Ford Launches 2009 Escape At Washington Auto Show

2009 Ford Escape

Ford is excited to pull the wraps off 2009 Escape, a gas-electric hybrid. The launch of the new Escape at the Washington Auto Show will flaunt Ford’s improvements to deliver excellent power and superb performance. Alongside the Escape SUV, Mercury Mariner will also make its debut. The show opens to public last Wednesday and ends on Sunday.

“This isn’t a moon-shot,” said Greg Frenette, chief engineer of Ford’s plug-in program. “Within the next 5 years, we ought to know whether we can produce these batteries cost-effectively.”

So what’s the big news about the launch?

Motortrend writes:

The big news, though, is a series of upgrades to the 2009 Escape and Mercury Mariner designed to make it more palatable to buy four-cylinder versions of the SUVs.

For '09, Ford replaces the 2.3-liter, 153-horsepower four with a new 2.5-liter, 170-horsepower engine with intake variable cam timing (IVCT) and replaces four-speed automatics in both four- and V-6-powered Escape/Mariners with a six-speed automatic. Ford still offers a reason to upgrade: the 3.5-liter V-6 gets a 30-horse boost to 230 horsepower, new pistons, cylinder heads and a new fuel injection system.

There's a mild facelift as well for 2009, with a more aerodynamically correct front fascia chin spoiler and rear tire spoiler, and new, improved rolling resistance 16-inch Michelins. The Escape/Mariner also gets Ford's Easy Fuel capless fueling system and a new, 18.5-inch rear anti-roll bar. The 2.5 also replaces the 2.3 in the hybrid, for what Ford claims is the first variable-valve timing on an Atkinson cycle hybrid.

The Dearborn automaker said overall fuel efficiency for the gasoline versions of the new hybrids would increase by 1 mpg compared with the 2008 versions, which get between 18 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway depending on the engine configuration, according to MSNBC.

More tweaking, upgrades and innovations will soon be entertained by the automakers. Competition keeps getting stronger so expect that work won’t be limited to just the spoiler.