What is it?
Ford Vertrek Concept
What's special about it?
This is the compact SUV of the future according to Ford. It may be called the Vertrek concept for now, but it's actually an early look at the 2012 Ford Escape due out later this year.
Unlike the current Escape, which was built primarily for the U.S. market, the Vertrek is Ford's next worldwide crossover. It may not get the same name in Europe as it does in America, but they'll all be more or less the same underneath the skin.
Built on the same platform as the 2012 Ford Focus, the Vertrek concept is bigger than the Escape in most dimensions. Although the Vertrek is only about 4 inches longer than the Escape, the concept's wheelbase is nearly 7 inches longer. The overall width is up by 2.7 inches.
The only dimension that is smaller on the Vertrek is its height, as the roof is nearly 2 inches lower than the boxy Escape. Ford says the sleeker shape of the Vertrek makes it 5 percent more aerodynamic than the Escape. We would have guessed it was even more.
Given its Focus roots, it should come as no surprise than the Vertrek is powered by a 1.6-liter, EcoBoost four-cylinder engine. Ford says the next-generation Escape will most likely use this engine as well as a 2.0-liter EcoBoost and possibly a 2.5-liter, normally aspirated four-cylinder. Diesel engines will be offered in markets outside the U.S.
One feature that will likely arrive in all production models is an automatic start/stop mechanism. Already in use in various hybrid vehicles, Ford says its system has been refined to the point that most drivers will hardly notice that it's working. Total fuel savings? About 5 percent in normal driving according to Ford, more if you drive mainly in stop-and-go city traffic.
Inside Line says: It was only a matter of time before the more SUV-like Escape was replaced by a sleeker, more efficient car-based crossover. Thankfully, the Vertrek doesn't look half bad. Probably drives better, too. — Ed Hellwig, Editor
Add A Comment »
gearheadjoe says:
12:20 AM, 07/01/2011
WOW, IMO, very nice vehicle indeed !!! EXCELLENT
easym1 says:
09:07 PM, 04/19/2011
good looking car!
ajayboyapati says:
06:11 AM, 01/11/2011
ford needs to change the way the rear end looks. it looks like the old saab.i think chevy equinox looks much much better.
jscion says:
07:17 PM, 01/10/2011
The current Escape is ancient! It may have aged well but it is still ANCIENT! This is a big improvement over the current version.
sranger says:
01:58 PM, 01/10/2011
Not bad, but I bet is loses the 3500lb towing capacity of the outgoing V6 powered Escape. That was one of the Escape's best features....Very few Vehicles in this class can tow more than 2000lb....
k55 says:
10:04 AM, 01/10/2011
I am not a big fan of SUV's or CUV's but this is quite nice. Ford is on a roll.
captainvw says:
09:56 AM, 01/10/2011
Its like someone crossbred a Ford Focus and a Kia Sportage....cool? Perhaps? We'll see what the production version looks like
ed124c says:
08:00 AM, 01/10/2011
Okay, this post has more info than the one in "News"
This is 4 inches longer than the Escape, which is good, but the 7" longer wheelbase will compromise cargo area behind the seats-- unless the rear seats are not pushed toward the rear for more legroom (which the current Escape doesn't need). So, there is some hope that the Vertrek will be competitive-- in storage area-- with other small CUVs.
Unless Ford is holding back and not showing a pre-production model that's sitting in a back room, it doesn't seem possible that this car will come out in 2011.
With this article I am more interested, especially with the hope of a 2.0 Ecoboost engine.