2020 Ford Escape showcased; gets a sleeker design and greener powertrains

MANILA: All-new 2020 Ford Escape has been showcased to the worldwide audience. The car comes with a revamped exterior, better aerodynamic, and greener powertrains. Moreover, it is said to be available in two variants - turbo and hybrid.

It seems like the Blue Oval brand has made a lot of efforts make the Escape a cornerstone in its product portfolio. The arrival of this all-new redesigned compact SUV precisely optimises the fact that Ford is shifting away from hatchback and sedans, and concentrating more on pickup trucks and SUVs.

The original Ford Escape was launched way back in 2001 as a crossover utility vehicle, and since then several new variants continued to overload the showrooms. To differentiate the new car from its competitors,

Ford has given it a less truck-like boxiness, and more car-like sleekness. On the exterior front, the fourth-gen model shares cues from the Mustang and GT. It gets a large trapezoidal front grill, which is followed by a new set of headlights. Emphasising its sportier look is the new hood design and front bumper.

Ford also mentioned that the car had lost 90 kgs when compared to its predecessor, all thanks to its lightweight aluminium and high-strength steel materials. To give this crossover a lower and wider stance, the carmaker has given it a sloping roofline and a more dashing back window, which is further accompanied by a new set of taillights.

Changes on the inside include a revised instrument panel. The previous panel has been replaced by a new 12.3-inch digital cluster and is paired with an 8-inch touchscreen display that can support SYNC 3, Apple CarPlay, Ford+ Alexa, Android Auto, and Waze navigations.

Also, the cabin of the 2020 Escape gets additional legroom for rear passengers. It is worth mentioning that the second-row seats are sliding, but this option is only available in gas-powered models. The cargo capacity can be extended to 1,062-litre.

Moving to the oily bits, as already mentioned the vehicle will be offered in two variants. A total of three choices to choose from - the first one is an inline-four 1.5-litre EcoBoost mill that churns out a maximum power of 180 PS and a peak torque of 240 Nm.

Next up is a 2.0-litre inline-four EcoBoost powertrain that produces an impressive power of 250 PS and a peak torque of 373 Nm. Both the models have an eight-speed automatic transmission with all-wheel drive.

The third option is a hybrid engine. The model will get a 2.5-litre Atkinson-cycle engine that would be accompanied by electric motors paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Total system output would be around 200 PS.

Pertaining to the safety features, it gets Active Park Assist 2.0, Evasive Steering Assist, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist for better performance. However, as for now, there is no information available whether Ford Philippines will bring the Escape or not.

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