LOS ANGELES — Ford has extensively restyled its bestselling Escape and Escape Hybrid, which are making their public debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
The compact utility vehicles go on sale next spring as 2008 models. An exterior face-lift borrows heavily from the larger Explorer and Expedition SUVs, with a more distinctive face that sports redesigned headlamps, grille and bumper.
The cabin has been remodeled as well, with a new console and instrument panel, including a "top of dash" display showing critical readouts. The instrument cluster, center stack and door-panel switches feature new "ice blue" lighting at night.
The '08 Escape switches to a new electric power-steering system that is speed sensitive. Standard safety hardware includes side air curtains, front side airbags and traction control.
Powertrains are carried over from '07: a 153-horsepower 2.3-liter four-cylinder and a 200-hp 3.0-liter V6, with five-speed manual and four-speed automatic transmissions.
Ford said it has improved the software on the '08 Escape Hybrid to make the transition between gasoline and electric operation more seamless.
What this means to you: Ford couldn't afford a ground-up redesign of the Escape, but a face-lift is better than nothing. And it came out with a compelling new look for this important product.
The compact utility vehicles go on sale next spring as 2008 models. An exterior face-lift borrows heavily from the larger Explorer and Expedition SUVs, with a more distinctive face that sports redesigned headlamps, grille and bumper.
The cabin has been remodeled as well, with a new console and instrument panel, including a "top of dash" display showing critical readouts. The instrument cluster, center stack and door-panel switches feature new "ice blue" lighting at night.
The '08 Escape switches to a new electric power-steering system that is speed sensitive. Standard safety hardware includes side air curtains, front side airbags and traction control.
Powertrains are carried over from '07: a 153-horsepower 2.3-liter four-cylinder and a 200-hp 3.0-liter V6, with five-speed manual and four-speed automatic transmissions.
Ford said it has improved the software on the '08 Escape Hybrid to make the transition between gasoline and electric operation more seamless.
What this means to you: Ford couldn't afford a ground-up redesign of the Escape, but a face-lift is better than nothing. And it came out with a compelling new look for this important product.
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