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All-New Ford Escape: Smarter Utility Vehicle Saves Customers Fuel, Money; New Technologies to Make Owners' Lives Easier
The All-New Ford Escape
- Ford's newest sport utility vehicle (SUV) arrives next year, bringing clever technologies and features designed to make life easier, and fuel economy projected to top any vehicle of its kind on the market
- Versatile vehicle features new hands-free technology - including liftgate with motion-sensing technology similar to video games' and upgraded MyFord Touch® system that makes connecting with digital devices on the go even easier
- New Escape's projected fuel economy is up to 5 mpg better than outgoing Escape; 1.6- and 2.0-liter EcoBoost® engines save customers fuel and money
- Customers globally will start seeing this sleek small SUV next year, too. Named the Ford Kuga in Europe and China, this vehicle makes its international debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March and will offer unique powertrains and features for customers in those markets
Click here to visit the All-New Ford Escape Media Site.
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 16, 2011 - The Ford Escape, America's best-selling SUV, will raise the bar even higher with the debut of an all-new model that features 11 new exclusive features and fuel economy projected to top any vehicle of its kind on the market today.
"We call our all-new Ford Escape the 'Smarter Utility Vehicle' because it offers the strengths that customers today really value - fuel economy, versatility and new technology that makes driving and living with the vehicle easier and more fun - all wrapped in a sleek, more modern design," said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development. "Ford understands that more people every year are looking at vehicles like Escape, and we want to give them even more reasons to buy."
Sixty percent of Americans shopping for a vehicle next year will look at either a midsize car or small SUV, making Escape part of one of the most cross-shopped and fastest-growing segments in the auto industry.
"Escape is America's best-selling utility vehicle, and the Ford team has worked hard to make sure we deliver even more of what small SUV owners really want," Kuzak said.
In addition to more cargo volume behind the first and second rows than today's vehicle, the new Escape delivers:
- Eleven features no other small SUV offers
- Clever technologies that make Escape even more versatile, including an available hands-free power liftgate that allows quick and easy access to cargo with the kick of a foot
- Projected best fuel economy of any compact SUV, up to 5 mpg better than previous Escape
- Driving dynamics that make the drive experience more engaging on-road and a new Ford Intelligent 4WD System that provides even better traction off-road
- Sleek new design, with better interior materials and more finishing touches
Escape technology makes life better
An array of clever
technologies adds to the new Escape's versatility, helping make life easier for
its owners. Key features include:
- An available hands-free power liftgate brings new technology to the SUV market and is enabled by motion technology used in today's video game systems. A gentle kicking motion under the center of the rear bumper activates, unlocks and raises the liftgate when the driver has the Escape key fob. This allows quick and easy access to the cargo area without needing to set down packages or dig out keys. The same process closes the hatch
- SYNC® with MyFord Touch®, offers multiple ways for customers to manage and control information through voice commands, menus accessed through controls on the steering wheel, touch screens, buttons or knobs. Upgraded system includes new look, making phone, navigation, entertainment and climate controls even easier to use
- Parallel parking the Escape is virtually stress-free with active park assist. With the press of a button, the system detects an available parallel parking space and automatically steers the vehicle into the space. Drivers control only the gas and brake pedals
- Maneuvering parking lots and traveling open roadways becomes even safer and less stressful with Escape's sensor-based BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with cross-traffic alert. BLIS displays an alert in the side mirror when a vehicle is detected entering a blind spot. Cross-traffic alert warns if traffic is detected approaching from the sides, such as when Escape is leaving a parking space in reverse
- The all-new Ford Escape is the first Ford SUV to combine class-exclusive technology to automatically slow the vehicle when it's cornering too fast (Curve Control) or help accelerate through a turn (Torque Vectoring Control); a new Intelligent 4WD System helps deliver outstanding handling on pristine pavement and in adverse conditions as well, along with excellent traction off-road
Spirited performance with outstanding fuel economy
Escape
offers Ford's broadest nameplate range of EcoBoost® engine choices yet. Strong
fuel economy comes from either the available 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine or
1.6-liter EcoBoost engine, which makes its American debut in the new Escape.
Both new 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 and allow drivers who want more hands-on experiences to manually control gear selection from a switch on the left-hand side of the shifter.
