All-New Ford Escape with EcoBoost Engine EPA-Certified at 33 MPG, the Most Fuel Efficient Small SUV on Market

DEARBORN, Mich., April 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- 

• All-new Ford Escape certified by U.S. EPA at class-leading 33 mpg with an automatic transmission, which is preferred by the majority of American drivers; all Escape engine offerings achieve 30 mpg or better on the highway
• Escape's 1.6-liter EcoBoost® engine is 2 mpg better than the Honda CR-V and 5 mpg better than Toyota RAV4 on the highway
• New Escape delivers 5 mpg better than the previous model and better highway fuel economy than the outgoing Escape Hybrid

The new Ford Escape is certified by the U.S. EPA as the most fuel efficient small SUV with an automatic. The Escape's 1.6-liter EcoBoost® engine is certified at 33 mpg – 2 mpg better than the Honda CR-V and 5 mpg better than Toyota RAV4.

All three engines in the new Escape are EPA-certified at 30-plus mpg on the highway. The 2.0-liter EcoBoost, certified at 30 mpg on the highway, beats the Toyota RAV4 by 3 mpg and the Chevrolet Equinox by 6 mpg.

"The fuel economy of the all-new Escape showcases the continued success of Ford's development of smaller, yet more powerful engines," said Raj Nair, group vice president, Ford Global Product Development. "Ford understands people want fuel-efficient vehicles without sacrificing power and space requirements."

Escape's 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine – offered for the first time in North America – delivers 33 mpg highway and 23 mpg city, produces 178 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque, topping the Mazda CX-5 by more than 20 horsepower and 30 lb.-ft. of torque.

Those looking for maximum power coupled with solid fuel efficiency can opt for the 2.0-liter EcoBoost with 30 mpg on the highway and 22 mpg in the city. The 2.0-liter EcoBoost delivers 240 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft. of torque. It is also rated at 3,500 pounds towing, which leads the pack for small, turbocharged SUVs.

The Escape's 2.5-liter offers 31 mpg on the highway – a 3 mpg improvement over the outgoing standard engine – and 22 mpg in the city.

EcoBoost engines are standard in the SE, SEL and Titanium editions. The SE and SEL models come with the 1.6L standard and the Titanium comes with the 2.0-liter.  The 2.5-liter is available in the S edition.

With the EPA certification, the Escape is the latest vehicle to join Ford's fuel-efficient lineup. Ford now offers eight vehicles with 40 mpg or more and 11 vehicles with fuel-efficient EcoBoost engines.

Top fuel economy and performance

EcoBoost engines are at the core of Ford's plan to offer outstanding fuel efficiency for millions of drivers. By 2013, more than 90 percent of Ford's North American lineup will be available with EcoBoost technology. Ford also holds more than 125 patents on EcoBoost engine technology.

Both new Escape engines combine EcoBoost's core technologies of direct fuel injection and turbocharging and add twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) to deliver even better miles per gallon and save customers money on fuel.

In Escape, EcoBoost engines are mated to specially calibrated, six-speed SelectShift Automatic® transmissions, which are standard. Drivers who want more hands-on experiences can manually control gear selection from a switch on the left-hand side of the shifter.

Improved aerodynamics

Fuel efficiency in the new Escape is helped by a new Active Grille Shutter System. Positioned between the grille opening and the radiator, the shutter is monitored by the engine control module. The grille automatically opens and closes to maintain the ideal operating temperature and optimize aerodynamics.

The new Escape arrives in U.S. dealerships next month. In addition to class-leading fuel efficiency, Escape features a liftgate with motion-sensing technology similar to video games' and an upgraded MyFord Touch® system that makes connecting with digital devices even easier.

The Escape is built at Ford's Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 164,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.

SOURCE Ford Motor Company