The only thing that could possibly be greener than the Ford Escape E85 Hybrid is the fuzzy green Muppet, Kermit the Frog, the Escape Hybrid’s new “spokesperson” who presented it together with Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson at its debut last week in Chicago. The Escape Hybrid has been in the limelight for quite some time now, being the first hybrid vehicle to be produced by a North American automaker as well as the first hybrid SUV, and it’s been bumped back into the headlines by being the world’s first production vehicle to mate the benefits of a hybrid-electric drivetrain and ethanol flexible fuel technology.
Where some automakers pursue ethanol for its performance-enhancing properties, such as Saab and its BioPower models and concept, the Escape turns to ethanol for a different reason. E85, a fuel comprised of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, is a much more environmentally friendly fuel than regular unleaded which is generally 10 percent ethanol by volume. The ethanol used in E85 is grown from corn and other crops, and is considered to be carbon-neutral as the crops used to grow it remove the same amount of CO2 from the atmosphere as when it is burned.
On the surface, it seems as if the E85 Escape Hybrid isn’t any better than the standard Escape Hybrid. It operates just like the standard Escape Hybrid, with no difference in performance, noise, or fuel consumption. Instead, the difference lies in the E85’s tailpipe emissions rating, which is some 25 percent less caustic than an already relatively green gasoline-powered Escape Hybrid, making it the world’s cleanest and most fuel-efficient compact SUV. And in areas where E85 isn’t readily available, the Escape Hybrid E85 can run on any combination of gasoline and ethanol. It does not require a separate tank; the onboard computer automatically adjusts combustion to the fuel that is used.
On the other side of the globe, at the same time no less, Ford of Asia unveiled a facelift for its Escape at the Melbourne International Motor Show alongside its local-market Territory crossover SUV. The facelifted Escape (or Maverick in other markets) features Ford’s new three-bar chrome-plated grille, new twin-beam headlamps with wider lenses as well as a new hood. Also new are front and rear valances which feature painted skidplate protection, LED taillamps, recessed foglamps and mirror-mounted turn signal lamps.
Inside, Ford has made minor alterations to the cockpit, and while no official photos have been released, changes include a new steering wheel, new seat fabrics, a reworked instrument cluster and improved sound deadening materials for a quieter ride. Mechanical updates have also improved the efficiency of the V6-powered Escape, dropping its fuel consumption by 10.6 percent, enabling it to return 12.2 L/100 km in the city and 10.9 L/100 km on the highway. Equipment levels have also been boosted to include four-wheel discs with ABS on all models, as well as standard front and side airbags.
Incidentally, with the launch of a facelifted Escape for Asia, and a technologically-advanced E85 hybrid in America, Ford has shown its strengths as a global player with its Escape compact SUV. While it’s yet to be confirmed that the changes made to Escapes built at Ford’s Philippine and Vietnamese plants will be applied to North America-built Escapes, there’s a good chance that they’ll show up in the near future as they play an important role in strengthening Ford’s new global image in all of its markets.
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