The gearbox features a new torque converter for improved driving feel, silky smooth shifts and even better fuel economy. Engineers also installed revised gear ratios for a balanced driving feel in all situations.
The standard engine in North America is an updated 2.5-liter, giving the new Escape a comprehensive lineup of four-cylinder offerings. It also is matched to a SelectShift Automatic six-speed.
Also aiding fuel economy is Escape's sleeker design. The new model is nearly 10 percent more aerodynamic than the outgoing model.
Plus, the new Escape's active grille shutter system, which is on all models with the 1.6-liter EcoBoost and 2.5-liter four-cylinder engines, reduces wind resistance. Grille slats stay open when extra engine cooling air is required, such as low-speed stop-and-go driving. When cruising on the highway at steady speeds, the grille slats automatically close to improve aerodynamics and fuel efficiency.
Versatility and capability come standard
Stowing and
towing are even easier in the new five-passenger Escape, thanks to a low
liftover height of 27 inches, more innovations and cargo volume that surpasses
the outgoing Escape - with 68.1 cubic feet of space behind the first row and
34.3 cubic feet behind the second row.
The new Escape's rear seats have been designed to fold flat easily. With the touch of a button, the head restraint folds down and with the lift of a handle on the seat, the seatback folds and dives as the seat folds flat and clicks into position.
Escape also features an available two-position load floor, which can be configured to allow the customer to choose among maximum luggage volume or flat load floor.
When properly equipped, the all-new Escape maintains a trailer tow rating of 3,500 pounds.
Engaging driving performance through seamless
system
Using new advanced software and sensors, the new Intelligent
4WD System analyzes data from 25 external signals, including wheel speed,
accelerator pedal position and steering wheel angle, assessing road conditions
and driver input 20 times faster than the blink of an eye.
The system uses all the sensor inputs to turn the vehicle in the direction the driver wants it to go. Intelligent 4WD builds on the pre-emptive actions by adding and subtracting torque as needed through an electromagnetic clutch.
New SUV goes global
Following its world debut in Los
Angeles, this new vehicle will head to Europe, where sales of compact sport
utilities have grown 200 percent since 2000. It will be revealed at the Geneva
Motor Show in March for European customers as the all-new version of the Ford
Kuga and will have unique powertrains and features. Chinese customers also will
see the all-new Kuga next spring.
"This all-new Ford model opens a new chapter in the world of SUVs," Kuzak
said. "By being smarter, this utility vehicle will help customers around the
globe find better, easier ways to connect with technology, maximize fuel
efficiency and find the versatility and capability they need and want."
Ford Power Stroke V8's Advanced Combustion System Delivers Best-in-Class Horsepower, Torque and Fuel Economy
- The secret to the 6.7-liter Power Stroke's class-leading output and fuel economy is the highly efficient combustion system
- Ford engineers used the company's global diesel engine design expertise to develop the combustion system in the 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8
- 6.7-liter V8 delivers an industry-best 400 horsepower and 800 lb.-ft. of torque and best-in-class fuel economy
DEARBORN, Mich., April 12, 2011 - More power and higher fuel economy" Traditionally, you don't achieve both when you design a new engine.
But Ford powertrain engineers have been rewriting the book on engine design lately, increasing power and fuel economy with each new engine.
A case in point is the new 6.7-liter Power Stroke® diesel V8 offered in the F-Series Super Duty pickup.
When Ford Motor Company engineer Joshua Styron, Ph.D., began work on the combustion system of the new 6.7-liter Power Stroke engine, he believed that careful attention to the design of the pistons plus precise placement of the fuel injectors and glow plugs could result in an engine that delivered more power, higher fuel economy and lower emissions than the engine it was replacing.
He was right.
The 6.7-liter Power Stroke, the first-ever Ford-designed, Ford-engineered and Ford-built diesel heavy-duty pickup engine, is rated at 400 horsepower and 800 lb.-ft. of torque, up from the previous Power Stroke's 350 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft.
The new engine generates this class-leading power while delivering an impressive 20 percent fuel economy gain over its predecessor, making the Ford Super Duty best in class for fuel economy among heavy-duty pickups.
