Ford Escape 2009 News

Ford Australia will axe the Kuga badge and rename its medium-sized SUV the Escape when the updated line-up arrives in 2017, spearheaded by the addition of a front-wheel drive mid-spec variant.

Mazda’s slogan might be “zoom zoom” but it took seven days longer than Ford to announce an identical recall for a jammed throttle -- for a car made on the same production line.Mazda is recalling 26,000 Tribute SUVs made between December 2000 and February 2007 because, according to the Federal Government’s recall website, “the engine be stuck at full power when the accelerator pedal is fully or almost-fully depressed.“A throttle that is stuck fully or almost fully open may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop or slow the vehicle. This risk exists regardless of whether or not cruise control is being used.” Only models powered by the 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine are affected. There may be inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the cruise control cable, the safety bulletin says.Mazda spokesman Steve Maciver told News Limited: “The reason we took longer was to make sure we had the repair procedures in place … and ensure we had enough parts to supply. “We have sold more than triple the number of cars than Ford in that period.”Ford Australia last week announced a recall of 8798 Escape SUVs built between November 2001 and February 2006. Ford and Mazda, longtime joint venture partners, built the same cars on the same production line in Japan, although the last 2000 Mazda Tributes caught up in the recall in Australia came from a factory in Taiwan. Both Mazda and Ford say there are no reports of cruise control or accelerators jamming on in Australia.In North America, where the recall originated, Ford is recalling 484,000 Escape models while Mazda is recalling 217,000 Tribute SUVs. Both companies say the free repair work takes less than one hour but customers may need to leave their cars for longer to cope with the log-jam.Meanwhile Jeep is recalling more than 900,000 Cherokee 4WDs, including up to 11,000 in Australia sold between 2002 and 2004, because the airbag could go off unintentionally. Safety authorities report there have been more than 200 instances of Jeep airbags going off without warning.The latest recalls pale compared to Toyota’s famous 2010 recall of 9 million cars in North America – the biggest in the automotive industry – because of concerns of stuck accelerator pedals and/or jammed floormats. In May that year, Ford Australia recalled 5000 sets of floormats for its Territory SUV for a similar issue.'

The Australian car maker has issued the safety recall for 8798 of its imported Escape - models with the 3-litre V6 with cruise control only - built between November 1st 2001 and February 1st 2006, over a problem with the cruise control cable and the engine cover.Ford Australia spokesman Martin Gunsberg said the recall relates to 18,480 vehicles across that Asia Pacific and Africa region. "A similar recall was issued relating to left-hand drive versions of this vehicle with the same issue earlier this year," he said.The recall notice said the possibility of "inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the cruise control cable" which could allow "the engine to be stuck at full power when the accelerator pedal is fully or almost-fully depressed.The company's recall notice also said a throttle that is stuck fully or almost fully open may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop or slow the vehicle. The problem may occur "regardless of whether the cruise control is being used or not."Owners are being advised by the carmaker, who is writing to those owners affected, to contact a Ford dealership for inspection and rectification. The notice also warns driver to avoid near or full-throttle pedal pressure in a bid to reduce the chances of the dangerous problem occurring."If a driver experiences a stuck throttle, the driver should firmly and steadily apply the brakes without pumping the brake pedal, shift to neutral, steer the vehicle to a safe location and switch the engine off after the vehicle has completely stopped," the recall notice said.Ford in the US is recalling nearly 485,000 Escape V6 SUVs to fix sticking accelerator pedals after the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received 68 complaints relating to 13 crashes, nine injuries and one death, however Ford Australia has received no reports of the issue occurring here.For further information, contact Ford's customer relationship centre on 1800 503 672. 

Set to be unveiled at Los Angeles motor show tomorrow – and arrive here in 2013 – the new Ford Escape promises to be roomier and more user-friendly. Based on the Ford Focus platform, the 2013 Escape SUV also gets a lot of its features including the parallel park assist system. When the system detects an available parallel parking space, it steers the vehicle in with the driver just giving accelerator and brake inputs. The new Escape will also offer an automatic tailgate that uses motion technology from video game systems with a proximity sensor to open when it detects a foot being waved under the rear fascia. Ford says the new Escape also hase new cornering technology to automatically slow the vehicle when it's cornering too fast (Curve Control) or help accelerate through a turn (Torque Vectoring Control) -- a degree of nannying that is not going to please everybody.  The US and European markets will get the latest Ford SYNC infotainment system, but along with the other features, there's no confirmation of whether that will arrive in our Ford Escape, which will be built in Thailand. The engine line-up starts with a base model 2.5-litre four-cylinder but also includes the 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder Ecoboost engines – all mated to a six-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels as standard but with an intelligent all-wheel-drive system as an option. The rear seats fold flat and easy button-and-handle system and the load space has an optional two-position floor which can be configured for  either maximum luggage capacity or flat floor.  

