run by combining two electric motors to a gas engine. These gasoline engines are modified from running on Otto cycle to Atkinson cycle. This modification allows the vehicle to utilize electricity better. The engine will produce lower horsepower due to the less air and fuel, making the electric part more active. This feature is very efficient in city driving, allowing the user to save a lot on gasoline.

Variable Transmission Technology

Hybrid vehicles make use of the variable transmission technology called Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission or eCVT. This technology is responsible for the distribution of load between the gasoline engine and the electric motor. It allows the hybrids to perform very well on both on road and off road terrains. Regenerative braking technology is also used by these cars, allowing them to recover a lot of otherwise wasted energy, thus making fuel consumption more efficient.

Whether you're eyeing Ford hybrids or cars from other manufacturers like Honda and Toyota, you will find that the units that they offer might be a little more costly than with cars that run fully on gasoline, but in the long run, greater savings can be realized by their use of the more environmentally-friendly technology.

Ernest Jarquio is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Green-Hybrid-Cars.com. He provides more information on topics such as Ford hybrids, 2003 Honda Civic hybrid and Toyota Sienna hybrid which you can research on his website even while lounging in your living room.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ernest_Jarquio


Source: http://autofordpart.blogspot.com/2007/09/ford-hybrids-and-other-eco-friendly.html

Monday, September 17, 2007

Ford Escape Hybrid Car Review


The long troubled car maker that is Ford has been trying to bust into the hybrid game for quite a long time. The main problem they were having is the changing of the designs rather then sticking with the formula that has worked with the cars and trucks that have been selling for so long. They finally caught on to this concept when they launched the Ford Escape. This vehicle is a cousin to the Bronco II that was so popular as a smaller version of the SUV that was made popular by OJ Simpson and the like. Of course the design was not completely Ford. Using their shares in Mazda, they venture into a joint development deal where Mazda would help defray the costs of developing a hybrid SUV for the ever growing market. This was a smart move for Ford as they were getting nailed in the market for not having a mid sized SUV available since they discontinued the Bronco II.

The Ford Escape is very similar in design to the Jeep Cherokee, and many of the Cherokee drivers have taken a liking to the hybrid version of the Escape. Thanks to the hybrid technology being employed, the Escape is about seventy-five percent more efficient then the gas version. This is something that has really put Ford on the hybrid map. The world was hungry for a SUV that was efficient and thanks to the Escape they now have that option. Using electric assist motor technology the Escape is capable of being either total electric, electric and gas together, or just gas depending on the desire of the driver. There is only a slight loss of horsepower with the total electric running and that is due to the fact that the batteries must constantly be recharging themselves as the car is decelerating or braking. Most often the driver will not even notice the loss of power.

The Ford Escape under went a major over haul for the 2007 model year. Knowing that it look a bit too much like other SUVs, they decided that the Escape needed a completely new design. This new design has become very popular. The curves are much more soft and the front end is completely new, taking nothing from the original. This hybrid is also available in Europe as the Maverick, not to be confused with the car from the late 1970s that was made by Ford.




Source: http://www.stockspm.com/car-review/ford-escape-hybrid-car-review/

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Richardson: you won't lose your SUV


Salon has an interview with Democratic presidential hopeful Bill Richardson. He is probably the leading candidate on green issues. He talks about a number of things including CAFE, biofuels and electric cars. In contrast to recent statements by John Edwards, Bill says you don't have to give up your SUV. He says "what I'm asking for is not sacrifice, like Americans' wearing sweaters and turning the heat down. What I'm asking for is being more energy-efficient with appliances, with vehicles, with mass transit. ... You can have an SUV with a fuel-efficient engine. We do have the technology to achieve this."

