A New Look For The Escape
Ford says it's next generation small SUV will be "sleeker, sportier and more stylish" than the current Escape. The company giving hints of that styling in the Ford Vertrek concept vehicle on display at the North American International Auto Show.
"It's a radical departure from Escape," said Ford global design chief J. Mays. "But, the Escape customers that we've shown the vehicle to are very happy with it."
Ford will save money by putting the next generation Escape here in the U.S. and next generation Kuga European SUV on what they call their "Global C" platform, based on the current Focus. Ford plans to make ten new models off of that platform.
"It is a revolution compared to what is typically seen in this segment in North America and is a stylish evolution compared with products outside North America," said Ford group vice president of Global Product Development Derrick Kuzack, in a statement. "This new design is sleeker and more fuel efficient and delivers the capability, including people and cargo volume, customers demand globally."
Kuzack says the sleek styling would make a vehicle based on the Vertek five per cent more aerodynamically efficient than the current Escape. That would translate into better fuel economy.
This also come as the needs of European buyes are becoming similar to the needs of buyers here in the U.S.
"Most of the customers that we have over there are asking for more space," said Mays. "That, sort of played right into our hands. So, as we enlarged that, it created a vehicle that was the same size as the Escape. So, it's just worked out very well for us."
"Customer demands are converging globally toward a compact sport utility vehicle that is stylish and great fun to drive while at the same time providing the package, capability, engaging technology and fuel economy they expect," said Jim Farley, group vice president, Global Marketing, Sales and Service, in a statement. "The Ford Vertrek concept will allow us to hear directly from these customers about trade-offs they are prepared to make as we look to deliver a future production model that brings to life all these attributes."
Ford is currently renovating its Louisville, Kentucky plant to prepare it for production of the next generation Escape.