Based on the C Platform of the new Focus and C-Max, it is light years from the dowdy, aging model it will replace. The compact Vertrek goes into North American production this year after which it replaces the popular Kuga in Europe. While Asia-Pacific release details are not finalised, the Vertrek’s chief designer Kemal Curic inadvertently let slip to Australian journalists that it will be known in our part of the world as the Escape. In line the Ford’s North American strategy, the Blue Oval’s local arm will market the Escape in a two model SUV line-up positioned under the renewed Territory. While the Vertrak concept seen this week in Dearborn, Michigan, is highly stylised, with only four seats and no B-pillar, Curic says: "You’re not going to see all the details, but let's say 80 per cent will be in the production vehicle." Touches unlikely to reach us include seat accents "inspired" by the leather shorts sported by Bavarians at the October Fest. Those that will include a steering wheel, switchgear and centre console similar to the new Focus, which is due in Australia in the third quarter of this year. With its dual shoulder lines and the low profile, Curic says the Vetrek is intended to evoke both a "sport utility and a sport car. I think it is cool." The Escape will be built in the US, China and Europe with Australia-bound models sourced from the latter, at least initially. Engines will certainly include one of the new Eco Boost four cylinder, direct injection turbo-charged units, such as the one scheduled later this year from the Falcon. The automatic transmission choice would be a six-speed twin clutch. Ford communication manager Mark Schirmer says: "really it makes sense to have a two (SUV) strategy. Here you can only buy the Explorer (the next size up from Escape) with seven seats." The Escape will be one of 10 models Ford will build off its C Platform as the company rationalises its global passenger vehicle line-ups.

The company has rolled out the next instalment of its EcoBoost engine story, which will eventually be sold in future Fiestas and Focuses. The 1.6-litre four cylinder engine is the smallest so far in Ford's new engine lineup that now includes a 2.0-litre four and 3.5-litre V6. "The new family of Ford EcoBoost four-cylinder petrol engines coming in 2010 is a key element of Ford Motor Company's global blueprint for sustainability," according to Ford of Europe chairman, John Fleming. "We believe these engines will provide customers with a genuinely attractive alternative to diesel or hybrid power units." The smaller 1.6-litre engine unveiled this week will span power outputs in the 112kW to 135kW range. It is likely to arrive first in the C-Max people mover just unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The EcoBoost strategy will also filter down to small-capacity four-cylinder engines under 110kW. The larger 2.0-litre Ford EcoBoost engine makes its first rear-wheel drive appearance in the local Ford Falcon from 2011. Fleming also gave the first indication of the Falcon four's likely power output, saying the 2.0-litre engine will cater for applications of 150kW and above. This means the Falcon four could have more than 150kW on tap but still be under the six's 195kW/391Nm. However, direct injection, twin variable valve timing and turbo-charging is expected to deliver a broader spread of torque from around 1500 revs. Ford also expects the EcoBoost four to deliver fuel economy gains of up to 20 per cent and 15 per cent fewer greenhouse gases than an equivalent six-cylinder. Ford Australia engineers have already started development work on the four and will soon start testing it in local Falcons. The four-cylinder EcoBoost engines in Ford's European range arrives early next year and will be called SCTi, for sequential charge turbo injection. Apart from the fuel-efficient 1.6, Ford used the Frankfurt Motor Show to show off its latest Econetic car, the Focus, which boasts economy of 3.2 litres/100km and greenhouse emissions of just 99g/km. The new Focus Econetic is powered by an 80kW 1.6-litre turbodiesel with a particulate filter to lower greenhouse emissions. It joins Econetic versions of the Fiesta and Mondeo in Europe. Ford Australia is on track to launch the Fiesta Econetic in November, which promises real-world fuel economy of 3.7 litres/100km. The company is closely watching the success of its Econetic range in Europe, which includes a Mondeo, but it will test the water with the Fiesta first. Ford Australia spokesperson, Sinead McAlary, says there is a strong push to make Econetic a strong brand within the local Ford structure. "If it gets the response we think it will, then we will extend it across other models," she says. McAlary expects the Econetic Fiesta to have wide appeal, not just for fleet buyers. It will also be priced more competitively than some hybrids. Ford Australia has not released pricing yet but based on the European car, an Econetic Fiesta should be about $3000 more than the top-end Zetec model.