When asked if Detroit could reach his proposed 50 MPG CAFE by 2020, he says "Detroit will benefit from this. We've got the technology. They need a little gentle prodding and they need incentives, but Detroit has always stepped up with ingenuity. They must realize that to keep jobs in America, to be part of this globalized world, they gotta compete. I'm not at all averse to giving Detroit tax incentives for these vehicles or having the government jointly invest in R&D with them, rather than clubbing them over the head. "

Bill wants to support ethanol by helping gas stations convert at least one pump to ethanol and thinks the government should buy more flex fuel vehicles. He also believes "in cooperative ventures with other countries." He would " expand our ties to Latin America with more collaboration in renewable energy and technology." Bill walks the talk in New Mexico. He's "very proud to get Tesla Motors to move here (New Mexico) from California." Also, the governor's fleet includes Ford Escape hybrid and Chevy Tahoe flex fuel.




Source: http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/09/03/richardson-you-wont-lose-your-suv/

Monday, September 3, 2007

The Long Road Down – Part 4





Walter B. Chrysler (1875-1940) would never live up to the fame of his contemporary Henry Ford.

Chrysler, was a Midwesterner, whose family name, the German "Kreissler", was anglicized to Chrysler. Walter by nature understood anything mechanical. He rose through the railroad industry to become president of the American Locomotive Co in Pittsburgh; from there he switched to cars and successfully reinvigorated the Buick division for GM before going on to run both the Willys & Maxwell automobile companies.

Walter took a page from GM in that he bought an existing car company. In 1924 he secured the necessary investors and bought Maxwell, and introduced his Chrysler automobile (a Maxwell with Chrysler's name). He surrounded himself with good engineers like Carl Breer, Owen Skelton, & Fred Zeder. Unlike Henry Ford, he was always open to new ideas.

Chrysler either invented, or, was the first to use on popular-priced cars, things like: high-compression engines, hydraulic brakes, steel bodies, etc. He knew that America was awash with numerous auto makers in the Twenties and he had to break through with better, more innovative products to succeed. He bought the Dodge Brothers auto company and introduced Plymouth ( a low priced car) in 1928 ; In 1929 he added DeSoto, and Imperial. So Chrysler went through the Depression with a full line of cars to match GM & Ford.

However, like any other automobile company, mistakes were occasionally made. In 1934 the Company introduced the Chrysler Airflow as an art deco, modern look into the future. It was aerodynamic, all-steel-bodied, and different from anything else in America. So, of course it failed. It was too far-out for most Americans and it failed. However, this was not fatal, and Chrysler, unlike so many auto companies, actually made it through the Thirties in relatively good shape due to the popularity and superiority of its other products.

Walter Chrysler died in 1940 before America's entry into WW II and his company went on to make many of the armaments America went to war with against the Axis Powers. To name just some: The Sherman & Pershing tanks, The ¾ ton truck & ambulance, B-29 bomber engines, and even diffusers for the Manhattan (atomic bomb) project. It wasn't until after WW II that financial trouble came to Chrysler.

The post-war era started out fine for Chrysler, which was now under the helm of K.T. Keller, who had left GM in 1926 and then served as President under Chrysler in the late 1930's. You must remember that all cars sold well to a product-starved America after WWII. Auto companies just took their last pre-war models and re-issued them for the 1946-47 model years. However, everyone was readying something new for the new decade to come.

Here, Chrysler was caught flat-footed against Ford & GM. GM had their new torpedo low-slung look with some fighter plane fins courtesy of Harley Earl, Ford had a low-slung rounded body for their new 1948 products. Chrysler, under Chairman Keller, stayed conservative in the styling of their cars. The bodies were high and square, the flathead six cylinder engines underpowered and the fluid drive transmission was, well, slow. If you were a customer that wanted a slow, smooth car, you could buy a six-cylinder Chrysler Windsor with fluid drive (semi-automatic transmission). A GM eight-cylinder hydramatic (fully automatic) or a Ford V8 could (and did!) cream it. As a sage said, Chryslers of this period were to take people to the races, not do the racing. Chrysler, under K.T. Keller, was convinced that their approach to the post-war market was destined for success, and that their cars would find favor with the public soon enough. The buying public disagreed with Keller.

