2009 Ford Escape Delivers Best-in-Class Fuel Economy Among 4-Cylinder Compact SUVs

- The 2009 Ford Escape, equipped with a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine,
six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, delivers
best-in-class fuel economy in the small SUV segment with 28 highway/20 city
mpg.
- The 2009 Escape Hybrid remains the most fuel-efficient SUV on the planet,
delivering 34 city mpg and an improved highway rating of 31 mpg - a 1 mpg
increase versus the 2008 model.
- Both the new 2.5-liter four-cylinder and available 3.0-liter V-6 engines
produce more power and better fuel economy, thanks in part to a new
six-speed transmission.
- The optional 3.0-liter V-6 engine debuts the industry’s first application
of cam torque actuated (CTA) variable cam timing (VCT) technology, allowing
for a smaller displacement oil pump, improved fuel economy and increased
performance.

DEARBORN, Mich., July 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — The 2009 Ford Escape,
equipped with a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic
transmission, is the coveted fuel economy leader among all small SUVs.

With fuel prices at record highs, the 2009 Ford Escape with front-wheel
drive is the smart choice for SUV customers, thanks to its 28 highway/20
city mpg, fun-to-drive performance.

“With gas prices rising, we want to offer our customers even more
fuel-efficient vehicles,” says David Finnegan, Escape marketing manager.
“At the same time, we don’t want to compromise performance. The 2009 Escape
proves that we can provide customers best-in-class fuel economy without
asking them to sacrifice.”

“Escape has it all — more horsepower, a smoother, more refined ride
and class-leading fuel economy,” Finnegan added. “Coupled with the fact
that we offer the Escape Hybrid, the most fuel-efficient SUV on the planet,
the story can’t get much better for small SUV customers.”

Power of the Powertrain

The Escape’s new 2.5-liter I-4 engine produces 171 hp, an 11 percent
increase in power output versus the 2.3-liter version it replaces. The
engine uses intake variable cam timing (iVCT) technology to optimize valve
timing, creating a broad torque curve that helps deliver the increased
power along with the improved efficiency.

The powertrain also incorporates electronic throttle control (ETC),
dual-mode crankshaft damping and new intake and exhaust manifolds, which
refine performance and contribute to greater fuel efficiency.

Pairing the engine with the new optional six-speed automatic
transmission further drives Escape’s competitive advantage, contributing up
to a 6 percent increase in fuel efficiency. Gearing efficiencies and
calibration changes help drive the significant gains as well, said Derek
Bier, Escape Vehicle Engineering supervisor.

The new six-speed transmission, for example, is calibrated for fuel
efficiency while cruising in sixth gear — without sacrificing launch feel
and performance feel in lower gears. It also has an adaptive shift feature
that learns shift patterns and optimizes for each vehicle and driver style.

In addition, the six-speed has an integral cold-weather bypass for
quicker warm-ups, lubricating the engine faster at each turn of the
ignition key. This delivers real-world fuel economy gains.

“Typically, you have to choose performance or fuel economy. With the
new Escape, it’s an ‘and’ proposition, not an ‘or,’” Bier said of the new
powertrain and six-speed automatic transmission package. “A 2009 I-4 is as
fast as a 2008 Escape V-6. In turn, a 2009 Escape V-6 delivers the same
fuel economy as a 2008 Escape I-4.”

Aero and More

Two seemingly subtle aerodynamic changes also play a part in the
Escape’s fuel economy story.

A new front chin spoiler and rear tire spoilers help reduce wind drag.
These modifications account for a 17-count aero improvement, said Bier.
This means customers gain 0.75 mpg when travelling at 70 mph.

Escape also features new low-rolling-resistance tires. Developed in
cooperation with Michelin, the 16-inch Latitude Tour tires have a unique
mold design, reduced weight and a new tread pattern that all work together
to produce less friction with the road, reducing fuel consumption.

The tires also contribute to Escape’s refined performance. “The tires
improve braking, deliver more precise handling, responsive steering and
reduce noise,” said Bier.

The 3.0-liter V-6

The improved 3.0-liter V-6 available on the 2009 Escape is writing its
own important chapter in Ford’s fuel economy story.

The V-6 delivers 40 more horsepower than its 2008 predecessor for a
total of 240 horsepower, and paired with the six-speed automatic
transmission, this more powerful engine is producing a 2 mpg improvement on
the highway for both front-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations –
delivering 26 mpg and 24 mpg, respectively.

The 3.0-liter debuts an industry-first Cam Torque Actuated (CTA) iVCT
technology that uses available camshaft torsional energy rather than
pressurized oil to phase the camshafts. This allows for a smaller
displacement oil pump over traditional hydraulic VCT systems for improved
fuel economy.

“With this technology, we are taking energy that is in your engine
today — energy that was previously wasted — and using it to make an
engine more efficient,” said Steve Wilkie, supervisor of Cam Drive/VCT
Design.

“As we launch the Escape, we are touting performance and fuel economy,”
he added. “The cam torque actuated technology is a significant player in
the 3.0-liter’s ability to provide customers both.”

This innovative method uses torsional energy to move the camshafts
similar to the way a hydraulic ratchet works. The system takes oil from one
side of the phaser and channels it to the other side, rather than draining
one side and filling the other as with a traditional hydraulic system. This
allows the CTA system to work more efficiently at all engine speeds and it
requires a smaller oil pump, which equates to lower parasitic energy loss.

CTA, in this case, reduces oil pump flow requirements by 25 percent,
producing a fuel economy benefit up to 0.4 percent.

In addition, the CTA-based system responds more quickly than a
traditional hydraulic oil actuated VCT system, improving tip-in performance
feel and contributing to horsepower gains.

Hybrids

Escape Hybrid continues to deliver fuel economy gains as well,
strengthening its title as the most fuel-efficient and environmentally
friendly SUV on the planet. For 2009, the Hybrid achieved a 1 mpg
improvement on the highway, for 34 city/31 highway mpg.

The upgraded Hybrid model will use the new 2.5-liter I-4 designed to
run on the Atkinson combustion cycle. A new engine processor enables nearly
imperceptible transitions between gas and electric vehicle mode. Plus,
control system enhancements offer customers more electric mode driving,
switching over from gas at 35 mph rather than 25 mph with the previous
model.

The Escape Hybrid also features a new powertrain damping system to
reduce vibrations and feedback to the driver and other occupants.

Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in
Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets
across six continents. With about 228,000 employees and about 90 plants
worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include
Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial
services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding
Ford’s products, please visit http://www.ford.com