The company already gets the Escape off-roader from Taiwan and Ranger ute out of Thailand, which will be joined mid-2010 by the Fiesta hatch. Now an as-yet unnamed Asian plant will build the next-generation global Focus sedan and hatch for local launch in 2011."But in terms of the detail and what location in Asia it is still to be finalised," according to Ford Australia president, Marin Burela. A decision is expected within a few months. Thailand is unlikely despite a $608 million upgrade to the Auto Alliance Thailand joint-venture plant at Rayong south-east of Bangkok.Ford announced earlier this year that the upgrade would allow AAT to lift production capacity from 175,000 to 275,000 vehicles a year, building the Mazda2 and Fiesta for export markets. If AAT had the capacity for Focus, Thailand would be attractive as Australia enjoys a free trade agreement with zero tariffs with the Asian country.Burela backs his decision to cancel local Focus production. He says the global car industry was different back in July 2007 when Ford originally announced it would build 40,000 Focuses a year at Broadmeadows, with 15,000 exported to Asian and African markets.Since then the industry has been rocked by the global financial crisis. "The economic climate has changed," Burela says. "When we made this decision in 2007 it was the right decision at that time. Since then the world has changed and the rules have changed completely."The decision to abandon the Focus Broadmeadows plan was not taken lightly. "I think we're responding absolutely appropriately with the direction that we're taking," he says. "We came to the conclusion that to make a small car viable with the right level of technology, feature, content, styling in this country we needed to bring the most competitive levels of opportunity with that vehicle""We recognised, after studying this to death, that there was just no appropriate way for us to be able to do that by producing the vehicle locally."Burela is confident the next-generation Focus will lift the company's ability to compete in the C-car segment. "The C-car segment is very crowded," he says. "There are 24 different competitors fighting for 180,000 units in this country."The key for success here is you have to make it right, it has to be competitive and it has to have the highest level of technology, features and content. We are so confident we will deliver."

Ford director of product development, Russell Christophers, says the company is moving toward simplifying the number of platforms to improve economies of scale, which points to the move toward the Focus-based Kuga. However, Christophers points out that the Escape had the price advantage of being made in Thailand where production costs were lower and the free trade agreement with Australia benefited imports. "I'm not saying yes or no to the Kuga, but what the company needs to do is decrease the number of platforms," Christophers says. "The Focus C car platform can be used for a sedan, hatch, wagon, people mover and an SUV. You want to have a global platform for economies of scale, but you want to build them in the right place for the right market." The Kuga comes with two diesel options in Europe with plans to introduce the 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder petrol engine from the XR5 Focus and Mondeo. Christophers said Australia could also start to see some of Ford's ECOnetric fuel-miser vehicles later this year. Apart from smaller, forced-induction EcoBoost engines, the ECOnetric vehicles come with a variety of fuel-saving measures such as higher-geared transmissions, lowered suspension to reduce drag, aerodynamic body kits, low-resistance tyres and low-viscosity transmission oil. ECOnetrics is used in Europe in Mondeo, Focus and Fiesta models. Christophers would not say which models would benefit from the technologies first. "It provides customers with a fuel efficient car, but sacrificing some attributes such as performance because of the taller gearing etcetera," he says. "We will look at bringing them in, but I can't say in which vehicles yet."

Of the 12 off-roaders tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the United States just four earned a top rating of ``good'' and three were ``acceptable''.The tests were designed by the institute to provide new roof strength ratings.The Volkswagen Tiguan has the strongest rated roof and the Kia Sportage the weakest.Roofs on the Honda CRV and Ford Escape are marginal, and the Kia's is poor.The Tiguan, Subaru Forester, Jeep Patriot and a car sold in the US, the Honda Element, earn good ratings.The Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota RAV4 and Mitsubishi Outlander rated acceptable.The Chevrolet Equinox and Nissan Rogue, both just sold in North America, also rated acceptable.A spokesman for the Australian New Car Assessment Program and RACV chief engineer, Michael Case, says the US test add another dimension to safety information for new car buyers.He says ANCAP will be studying the findings.“The roof crush rating is a useful measure of how the roof will perform in a real rollover,’’ he says.“Rollover is the next area to go in developing tests and rating vehicles.”He says ANCAP will need to look at the IIHS process, particularly how to assess it.The new rating system is based on institute research showing that occupants in rollover crashes can survive better if their off-roaders have stronger roofs.Vehicles rated good must have roofs that are more than twice as strong as minimum federal safety standards require.``We anticipate that our roof strength test will drive improved rollover crash protection the same way that our frontal offset and side impact consumer test programs have led to better protection in these kinds of crashes,'' institute president Adrian Lund, says.The Institute recognises that vehicle roof structures have become stronger over the past few years.Part of the reason is that carmakers have made structural improvements to earn better front and side crash ratings.Strong A and B pillars help prevent intrusion in these types of crashes and also help hold up the roof.``It's not surprising that Volkswagen and Subaru earn good ratings in our new roof test because these carmakers were among the first to ace our front and side tests,'' Lund says.In the United States more than 10,000 people a year are killed in rollovers.When vehicles roll, their roofs often hit the ground with considerable force, deforming and crushing.Stronger roofs crush less, reducing the risk that occupants will be injured by contact with the roof itself.Stronger roofs can also prevent occupants, especially those not wearing seatbelts, from being ejected.In the US, about 25 per cent of deaths in car and van crashes are rollovers but in off-roaders this jumps to 59 per cent.The RACV’s Case says the incidence of rollovers in Australia is lower “but there is still a high chance of death or serious injury”.In the institute's roof strength test, a metal plate is pushed against one side of a roof near the A-pillar.To earn a good rating, the roof must withstand a force of four times the vehicle's weight before reaching 12cm of crush.