This downturn was the first of many up-and-down roller coaster rides Chrysler suffered through in the post-war era. Chrysler was down in 1954, back up in 1957 with brilliant exterior design, down in 1960, up again by 1965, and so on. Heavy losses and restructuring were usually followed with some success only to have a downturn happen again. Chrysler had quality problems in the late fifties to compound their design ups and downs. Going into the Sixties, Chrysler had to cut DeSoto (1960), as sales didn't justify another line. The mid-60's were reasonably good for Chrysler as their cars began to have better quality and style across the board (it was in this period that Chrysler started the five-year 50,000 mile powertrain warranty). Chrysler's torqueflight automatic transmission became known as the best automatic of the period.

As was the case with the other domestic automakers, the 1970's were not kind to Chrysler. In fact, they had it worse than Ford and GM, ending the decade nearly bankrupt. The EPA was mandating lower emissions during this period and Chrysler's engine management systems, intended to help the company meet the new emissions requirements, misfired and performed poorly. Further, Chrysler had the same heavy load of large V8's and gas-drinkers that their competitors had. The public shunned Chrysler and to make matters worse, the old quality issues were back. It looked bleak for them by the late Seventies. In fact, to hide the lack of sales, Chrysler would build out models and store them all over Detroit without any orders (this was the notorious sales bank). After the lots were overflowing, they would attempt to fire-sale them to the dealers in packages (buy 6 and get a special deal on all of them). Chrysler resale values plummeted, a problem that would resurface again later, as would the "sales bank".

Along comes Lee Iacocca, the spurned, scorned and fired former President of Ford, to the rescue in 1979. Iacocca had a large contingent of loyal executives who followed him to Chrysler from Ford. As Iacocca would write, if he had known just how bad a shape Chrysler was in, he might have stayed home. However, once on board, he was determined to turn a virtually bankrupt enterprise around.

With an unprecedented $1.5 billion USD in loan guarantees from the US government, give-backs from the unions, and Iococca's instinct for putting the right bets on strategic products, Chrysler got new life.

First, the K Car showed up in 1981 - a square, roomy, front-wheel-drive compact that became the basis for much of Chrysler's whole line in the 80's. Taking a page from what he knew, Iacocca, who at Ford made Mustangs from Falcons and Mark III Lincolns from Thunderbirds, had Chrysler make just about every type of car off the basic K car you could imagine. He had the basic Plymouth Reliants and Dodge Aries stretched to become Chrysler Lebarons and New Yorkers, and in the mid-80's, stretched even more to conjure up a mini-limousine. The cars actually were fairly reliable and comfortable, if not overly stylish.

But the zenith of all of these efforts was to take this platform and invent in 1984 the minivan, an entirely new type of vehicle. It has been said correctly that Iacocca didn't invent the minivan as the Chrysler design people had it under development when he came to Chrysler. However, the new CEO saw the potential enormity of this vehicle, and pushed it to production as quickly as he could.

In other management directives, Iacocca eliminated the dreaded "sales bank" of unordered cars. His minions scoured through the Chrysler operations and forced efficiencies that didn't exist before in a loosely-run Chrysler. He bought AMC in 1987, just to get Jeep, really, as he had no SUV-type vehicle to market. All of these decisions gave Chrysler a new start in the 1980's.

In the early Nineties, Iacocca was being prodded to turn over Chrysler to a new CEO. He still had enormous clout with the board and for whatever reasons did not select any of his underlings at Chrysler. It was Iacocca who allowed the selection to go to an outsider from GM, Bob Eaton. This caused bad blood within Chrysler as people like Bob Lutz and others bolted for other companies. Worse to come, after retiring, Iococca linked up with Kirk Kerkorian, the famous corporate raider, and attempted to take control of Chrysler through a hostile takeover.