This week at the SAE World Congress, Styron presents a technical paper detailing how he and his team worked to develop and test the super-efficient combustion system - pistons, fuel injectors and glow plugs - for Ford"s award-winning new Power Stroke diesel V8.
At this year's Congress, Ford engineers are presenting no fewer than 38 papers during the three-day conference, covering a range of topics including engine design, fuel economy, safety, lighting and aerodynamics.
A special engine for a special truck
Because the Ford Super Duty is a work truck designed to haul heavy loads, horsepower and torque had to be the top priority for the new Power Stroke V8 diesel.
Styron said the engineering brief for the 6.7-liter stressed performance. "Four hundred horsepower was the target. Early in the development program, fuel economy was viewed as much less important to this customer than power and torque," Styron said. "But we believed we could deliver a good combination of both -- 400 horsepower along with fuel economy that was not only significantly better than the old 6.4, but higher than our competitors' engines, too."
Making fuel economy a priority on the new Power Stroke was the right move. With oil selling for more than $100 per barrel and diesel fuel at more than $4 a gallon in most parts of the country, Ford Super Duty customers will save money every time they fill up.
The pressure on the Power Stroke engine design team was immense. The outgoing 6.4-liter Power Stroke was nearing the end of its run in the Super Duty and Ford engineers knew improvements were on the way from competitive diesels in General Motors and Dodge trucks. Added to that, emissions requirements were tightening for the 2010 model year. So, attention to detail around the combustion system would be the key to delivering a better engine by every standard of measurement.
Experimenting with pistons, injectors and glow plugs
"To deliver class-leading fuel economy and refinement as well as lower emissions, the combustion system had to make the best use of the limited supply of fresh air entering the engine," said Styron. "Combustion systems with the best air utilization extract the most heat from the fuel, produce less soot and NOx, and minimize the energy required to pump fresh air into the engine."
Styron and his team used computer simulations to evaluate piston bowl shapes, precise placement of the fuel spray within the combustion chamber, glow plug positioning and other factors. Following consultations with diesel engine experts at Ford's Dunton Technical Center in Great Britain and the Ford Research Lab in Aachen, Germany, Styron's team built two single-cylinder prototype engines. A comprehensive test plan was developed to optimize each layout and finally choose the one best performer.
The winning design features a chamfered re-entrant bowl, fine-tuned injector targeting and optimum air swirl that is matched to a super-efficient spray pattern.
"This design provides the best mixing of fuel and air in a heavy duty truck engine," said Styron. When the first running prototypes of the 6.7-liter Power Stroke were built, the combustion chamber design was exactly the same as the one chosen from the single-cylinder test engine.
"The combustion system is really the heart of the engine. It determines the engine's ability to use air," added Styron. "Get it wrong, and you end up with poor fuel economy and higher emissions. The fact that we got the answer right saved us time and money. The end result is that Ford Super Duty customers now have the most powerful and fuel efficient diesel pickup engine money can buy."
Back to TopA Reason to Celebrate at Michigan Assembly Plant
WAYNE - Thursday was a day for celebration at the Michigan Assembly Plant (MAP) as thousands of people - including plant employees, Ford executives, UAW representatives, Ford dealers, local and state government officials and members of the media - crowded into the facility's Final Assembly area to mark the official launch of the all-new 2012 Ford Focus.
The Focus is the first vehicle to be built at the newly renovated MAP, which recently completed a $550 million transformation into an industry-leading green, flexible manufacturing plant.
MAP Plant Manager Rob Webber set the tone for the event by thanking the more than 3,200 plant employees for their hard work and dedication. He commended the team for not only producing a world-class product but for doing it with the added challenge of an entirely new facility and a whole new set of tools and processes.
"This is a well-deserved tribute to the men and women who work at this plant," said Webber, who was greeted by an enthusiastic round of cheers and applause. "I can't emphasize enough how hard this team has worked."
Ford President of The Americas Mark Fields praised employees for their devotion, adding that he fully expects the new Focus to be a "smash hit" in the marketplace.
"The passion that you have is so important because our customers have high expectations, and it's important for them to know how hard this team is working to exceed those expectations," he said.
