Information Specification Modification Image Review 2013 ford escapeThere was nothing substantially wrong with the old Ford Escape, other than how old it was. To be fair, it was updated just a few years ago, but next to Ford's latest products, the Escape looked practically ancient.
I use the word "looked" specifically, because it's the most obvious issue. The blocky, two-box style simply looks out-of-date. The interior also looked like it was designed in the middle of the last decade, and the materials quality looked on-par with that era as well. A lot has changed in the past few years, at Ford especially, and change has finally come to the Escape in a big way.
For starters, this new Escape looks nothing like the old Escape, though if a lack of continuity is its biggest problem, Ford has little to worry about. And it doesn't. This new Escape, an evolution of Europe's Kuga, is a very good crossover. On paper, Ford promises more cargo space, more passenger space, and better fuel economy. On the road, it delivers more than that.
Upright, tall, and designed to imply truckishness, the previous Escape didn’t have a single aggressive, sporty line on its body. That is certainly not the case with the new model. It has sporty creases pressed into its sheetmetal, the windshield is splayed back, the roof is lower, and the front fascia looks vaguely threatening. It’s the same story inside. Simple, square, and upright have been replaced by complicated, multifaceted, and enveloping. Cabin materials now look and feel expensive, although we did notice that a few fits were askew in one of the early-build examples we drove.
The newness continues under the skin. The previous Escape’s Mazda-based platform is gone, replaced by a beefed-up version of Ford’s Focus architecture. Three four-cylinder engines are available, and each comes connected to a conventional six-speed automatic. There is no longer a manual offered, nor is there a hybrid version. (Ford has opted to hybridize its U.S.-market C-Max instead.)
The expected growth of Louisville Assembly will make it the largest factory in Ford’s North American division, said Steven M. Stone, building chairman for UAW Local 862. Union and company officials say that each job at the factory is expected to create at least six spin-off jobs at auto suppliers and other affiliated businesses.
About 200 of the workers who will be on the assembly line today are newcomers to Ford’s UAW work force and will earn roughly $16 an hour, far below the $28 an hour and up earned by veteran union members.
source:courier-journal.com,motortrend.com,caranddriver.com
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