When this failed, it was Bob Eaton, who, fearing more hostile coups, began negotiations with Jurgen Schrempf, the CEO of Daimler Benz. This came at a time when the remaining car companies were all looking for strategic alignments as many auto industry analysts said there would only be five or six major manufacturers in the world in the 21st century. Everyone wanted to make certain they were big enough to survive the wave of consolidation in the industry.

So Daimler bought Chrysler for 36 billion dollars in 1998. This became a bad marriage where everyone lost, or, at least thought they did. Eaton was not an equal with Schrempf as it was first proclaimed when the deal was done, and soon left the new company. And Chrysler was hardly the equal of the German part of the alliance, either, which had also been publicly declared when the deal was struck. Iacocca and much of the press lamented the "takeover" by a foreign car company. And the Daimler execs anguished over the fact, that they, as the builder of prestige cars, were now involved with a mediocre mass-market car company. They believed to transfer Mercedes technology to Chrysler would diminish their own iconic brand. The chemistry went bad on both sides soon after the champagne was popped in 1998. An exodus of Chrysler engineers and designers occurred and the reputation that Chrysler had for being the small, nimble company that could bring out cutting-edge new products in a short time frame was severely diminished. Worse, the old up-and-down business cycles Chrysler had suffered through for many decades returned in the early 2000's with a vengeance.

Things went down after the takeover, went back up when Dieter Zetsche came from Germany to give direction to Chrysler, and went back down in the mid 2000's when Zetsche was pushed back to Germany to run a now-struggling Mercedes. This after Jurgen Schrempf, CEO of DaimlerChrysler lost his job over the negative repercussions of the merger/acquisition and was forced out for his corporate sins.

Zetsche appointed Tom LaSorda to operate Chrysler while he attempted to right Mercedes. LaSorda immediately got hit with a lulu of a product/marketplace mismatch. Like the other domestic automakers, Chrysler had too many trucks and SUVs for an economy that wanted more efficient products. Back came the reviled "sales bank" as product was parked all over Detroit, and losses were soon to follow. Worse, Chrysler, after a hit with the new 300 sedan, began firing duds as many of their new cars were DOA in the marketplace. The new 2007 Chrysler Sebring was a prime example of the mistakes Chrysler made in their car lines after the wonderful 300. It looked like a mish-mash of different cars; every enthusiast magazine review said it didn't measure up to the competition and excoriated the car in different ways, and a lot of Sebring production headed straight to rental fleet limbo. The ones sold through the retail dealers only went over the curb with the help of hefty rebates.By 2007, the Germans had enough of the roller coaster. While publicly saying they would once again "fix" Chrysler just as they had addressed their own quality problems back in Stuttgart, they really were looking for some way out. Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. was the way they would escape. To give you some idea of what dumping Chrysler meant to the investors, the moment the mention of selling Chrysler became public, the Daimler stock skyrocketed. In other words, if the 36 billion dollars were to be left behind, but Mercedes escapes the union and retreats back to their position before the merger, it would all be worth it in the eyes of the market. Thus in August of 2007, Mercedes relinquished control and gave up an 80.1% interest in Chrysler (See story HERE). In fact, they more less paid Cerberus to tow Chrysler away.

The new Chrysler starts again with a new CEO. Here, Cerberus goes to an outsider Bob Nardelli, the ex-CEO of Home Depot to right the ship. There is little to go on so far with only a couple of weeks of new management. However, due to the fact that Cerberus is a capital management company and not an auto company, all bets are off as to what could happen.

Think about the fact that both Ford and GM have sold and mortgaged everything they previously owned to keep their core car business afloat. Both are reluctant to cut loose anything relating to domestic cars and trucks, because they view the car business as reason for their existence. Cerberus, on the other hand, has no such affinity to the car business, or any other business, for that matter. Chrysler will either produce, or some parts or all of it will be gone. This resolution will happen long before the last bit of money from Cerberus is poured into the enterprise. It's not that a holding company is evil or bears malice; it's that their commitment is to conserve and/or increase capital. If Chrysler starts contributing to this Cerberus goal, they may have a long-term future.

