2001 Ford Escape: Small SUV for Big-City Lifestyles
11 January 2000
2001 Ford Escape: Small SUV for Big-City Lifestyles
DETROIT, Jan. 11 -- The all-new Ford Escape -- with unibody
construction and go-anywhere four-wheel-drive capabilities -- provides refined
ride and handling, an outstanding package, good fuel economy and low emissions
in a small, tough SUV that's versatile enough for the most active lifestyles
and easily maneuverable in urban traffic.
Introduced today at the 2000 North American International Auto Show in
Detroit, Ford's newest sport utility vehicle marks the company's
expansion into the growing small SUV segment. Sales in that segment have more
than doubled in the United States in the last four years, from 1995 sales of
250,000 vehicles to well over 500,000 through the end of 1999.
"Ford pioneered the modern SUV market with the Explorer in 1991. Since
then, SUV sales in the U.S. have climbed an average of 17 percent per year,"
explains Jim O'Connor, Ford Division president and vice president of Ford
Motor Company. "The 2001 Escape provides a logical extension of the Ford SUV
family and will help us maintain our proven leadership by providing customers
with a bold new choice in the small SUV market."
The new Ford Escape, smaller than the best-selling Ford Explorer, is
designed to appeal to younger buyers as well as the "young at heart" --
drivers who want fun, agile, sporty, durable yet affordable transportation for
their active lifestyles.
The 2001 Ford Escape offers customers:
* Nimble maneuverability
* Sport styling with rugged capability for off-road driving
* Most spacious interior package in its class at 132.9 cubic feet with
versatility for carrying cargo as well as passengers
* Driving safety and confidence
* A capable vehicle designed, tested and built to Ford truck standards
"We believe Escape will appeal to a wide variety of consumers, including
those who have not owned an SUV before, but whose life's activities now
require the space and versatility that an SUV provides. Those people might
not consider a larger SUV, but Escape will provide them with the perfect
solution," says O'Connor. "Whether they are young singles, newlyweds, small
families or empty nesters, the Escape will be an affordable and fun option
that will allow them to do all of the things that they enjoy such as skiing,
camping and biking."
On sale this summer, the new Escape joins Ford's "Outfitters" showroom and
the company's "No Boundaries" promise for tough and versatile SUVs. Together
with the Explorer, Explorer Sport, Explorer Sport Trac, Expedition and
Excursion, the new Escape gives Ford the most comprehensive SUV lineup in the
industry.
2001 Ford Escape
* Choice of DOHC 2.0-liter I-4 or 3.0-liter V-6 engines
* 5-speed manual gearbox with the I-4 engine
* 4-speed automatic/overdrive transaxle with the V-6 engine
* Full-time automatic 4x4 or front-wheel drive drivetrains
* 4x4 system comes with a driver-determined switch to select four-wheel
drive automatic or "4x4 lock"
* 3,500-pound towing capacity (with V-6 engine and towing package) -
enough to pull jet skis, snowmobiles or a small boat
* Five-passenger seating
* Roomy front- and second-row seating
* Four doors and rear liftgate with flip-up glass
* Large, versatile cargo area
* Unibody design provides refined ride, handling and maneuverability
* Available anti-lock braking system (standard on XLT models)
* Safety features include second generation dual front air bags and
available side-impact air bags
* Low fuel consumption and certified to LEV emissions standards
* Standard air conditioning
Based on an all-new platform developed in partnership with Mazda, the new
Ford Escape provides customers with a small, versatile and tough SUV with
maximum convenience and comfort -- together with a unibody design for refined
ride and handling, and one of the safest body structures in the class.
With average fuel economy of 28 miles per gallon, the new Escape with the
I-4 engine and 4x2 configuration will be comparable to many family sedans.
Escape is equipped with the 3.0-liter V-6 engine and 4x4 configuration to
achieve an average of more than 24 miles per gallon. It also will be
certified to low emission vehicle standards and its emissions will be among
the cleanest in its class.
The 2001 Ford Escape will be built at Ford's Kansas City Assembly Plant in
Claycomo, Mo., and goes on sale in North America this summer. The new small
SUV will be sold worldwide in more than 150 countries.
2001 Ford Escape Technical Specifications
* Preliminary
Vehicle Type: 4-door sport utility vehicle
ENGINES:
2.0L 16V ZETEC I-4
Engine material Cast iron block/aluminum head
Displacement (cu. in.) 121
Horsepower/rpm 130 @ 5,400
Torque/rpm (ft.-lbs.) 135 @ 4,500
Valvetrain DOHC
Valves/cylinder 4, hydraulically actuated
Fuel injection Sequential Electronic Fuel Injection (SEFI)
Engine management Ford EEC-V
3.0L 24V DURATEC V-6
Engine material Aluminum block/aluminum head
Displacement (cu. in.) 182
Horsepower/rpm 200 @ 5,750
Torque/rpm (ft.-lbs.) 200 @ 4,000
Valvetrain DOHC
Valves/cylinder 4, hydraulically actuated
Fuel injection Sequential Electronic Fuel Injection (SEFI)
Engine management Ford EEC-V
TRANSAXLES:
-- 5-Speed Manual Transaxle standard with I-4 (N/A with V-6)
-- 5-Speed Automatic Overdrive standard on V-6 (N/A with I-4)
I-4 Manual Final Drive Ratio 4.588:1
V-6 Automatic Final Drive Ratio 3.77:1
STEERING:
Type Power, rack and pinion
Turning diameter (ft.)
* P225/70R15 tires 35.4
* P225/70R16 tires 36.4
FRONT SUSPENSION:
Type MacPherson struts attached to lower control arms. Dual path upper
strut mounts with strut and spring mounted separately. Rack and
pinion steering.
REAR SUSPENSION:
Type Independent rear suspension with double lateral link and trailing
arms.
WHEELS:
Diameter & rim width
* XLS 15- x 6.5-inch steel 5-spoke
* XLS (optional) XLT (standard) 15- x 6.5-inch cast aluminum alloy
* XLT (optional) 16- x 7-inch cast aluminum 5-spoke
TIRES:
Size P225/70R15 BSW
P225/70R15 OWL
P235/70R16 OWL
BRAKES:
Type Front Disc/Rear Drum with optional ABS
Front disc diameter (in.) 11.1 (278 mm)
Thickness (in.) 1
Rear drum diameter (in.) 9.0 (229 mm)
EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS (in.):
Wheelbase 103.1
Overall length 173.0
Overall height 67.8
Overall width 70.1
Tread - front 61.2
Tread - rear 61.0
Angle of approach 28.5 degrees
Angle of departure 22.0 degrees
Ground clearance 7.8
INTERIOR DIMENSIONS (in.):
Head room (front/rear) 40.4/39.2
Leg room (front max./rear min.) 41.6/36.4
Hip room (front/rear) 53.4/49.0
Shoulder room (front/rear) 56.3/55.9
CAPACITIES:
Total interior volume (cu. ft.) 132.9
Cargo capacity (cu. ft.)
* Behind second row 34.8
* Second row folded 68.5
Liftover height (in.) 25.4
BASE CURB WEIGHT: 3,074 pounds