NY Times reviews the "overlooked" Ford Escape hybrid
The 2006 Ford Escape hybrid has been in the news a bit lately for its recall, but the hybrid recently made the Times not for the possible safety issue, but because the paper is finally reviewing the "overlooked" hybrid (one reason it's overlooked is that Ford didn't really advertise the the hybrid version until this year's Super Bowl). The Times reviewer found that the 36/31 mpg-rated SUV,
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[Source: New York Times, free registration required]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jimmy 12:26PM (10/14/2006)
Sadly, I think the Time's article is mistaken. At the winter autoshows Ford showed an Escape Hybrid E85 "research vehicle" that meet partial zero-emissions vehicle standards. However, I haven't found any info that the currently available Escape can use E85. A 2008 Escape is set to debut this spring. Perhaps that will put the "research vehicle" technologies into production.
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Sebastian 5:30PM (10/14/2006)
You know, Jimmy. That seemed odd to me when I wrote it, but I didn't follow up on the feeling. The Escape hybrid is not listed at the NEVC website.
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Stphane Dumas 5:13PM (10/14/2006)
maybe the folks of the NY Times might drived one of these experimental E85-hybrid Escape who was showed at various auto shows.
and speaking of E85, I spotted this news about a possible coming of Saab BioPower in North America http://www.saabnet.com/tsn/press/061013.html http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38696
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Jimmy 6:15PM (10/16/2006)
Response from the Ford Customer Relationship Center:
"Ford unveiled the Ford Escape Hybrid E85 at the Washington Auto Show. It is a research vehicle combining two petroleum-saving technologies - hybrid electric power and flexible-fuel capability.... However, there are no details at this time reflecting plans to put this vehicle into commercial production. From time to time, vehicle models are added, deleted or modified. Decisions to make these changes take into account factors such as market trends, customer demands, engineering advances, and dealership input. "
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Tony C 6:01PM (10/16/2006)
Escape Hybrid isn't listed at e85fuel.com. According to their information, Ford doesn't have a single production 4-cylinder capable of using E85. Appears that only GM has an E85 four in fact, an old 2.2L shared with Isuzu.
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