Neither the Ford family or the GM execs have other investments to turn to if what they are doing turns out badly. Thus, I believe both of these old companies will fight to the end to maintain themselves as intact car companies.

Cerbrus is wired differently, and will protect its capital if a real downturn or reverse occurs with Chrysler. Chrysler is an asset that needs to produce income, pure and simple. Just because Chrysler makes cars and trucks means nothing to Cerberus; there is no romance or special meaning to what Chrysler does as far as Cerberus is concerned. And despite the statements he's made since he got his new job, about how much he really, really loves cars, you have to assume that Bob Nardelli feels the same way – to him, Chrysler is a problem that needs to be solved in a cold, clinical way without a lot of extra emotion attached to this process. Obviously, this was a major part of his appeal to Cerberus.

I hope it goes well for Chrysler. But if I had to choose who will not make it as an independent car company in the future, I would have to pick Chrysler. I don't think Mercedes would have cut Chrysler loose if they had the remotest hope for a long-term and permanent recovery. Remember, they had already invested the $36 billion. Turning Chrysler around and justifying this huge amount of cash invested would have been in their best interest. Yet, after looking at all options and what they thought the future would hold, they walked, and that scares me for the future of Chrysler.




Source: http://www.autosavant.net/2007/08/long-road-down-part-4.html

Escape Sales Surged Over the Million Mark

Recently, Ford Motor Co. proudly announced that Escape has surpassed the million mark. The automaker reported that it has sold more than 1 million of Escape models since November 2000. To put on record, Ford Escape is the best-selling SUV in the market today. In addition, it is also the best-selling crossover of any size for six years now.From day one, the Escape has offered a combination of traditional SUV traits and crossover construction,?said Cisco Codina, group vice president, North America Marketing, Sales and Service. Escape offers refined ride and go-anywhere capability; impressive fuel economy and up to 3,500 pounds of towing; and a comfortable interior in a compact, agile package. And Escape keeps getting better, as we will show at the LA auto show.?Ford Escape is the automaker's first crossover SUV. It can be recalled that the 2001 version of the vehicle is a bit unrefined and crude. It was clear that there was an unmet opportunity in the market place,?said Barry Redler, Ford SUV Group marketing manager. The other entries were one-dimensional, either focused only on off-road, SUV attributes at the expense of refinement, or focused on car-like ride and handling at the expense of off-road adventure. Escape was an instant success because it offered customers something no one else did: The best of both worlds.?The redesigned 2008 version uses Escape's original success formula. It has passed Ford Tough Truck standards and was subjected to durability testing in the heat of the Australian outback and the sub-zero cold of Manitoba, Canada. The vehicle was also used in pulling a 3,500-pound trailer up the severe grades of the Davis Dam in Nevada to prove its towing capabilities as well as performance.The 2008 version of Escape is scheduled to be introduced at the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show on Nov. 29. Said model combines superb off-road performance and the fun of on-road driving. Auto Escape Ford parts will accumulate several styling cues from Edge, Explorer and Expedition. Modifications include new grille with bigger headlamps in the fascia, rounder wheel arches, redesigned sides, and cleaner lines. In addition, the interior of Escape is also redesigned for a more functional and stylish appeal.As the utility market is changing, we are seeing an increasing number of people who find the small SUV best fits their needs and lifestyles,?said Redler. In 2001, 25 percent of small SUV owners left the segment for larger SUVs. Today were seeing increasing number of large SUV buyers moving into small SUVs like Escape. Were also seeing an increasing number of small SUV owners who replace their vehicle with another small SUV.




Source: http://marathon-oilnjphtxjsqk.blogspot.com/2007/08/escape-sales-surged-over-million-mark.html

Sunday, September 2, 2007

Make Your Escape

A compact crossover SUV, the Ford Motor Company had scheduled the Ford Escape s first appearance in 2001. Pricing for this vehicle was made lower than the Ford Explorer. This vehicle was jointly developed by the Ford Motor Company and Mazda. In Europe, this SUV is more known as the Ford Maverick. It is also built on the Ford CD2 platform.