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder also was on hand for the celebration. He encountered a mildly hostile reception as some in the audience booed when his name was announced, but was applauded when he described Ford as a role model for what he says needs to happen in the state of Michigan
"If you look at where the auto industry was and the difficult times that people suffered through, it was a broken model and it needed to be reinvented," Snyder said. "And the company that stood out the most and did the best at reinvention has been the Ford Motor Company."
Following the program, many plant employees expressed pride in the new Focus and all seemed to share a fervent determination to see it succeed.
"We need to make this car right because this is our future," said Scott Watson, who has been a Ford plant employee for 16 years. "We saw what happened to Chrysler and GM, and we don't want that to happen to us. I think that's why the sense of urgency is here."
Mike Thomas, a plant employee who has been with Ford for 22 years, agrees.
"It's a testament to us as employees that this car succeeds," he said. "The people here know how important it is to all of us, and they're not going to waver. We're going to build the best car that we can."
Vickie Worford, a 19-year Ford plant employee, says employees are committed to working together during hard times.
"People know that jobs are hard to come by, and they treasure and value their position with the company," she said. "We're looking for something to help our families, and as the economy grows we hope that people will look out more for the families and the working class people."
MAP employee Dan Johnston says he is excited about the new Focus and the exceptional quality of Ford's new small car.
"The company is not in a hurry to rush this car out there like they used to be. They're taking their time and when they find a problem they solve it so that we won't have issues and recalls when the vehicles reach the customer," he said. "I'd be more apt to buy a car with no recalls, so I'm glad they're taking their time with this car. It keeps us working, and it keeps the people wanting to buy this car."
Johnston, a 15-year plant employee, says the "word of mouth" generated by superior quality is the most valuable advertising there is for a new vehicle.
"If someone buys a car and they're happy with it, they'll tell their friend and that friend will tell somebody else," he said. "It's better than paying for commercials."
Plant employee Mike McMurtryagrees that the attention to quality at MAP is unmatched.
"Everyone is taking their time to make sure everything is right," he said. "We're noticing every little thing and repairing it before the vehicle leaves the plant. There's no question about it. The quality is unsurpassed."
Webber says the "phenomenal" work force at MAP has accomplished something that has never been done before.
"When you talk about One Ford, this is it," he said. "We're converting truck plants to car plants. We're developing global products. We're producing vehicles with outstanding fuel economy, and we're doing it all with a highly trained work force. You're seeing here at MAP everything that we've been talking about for the last few years."
Webber says celebrations like the one at MAP give employees a much-deserved chance to "take it all in."
"When you're here and in the middle of it, you take a lot for granted. You don't understand the significance of what you're doing," he said. "I think it's good for us to take a step back and just reflect on the great job we've done."
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Transformation of Michigan Assembly Plant Started From the Ground Up
By Chris Kassab
DEARBORN - If you work on the line in one of Ford's vehicle assembly plants, you know how hard it can be to stand on a concrete floor all day. Most plants have pieces of rubber matting available to put over the concrete, but the mats are costly and limited in quantity. And over time they wear out and curl up around the edges, increasing the likelihood of trips and falls.
When plans were underway to transform the Michigan Assembly Plant (MAP) into a state-of-the-art flexible manufacturing facility, it was an ideal time to make a change. Now, the majority of the final assembly and chassis area of the plant is covered with wood flooring, which ergonomist Allison Stephens says provides the same comfort as rubber matting without the potential trip risk.
"The decision to install wood flooring at MAP was based on improved comfort for employees, along with ensuring a safe walking and working surface," she said. "And since many of the injuries seen in the assembly plant are trips, slips and falls, this strategy is a win-win."
The use of wood flooring in an assembly plant is not entirely new. When the Dearborn Truck Plant (DTP) launched several years ago, it had wood floors in some work areas.
"That was seen as the benchmark for the right kind of flooring," said Stephens. "And there was data to suggest that the wood floor they had at DTP provided employees with more perceived comfort than the traditional concrete floor with rubber matting."
The plywood floor at MAP was installed over the concrete with a quarter-inch air gap to optimize comfort, according to Jim Birley, manager, Vehicle Operations Final Assembly Engineering Program.
"The air gap gives just enough spring to reduce impact and fatigue," he said. "To enhance safety even further, we coated the floor with anti-skid grit paint."
In areas where there is a transition from concrete to wood, a 45-degree bevel creates a ramp-like surface. Yellow caution stripes further alert employees to the shift.