Last year, the Ford Escape was updated with a new base engine which was the 2.3 liter Duratec 23. It also had additional features that included added airbag, seatbelt safety system, an intelligent all wheel drive system, and changes done to its exterior. However, the recline feature of the rear seats were erased. This vehicle offers a good Fuel Conservation Tips
...They add to drag. Unnecessary weight in your car can also take away from good gas mileage (this does not mean that you can throw your sister out of the car to conserve fuel although, it would help!) Another way ...balance of sport and utility, with a better interior and with improved engine.

The new 2006 Ford Escape is a small and affordable sport utility vehicle. For a relatively affordable price, this vehicle offers a smooth ride and easy comfort. Space is something that the Ford Escape could afford to provide for cargo and for passengers as well. All rolled in one vehicle are grace, style, and comfort.

This vehicle has been made available in three trim levels which comprises of the XLS, the XLT, and the Limited. Among all these three trims, the common features include a capacity of four passengers, a brisk acceleration that is powered by strong engines, a front wheel drive (2WD) or four Honda Dreams
...polished like a Rolls Royce in drag. I couldn't believe the quality of paint compared to the American equivalent a la Falcon, Chevy II and Plymouth Dusters. A week of dedicated browsing turned up a 1979 Honda Civic Coupe five ...wheel drive (4WD), and a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.

The 2006 Ford Escape XLS has air conditioning, illuminated remote entry, power windows and mirrors, a tilt steering column, a center console, 15-inch steel wheels, and an AM/FM/CD/cassette audio system that has a clock built in. For the XLT trim, features include an automatic transmission, a four-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS), premium cloth upholstery, a power driver s seat, privacy glass, a power moonroof, cruise control, a cargo cover, a convenience net, fog lights, and an in-dash six-CD changer. As for the 2006 Ford Escape Limited, it is made available with premium leather seats, seat heaters, front side-impact air bags, dual front sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors, an auto-dimming Honda Civic 2005 (Special Edition): The Weekly Driver Review
...has capitalized on the compact car's success by presenting three body styles and the notable options of a gas/electric hybrid and two-door hatchback. But does Honda really need another option in the Civic line? Apparently it does, considering my test ...rearview mirror, heated exterior mirrors, a reverse sensing system, and a MACH audio in-dash six-CD changer with automatic volume control. It has been also done in with a monochrome exterior, plus a body-colored trim and bright-machined 16-inch aluminum wheels.

In a nutshell, the 2006 Ford Escape has the ability and capability for great acceleration. Its taut suspension makes the vehicle run with smooth handling and performance. It provides great facilities for carrying cargo of any type, since the interiors provide a not so limited space for all your cargo and for the passengers.




Source: http://cruisecontrol2.cruisetipsworld.com/index.php/24/make-your-escape/

Ford Escape Hybrid Given To Chicago

Going back to the Chicago Auto Show last February, the Ford Motor Company has announced that it will be presenting a Ford Escape Hybrid taxi cab to Chicago. This would be used as part of a study and test for a year of evaluation.

At present, the presentation of such a hybrid vehicle is in the works. In fact, all the preparation is still being ironed out for any kind of flaws. Part of the whole program is scheduled interview made especially for media people. Those who will be part of this segment in the program would include Norma Reyes, the Department of Consumer Services Commissioner; Nancy Gioia, the director of Fords Sustainable Mobility and Hybrid programs department; Mark Kaufman, the Group SUV marketing manager of the company; as well as Kermit the Frog, the speaker of the company for the Ford Escape Hybrid.

On Thursday, June 8th, this presentation would be taking place. It will be held at the Museum of Science and Industry which can be found on 57 St. and Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. It will be done in the evening and Kermit the Frog would be the main host of the said affair. There will also be a reception made especially for Ford Escape Hybrid owners. This would actually give them a chance to rub elbows with Ford engineers.