MAP Plant Manager Rob Webber says employee reaction to the new floor has been positive.
"They really feel the comfort and benefits of the wood flooring after working the many hours in the day," he said.
Wood provides additional advantages, according to Webber.
"There is less maintenance with wood, and it is cheaper than rubber matting in the long run because the mats need to be replaced more frequently," said Webber.
Stephens says she expects wood flooring to eventually become the global quality standard for all of Ford's manufacturing facilities.
"MAP is going to be our flagship," she said. "If we can reduce injuries and we receive positive feedback from employees, this is going to be our strategy moving forward."
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Sharonville Transmission Plant Named Winner of Ford's 2010 Environmental Leadership Award
By John Lauch
DEARBORN - The Sharonville Transmission Plant's (STP) Environmental Target Team (ETT) seized an opportunity to implement an oil reduction/recycling program resulting in a substantial reduction in machining oil usage. The environmental impact of this creative program not only includes a reduction in waste to landfill but also helps to mitigate risk associated with maintaining environmental compliance with government regulations. In addition to the environmental benefits, significant cost savings were realized. For these reasons, along with the outstanding teamwork, the innovation exhibited by the team, and the potential to replicate the program at other Ford manufacturing facilities, STP was the winner of Ford's 2010 Environmental Leadership Award (ELA).
"It's great to see our two year old concept actually come to fruition," said Phil Utrecht, Sharonville environmental engineer. "This project was a total team effort, combining the expertise of Castrol (our Total Fluids Manager), the skilled labor of our Installation Team (UAW), the logistics coordination of our MP&L function, and the area management of our Production personnel and Total Waste Manager (MPS Group). The ELA is welcome testimony to the plant's efforts in 2010 to meet the goal of One Ford."
The Environmental Leadership Award promotes ground-breaking ideas that benefit the environment and supports Ford's sustainability efforts. The award acknowledges the environmental and financial impact of innovative projects and their potential for replication. STP was chosen from a total of 11 North American facilities which submitted applications for the 2010 Environmental Leadership Award. STP was announced as the 2010 ELA recipient at the Environmental Quality Office's annual Compliance Workshop in October 2010. The runner-up for the award was the Ohio Assembly Plant for waste reduction and landfill diversion initiatives.
"The hydrocarbon reduction that the Sharonville Transmission Plant has achieved demonstrates a strong commitment to Powertrain's "Best in Ford" effort where plants target and adopt what the best performing plants are doing, and providing new best practices for other plants to adopt to drive to even better performance," said Rebecca Messick, environmental systems engineering supervisor, Global Powertrain Manufacturing Engineering.
After careful evaluation of oil usage throughout STP, the team identified several opportunities for recovering oil. The team, consisting of representatives from STP's Environmental and Plant Engineering, Central Maintenance and the facility's Total Fluids Manager (Castrol), quantified the amount of oil being discarded with swarf (i.e., the fine metallic byproduct of the machining operations) as well as with machined metal chips and implemented a strategy for collecting and recycling the oil.
Two production areas were identified for trial/implementation of the recycling technologies. A briquetting process was installed on one of the facility's large straight oil coolant systems. The briquetter serves to compact the swarf material by squeezing out excess oil and reducing the volume of waste material. A chip wringer was installed to process oil-laden chips from the facility's broaching operations. The wringer centrifugally spins the chips driving out excess oil that is recovered for reuse. In addition, the wringer dries the chips, which makes them more valuable in the scrap metal market.
As a result of these oil recycling practices, STP expects to reclaim approximately 40,000 gallons of oil per year at an annual savings of $395,000. These practices will also provide a cost savings associated with a reduced landfill volume. Moving forward, STP has already begun to investigate the viability of applying these practices to some of its other machining operations as it strives for continuous improvement.
"I was very impressed with the business approach the Sharonville Transmission Plant team used. The team worked together to quantify the oil savings and investment costs associated with various projects and used the data to prioritize the projects which were good business decisions while also supporting the Company's initiative of reducing oil usage and waste sent to landfill." said Andy Hobbs, director, Ford's Environmental Quality Office. "Sharonville Transmission Plant's accomplishments are an excellent example of what can be accomplished by a skilled and motivated team."
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