Another part of the event would be a preview of Frogs: A Chorus of Colors?exhibit. This exhibit is mainly focusing on how amphibians are one of the first species in this planet that is affected by changes in the environment. Of course, this would show just how much hybrids like the Ford Escape Hybrid would be able to help out and address such an issue.

Ford Parts Online has everything you need for your Ford Escape Hybrid parts and Ford Sunliner parts. By simply accessing the site, you can find your way through its huge collection of Ford parts that could be easily purchased there.
Epromos


Source: http://milf-pornawrnrsdlhx.blogspot.com/2007/08/ford-escape-hybrid-given-to-chicago.html

Saturday, September 1, 2007

Sacramento To Receive Ford Escape Hybrid Tech Clinic

Many cities all across the United States sure have benefited from the Ford Escape Hybrid Technology Clinic offered by the Ford Motor Company. And this time around, the company is set out on sharing the technology clinic to another city ?the City of Sacramento in the state of California.

This huge motoring event would be held at the Marriott Hotel located in the Sunrise Blvd in Rancho Cordova or the mentioned city. This would take place on the 2nd of August this year which would fall on a Wednesday. The huge event would start at 10 in the morning. As part of this Ford Escape Hybrid Technology Clinic, there would also be a Ford Escape Hybrid clinic made just for owners of hybrid vehicles, especially the Ford Escape Hybrid. It will be held during the same day in the mentioned location. However, this would only be running for two hours ?from six up until eight in the evening.

Many car owners and drivers would be able to discover the benefits of hybrids through this clinic. And aside from this, they would also be able to learn and understand the specific advantages of having hybrids. Owners and interested participants would also be taught the proper way of maintaining hybrid vehicles with the assistance of Ford parts like Ford Falcon parts, as well as how to do repair without help from expert mechanics.

This is indeed a very timely event. After all, many cities are now turning towards hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles. They are doing this so as to be able to meet their goals towards attaining clean air. Cities are also doing this so as to help consumers and their citizens reduce their costs on fuel. Now, many cities are also using hybrid vehicles for taxi cabs as well as vehicles for their municipal fleets.
Dailymotion


Source: http://lcdwruuvajmryg.blogspot.com/2007/08/sacramento-to-receive-ford-escape.html

Ford Escape Hybrid Technology Clinic Given To Las Vegas

The Ford Motor Company and its set of expert engineers on hybrids would be having a technology clinic. This technology clinic would be done along with some officials from the city of Las Vegas as well as officials from Clark County. There would also be representatives from the taxi industry who would be joining such an event. Common consumers and representatives from the auto market would be taking part of the technology clinic so as to learn more about hybrids.

Primarily, the Ford Escape Hybrid technology clinic would be done as part of the whole campaign towards raising awareness and information dissemination on the advantages and benefits that hybrid technology offers. It is not simply about having cars that offer the latest technology and the best Ford car parts but it is about having the best kind of technology that helps out not only people but the environment as well.

At present, the numbers are rising for the various cities of the United States are now changing ways. More and more cities are now replacing their vehicles with hybrid-electric vehicles. This is in accordance with the campaign towards having cleaner air and reduced fuel costs. And Las Vegas is joining in such a move towards a cleaner environment. Thirty Ford Escape hybrid vehicles were added to the citys municipal fleet. And its Clark County also has in its hands thirteen Ford Escape hybrids and they are still out for more. Nineteen more of these vehicles would soon be joining the rest of their vehicles.

Las Vegas and its Clark County are not the only areas and cities that have turned to hybrids for use. Other cities have also been joining in the trend like the city of New York and San Francisco where they employ hybrid cars for use as taxi cabs.
180solutions


Source: http://careeriqhgni.blogspot.com/2007/08/ford-escape-hybrid-technology-clinic.html